Jean C Ericksen

Wauchope, Saskatchewan
1908 – 2003

“Lily Lady of Saskatchewan”. Lived on the farm where she hybridized apples, pears, peonies and lilies. She bred Trumpets, Asiatics, Aurelians and grew Species but had a special interest in Martagons. Became acquainted with F.L. Skinner in the 1940s and from then on, her interest in lilies grew. Began to learn about lilies in earnest in about 1953 and purchased a few bulbs from Skinner’s Nursery in Manitoba. Gave roughly 50 selected martagon seedling to Dan Dale who subsequently registered them on her behalf. She was well known for her avid letter writing in keeping touch with lily lovers and aficionados world-wide.

Awards and Recognitions:

  1. Received the D.R. Robinson Award in 1990 for her dedication and contribution to the field of horticulture
  2. Given a rare Honorary Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Life Membership 1994 (a privilege that, up to that point, had only been bestowed on 7 people world­ wide)
  3. New Zealand Society Medal of Honor, 1992, for excellence in hybridizing and culture of the genus Lilium
  4. North American Lily Society (NALS) Honorary Life Membership, 1990
  5. Honorary lifetime member of the Saskatchewan Horticultural Association. She was instrumental in formation of the South Saskatchewan Lily Society (SSLS), the Honorary President, honorary lifetime member and also received the Herb Sunley Award from this society in 1996
  6. Received the NALS Medal for her support of the genus Lilium in 2003

The ‘Jean Ericksen Award; in her honour is sponsored by the South Saskatchewan Lily Society and awarded at the NALS convention and show for the best lily seedling in Section C with some Asiatic breeding.

Manitoba Regional Lily Society, Alberta Regional Lily Society, CPLS and South Saskatchewan Lily Society also have awards in her name.

The 2003 NALS Yearbook was dedicated the memories of Dan Dale and Jean Ericksen “Lily Pioneers and Advocates of Martagon Lilies”.

There is a lily named ‘Jean Ericksen’ registered by F.J. Holmes in 1979, a nodding, creamy-yellow Asiatic with rose-pink tips, and also a ‘Jean Ericksen’ peony credited to both her and Marvin Joslin registered in 1999.

Excerpted from “Canadian Lily Hybridizers and Their Lilies – A Working Garden Reference” by Leanne Dowd