Tall lily just kept growing

At 2m high, Jean Farley's lily is not your average lily and she swears it is entirely self-grown.

Mrs Farley, of Greytown, was given the lily about four years ago, while in hospital for a knee replacement.

"Instead of bringing me flowers at hospital a friend brought me this [the lily]," she said.

She left it in a pot for two years before planting it out and said since then the lily has had no attention.

"It gets no care at all, no special fertiliser or anything.

"I couldn't believe it, I kept watching it grow and grow and I thought when's it going to stop?" she said.

An average lily usually grows to about 1m, Mrs Farley's lily is twice the size and she is expecting it to grow even taller when the top buds flower.

Mrs Farley said she wanted to share the lily with others.

"It's just so beautiful and it's tucked away in here, why not share it?"

She also said she thinks others should share her passion for gardening.

"If you're down in the dumps get out and get your hands dirty.

"It's good for the soul. I've always said that if everybody got out and did some gardening it would be a better world."