"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] Huell: WELL, HELLO EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND HERE WE ARE IN IDLEWILD, CALIFORNIA.

THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY HERE IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, LOCATED ABOUT 2 HOURS EAST OF LOS ANGELES, IDLEWILD IS A BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC PLACE.

A PLACE THAT IS WELL WORTH A VISIT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.

WELL, WE'VE COME TO IDLEWILD TO ATTEND A FESTIVAL.

AND TALKING ABOUT FESTIVALS, YOU KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE ALMOST EVERY COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA HAS A FESTIVAL.

SOME OF THEM ROOTED IN HISTORY, SOME OF THEM COOKED UP BY THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HELP PROMOTE TOURISM, HELP GET PEOPLE INTO TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND.

WELL, THIS FESTIVAL HERE IN IDLEWILD IS UNIQUE TO ANY FESTIVAL HELD ANYWHERE IN CALIFORNIA.

THIS FESTIVAL IS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT ALMOST GOT AWAY.

AND TODAY, IT HAS A FESTIVAL NAMED AFTER IT.

GET READY FOR AN HONEST TO GOODNESS ADVENTURE.

WE'VE COME TO IDLEWILD IN SEARCH OF THAT ELUSIVE SOMETHING THAT ALMOST GOT AWAY.

WELL, WE'RE GONNA CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA KEEP PEOPLE IN SUSPENSE VERY LONG, BECAUSE RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IDLEWILD, THIS IS WHERE YOU SIGN UP FOR THE FESTIVAL.

GOOD MORNING!

GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU?

Huell: HOW ARE YOU DOING?

YOUR NAME IS?

JOHN.

Huell: ARE YOU ALL LOCALS?

NO, NO.

WE LIVE IN LA QUINTA.

Huell: WHAT DID--WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP HERE?

BECAUSE IT'S HOT IN LA QUINTA.

Huell: OH, IT'S HOT.

YOU JUST CAME UP HERE TO COOL OFF.

YEAH.

IT'S ABOUT 115 IN LA QUINTA.

Huell: AND IT'S ONLY 90 UP HERE.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

SO IT'S-- Huell: DID YOU COME UP TO ATTEND THE FESTIVAL?

YES, YES.

Huell: WELL, GOOD.

WELL, HAVE FUN.

WE HAVEN'T GIVEN IT AWAY YET WHAT THIS FESTIVAL IS ALL ABOUT, BUT I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE GETTING READY TO GIVE IT AWAY RIGHT NOW.

HOWDY.

HUELL HOWSER.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Huell: LET'S SEE YOUR T-SHIRT.

OH, AND WE JUST GAVE IT AWAY.

"I LOVE LEMON LILIES".

WE HAVEN'T TOLD ANYBODY WHAT THIS FESTIVAL IS ALL ABOUT YET.

OH.

Huell: YOU JUST GAVE IT AWAY.

I DID.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LEMON LILY.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

THE LEMON LILY.

WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAVE YOU GOTTEN TO THE LEMON LILY FESTIVAL HERE IN IDLEWILD?

WE'VE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TURNOUT, PEOPLE COMING--BOTH LOCALS AND PEOPLE OFF THE HILL.

Huell: BUT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR YOU'VE HAD A LEMON LILY FESTIVAL.

IT HAS, AND MOST PEOPLE HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD OF THE LEMON LILY.

WHICH IS WHY-- Huell: I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT.

IT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THE FESTIVAL.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, WE DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT THE LEMON LILY.

I THINK ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO GO IS TO GO TO THE NATURE CENTER, RIGHT?

IT IS.

THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE YOU'RE GONNA LEARN THE MOST ABOUT IT, THROUGH OUR WALKS AND THE TALKS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE LEMON LILIES GROWING DOWN BY THE CREEK.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

DOES IT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THIS LEMON-- IS THIS A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF A LEMON LILY?

IT'S YELLOW AND IT HAS FRECKLES, AND THAT'S ABOUT AS CLOSE AS YOU'RE GONNA GET.

HA HA HA!

Huell: WE HAVE FOUND SOME LEMON LILIES.

ACTUALLY, THEY'RE NOT REALLY LEMON LILIES, ARE THEY?

NO, THEY'RE AN IMITATION OF A LEMON LILY.

Huell: SO THOSE AREN'T REAL FLOWERS?

NO, THEY'RE NOT.

THOSE ARE IMITATION LEMON LILIES.

Huell: AND THERE'S ANOTHER T-SHIRT.

ANOTHER LEMON LILY-- THIS IS AN ACTUAL LEMON LILY.

THERE YOU GO.

Huell: AND WHAT ABOUT THIS THING ON YOUR HAT?

THAT'S ARTIFICIAL.

Huell: THAT'S ARTIFICIAL, TOO.

SO FAR WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY REAL LEMON LILIES.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANY.

THIS IS HOW THEY LOOKED TWO WEEKS AGO.

Huell: REALLY?

I PHOTOGRAPHED IT RIGHT HERE.

Huell: AND PUT IT ON YOUR T-SHIRT?

AND THIS COLOR THEME IS GOING ON THROUGHOUT TOWN.

HAVE YOU SEEN IT?

Huell: SEE, LOOK.

I DRESSED APPROPRIATELY FOR THE LEMON LILY THEME.

VERY NICE.

Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW, WE HAVE COME LESS THAN HALF A MILE FROM DOWNTOWN IDLEWILD TO FIND OUT ABOUT LEMON LILIES, AND I THINK THIS IS THE DEFINITIVE PLACE TO COME BECAUSE THIS IS THE NATURE CENTER.

IT IS.

IT'S THE IDLEWILD NATURE CENTER, PART OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT.

Huell: AND THIS GOES ON YEAR-ROUND?

YEAR-ROUND.

THIS IS OUR FIRST ANNUAL LEMON LILY, BUT WE HAVE OTHER FESTIVALS HERE.

Huell: WHAT ELSE HAPPENS HERE?

MEMORIAL WEEKEND, WE HAVE THE ANNUAL--AND IT'S BEEN RUNNING 32 YEARS NOW, THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND ART AND WILDFLOWER SHOW.

Huell: AH, SO YOU HAVE A WILDFLOWER SHOW UP HERE?

WE DO.

AND THEN IN AUGUST WE HAVE--ON THE 2nd SATURDAY, WE HAVE BUTTERFLY DAYS.

Huell: AH, SO THERE'S A LOT OF NATURE, A LOT OF CELEBRATION OF NATURE UP HERE.

ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: NOW, WHICH WAY DO WE GO?

I'M FOLLOWING YOU.

OK. WELL, WE'RE GONNA GO SEE SOME IMMATURE--UM, IMITATION SILK FLOWER, UH, LEMON LILIES.

Huell: HI, LADIES.

OH, LOOK, SHE'S WEARING ANOTHER T-SHIRT.

YOU'VE GOT--THIS IS THE THIRD VARIATION-- HOW ABOUT THE EARRINGS?

Huell: OH!

HA HA HA!

Huell: THERE ARE LEMON LILIES EVERYWHERE.

LEMON LILIES.

I'VE SEEN THIS ONE EARLIER, THIS LEMON LILY.

THE SMILING LEMON LILY.

THIS IS THE ONE FOR THE KIDS.

OF ALL AGES, OF ALL AGES.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

OK, WE'VE GOT--LOOK.

HERE'S ANOTHER LEMON LILY.

SHOW HIM YOUR CHEEK.

Huell: WELL, IT'S NOT REALLY A LEMON LILY, IT'S A CARTOON T-SHIRT THAT'S GOT THE LEMON LILY COLOR TO IT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: DID SHE KNOW THAT AHEAD OF TIME, OR WAS THIS JUST BY ACCIDENT?

IT'S PURE COINCIDENCE.

Huell: WOW.

AND YOU--WAIT!

FACE PAINTING.

Huell: YOU'VE GOT A LEMON LILY ON YOUR CHEEK.

YEAH.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS EXCITING.

ARE THE TACOS LEMON LILY?

OH, THEY'VE GOT A LEMON LILY SALSA, YOU KNOW.

Huell: HA!

OK. WE HAVE MADE IT TO THE ACTUAL NATURE CENTER ITSELF.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL-- THANK YOU.

Huell: PLACE RIGHT HERE.

THANK YOU.

WE DO HAVE OUR SILK FLOWERS.

IMITA-- THE IMITATION.

BUT WE HAVE THE REAL LILY THAT HAS ALREADY BLOOMED-- Huell: WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

LET'S SEE THE IMITATION FIRST.

THERE YOU GO.

Huell: HERE ARE MORE IMITATIONS.

BOY, YOU COULD FOOL ME.

THESE LOOK LIKE--PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE SEEING THE REAL THING, DON'T THEY?

THEY DO.

THEY COME UP AND THEY ARE VERY IMPRESSED BY THE BLOOMS.

AND THEN WE SHOW THEM THE REAL, ALREADY PAST BLOOM FLOWERS.

Huell: AND A LEMON-FLAVORED LOLLYPOP.

LEMON LOLLIES.

AND YOUR TATTOO.

Huell: OH, THE LEMON LILY TATTOO.

YES.

THAT'S THE OFFICIAL-- Huell: HAVE YOU PUT SOME ON YET?

YEAH.

Huell: YOU GOT SOME LEMON LILY-- DO YOU WANT ONE?

Huell: SURE, COULD I HAVE ONE?

MM-HMM.

Huell: OH, YOU'RE GONNA ACTUALLY PUT IT ON ME?

THIS IS JASON.

Huell: HERE, PUT IT ON.

THIS IS MY FIRST TATTOO.

AND IT'S NOT PERMANENT.

Huell: OH, IT'LL COME OFF?

YEAH.

Huell: SO DOES THAT COUNT AS A TATTOO IF IT WASHES OFF?

BODY PAINT.

NO, IT'S CALLED BODY PAINT.

Huell: OH, OK.

BODY PAINTING.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE.

Huell: OH, IT'S GONNA--WE'RE GONNA BE--WELL, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, THIS IS KINDA NICE.

IT'S SO HOT THIS KINDA COOLS YOU DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

PUT ONE RIGHT HERE.

Huell: YEAH.

PUT ONE ON THE CHEEKS, HUH?

Huell: OH, LOOK!

[APPLAUSE] Huell: LOOK AT THAT.

WOW.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WOW, HE'S A GOOD LITTLE TATTOO ARTIST.

BODY PAINTING ARTIST.

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

I FEEL LIKE--I FEEL REAL LEMON LILY VIBES.

DO YOU FEEL THE VIBES?

Huell: I FEEL THE VIBES.

RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S 'CAUSE THEY'RE CLUSTERED.

Huell: OH, THEY'RE HERE.

LOOK AT 'EM.

REMEMBER, THIS IS THE MAKE-BELIEVE.

BUT THIS IS--OH!

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS IS-- THIS ISN'T THE REAL THING?

NO.

Huell: WHERE IS--WHERE IS A-- WAIT A MINUTE.

HERE ARE LIL-- HERE ARE LEMON LILIES ON A QUILT.

CLOSE, CLOSE.

HERE'S A QUILTER-- Huell: SO YOU MADE THEM ON A QUILT?

YES, SIR.

Huell: WHERE ARE--NO OFFENSE TO YOUR QUILT, 'CAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT I'M LOOKING FOR A REAL LEMON LILY.

WELL SHELLY CAN TAKE YOU TO A REAL LEMON LILY.

Huell: I THOUGHT--CAN YOU TAKE ME?

YOU LOOK OFFICIAL.

CAN YOU TAKE ME TO A REAL-- IT'S DOWN BY OUR CREEK, IF WE HAVE ANY.

Huell: SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S NO--THERE ARE NO REAL LEMON LILIES HERE?

BUT THEY'RE RIGHT HERE.

Huell: THERE THEY ARE.

YEAH.

Huell: BUT THEY'RE NOT BLOOMING.

IT'S PAST THEIR SEASON.

Huell: UCH.

BY WEEKS.

JUST MAYBE A WEEK.

Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE, LOOK.

THESE ARE--THESE GREEN PODS RIGHT HERE, WHEN THEY'RE IN SEASON OPEN UP AND BECOME THESE BEAUTIFUL LEMON LILIES.

EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

Huell: BUT WE MISSED IT.

I'M SORRY.

YOU DID.

HA HA.

YOU DID.

Huell: YOU ALL CAN ALL GO HOME.

WE'VE MISSED IT.

WE'VE MISSED IT.

THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT IS ON A QUILT, OR ON YOUR HAT.

THERE WE GO.

All: HEY.

Huell: OH, NOW I'M REALLY GETTING THE VIBES FROM THE LEMON LILIES.

THESE ARE--NOW, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.

THIS--IS THIS A FORMAL GROUP OF SINGERS FROM THE COMMUNITY?

THESE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE LEMON LILY FESTIVAL WHO HAVE PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE TO BE HERE AND SING-- SING FOR EVERYBODY.

Huell: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA SING?

WE'RE GONNA SING "LEMON LILY, I LOVE YOU".

'CAUSE WE DO.

Huell: SO IS THIS--WAS THIS SONG WRITTEN FOR THE LEMON LILY FESTIVAL?

IT WAS INDEED.

Huell: WHO WROTE IT?

I DID IT.

I DID.

HA HA.

Huell: IS THIS THE FIRST SONG YOU'VE EVER WRITTEN?

IT'S THE SECOND SONG.

HA HA HA!

Huell: I'M NOT GONNA ASK WHAT THE FIRST ONE IS.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA STAND BACK, 'CAUSE HOW LONG IS THIS SONG?

OH, IT'S VERY SHORT.

IT'S ABOUT A MINUTE.

Huell: IT DOESN'T HAVE 18 VERSES OR ANYTHING?

NO, NO.

NOT YET.

NOT LIKE CHURCH ON SUNDAY.

Huell: OK, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA STEP BACK.

ARE WE READY?

WE'VE GOT MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT?

EVERYTHING IS READY.

HERE WE GO.

"THE LEMON LILY SONG".

ONE, TWO, 3, 4... [MUSIC BEGINS] ♪ OH I MISS MY SUNNY FUNNY FRECKLED FACE A-PEEKIN' FROM HER SHADY LITTLE PLACE, MY LOVELY LILY CREEK SHE USED TO HIDE AND CALL ME SWEETLY TO HER SIDE WHEN WINTER MELTED FROM MY HEART WHERE SPRINGTIME BEAUTY MADE ME START TO SING THE PRAISES OF A WORK OF ART LEMON LILY I LOVE YOU ♪ [SINGING CONTINUES] Huell: WAIT A MINUTE, THERE GOES VERSE NUMBER TWO.

I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD A SECOND VERSE.

♪ AND KEEP YOU CLOSE LEMON LILY I LOVE YOU LEMON LILY I LOVE YOU ♪ [APPLAUSE AND CHEERS] Huell: I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION, WHERE DO I BUY THE CD?

IT'S COMING OUT REAL SOON.

HA HA HA!

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

Huell: LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES.

OF COURSE, IDLEWILD IS KNOWN FOR ITS TREES.

WE'VE COME JUST A FEW YARDS FROM THE NATURE CENTER.

I HAVE HOOKED UP WITH... KATE KRAMER.

Huell: FROM THE SAN BERNARDINO-- NATIONAL FOREST.

Huell: NATIONAL FOREST.

ARE WE IN THE NATIONAL FOREST RIGHT NOW?

HERE WE'RE AT COUNTY NATURE CENTER, ON COUNTY LAND.

Huell: SO WE'RE ON COUNTY LAND, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF NATIONAL FOREST LAND.

HOW BIG IS THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST?

ABOUT 650,000 ACRES.

Huell: THAT'S A LOT OF ACRES.

OK. NOW, WE HAVE--YOU'VE KIND OF WATCHED US SO FAR TODAY.

WE'VE PLAYED AROUND THIS LEMON LILY THEME ALL MORNING.

BUT YOU'RE GONNA BE THE MAIN LEMON LILY PERSON, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T YET TALKED ABOUT WHY THE LEMON LILY?

WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THE LEMON LILY?

WELL, IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL FLOWER THAT WAS VERY PLENTIFUL AROUND THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY, ALL THROUGH STRAWBERRY VALLEY AND ESPECIALLY UP IN THE SAN JACINTO WILDERNESS.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, PLENTIFUL?

UM, THEY--THE OLD TIMERS HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY USED TO BE LIKE WEEDS IN THE CREEKS.

Huell: REALLY?

THAT THEY WOULD GO DOWN AND PLAY IN THE WATER, AND HAVE TO GO--YOU KNOW, PUSH ASIDE THE LILIES TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT.

Huell: SO LEMON LILIES USED TO BE EVERYWHERE UP HERE.

WHERE?

IN THE SPRINGTIME, MAINLY?

UH, ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR, JULY AND AUGUST.

Huell: RIGHT, OK. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEMON LILIES?

BASICALLY, THEY WERE LOVED TO DEATH.

THEY WERE--UH, PEOPLE CAME AND PICKED THEM.

THEY LOVED THE FLOWERS, THEY PICKED THE FLOWERS, AND THEY DUG UP THE BULBS.

Huell: THEY TRIED TO TRANSPLANT THEM.

HOW WELL DO LEMON LILIES TRANSPLANT?

WELL, WE'RE NOT TOO SURE, BUT THERE'S NOT VERY MANY ANYWHERE ELSE.

Huell: SO PROBABLY NOT VERY WELL?

THEY NEED TO BE GROWING OUT IN THE WILD.

YES.

YEAH.

Huell: SO THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THIS AREA OF CALIFORNIA USED TO BE FILLED WITH LEMON LILIES.

NOW IT'S DOWN TO A PRECIOUS FEW, AND WHEN I SAY PRECIOUS FEW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY COUNT 'EM, CAN'T YOU?

WE'VE BEEN COUNTING.

UH, LAST YEAR THEY COUNTED 3,000 UP IN THE WILDERNESS, IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

Huell: NOW, IT'S HARD TO GET TO THE WILDERNESS, THOUGH.

YOU HAVE--THAT'S QUITE A HIKE.

YES, IT IS.

Huell: SO MOST PEOPLE ALIVE TODAY-- DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD LILIES IN IDLEWILD.

Huell: HAVE NEVER SEEN LEMON LILIES GROWING IN THE WILD.

NO, THAT'S TRUE.

Huell: WHAT BROUGHT ALL THIS ABOUT, THIS SUDDEN RE-EMERGENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT LEMON LILIES?

WE HAD A COUPLE OF LOCAL BOTANISTS THAT WERE VERY INTERESTED, AND THEY STARTED KIND OF MAPPING THEM UP IN THE WILDERNESS TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY WERE NOW.

AND THEN SOMEBODY FOUND THIS OLD MONOGRAPH FROM 1902, AND IT WAS A FLORA DONE OF THE SAN JACINTOS.

AND IT SAID IN THERE UNDER THE LEMON LILY, LEMON--"LILIUM PARRYI", THE GENUS AND SPECIES, UH, THAT IN ONE SEASON, ONE COLLECTOR TOOK OUT 5,000 BULBS.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

WELL, SEE, THERE YOU GO.

LOVED THEM TO DEATH.

YEAH.

Huell: TOOK OUT 5,000 BULBS IN ONE SEASON ALONE.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE COLLECTOR, AND THAT WAS JUST AN ANECDOTAL NOTE.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON.

Huell: WELL, LET'S GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.

THEY WANTED TO TRANSPORT SOME OF THIS BEAUTY TO THEIR OWN BACK YARDS WHEREVER THEY LIVED IN CALIFORNIA, OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY RIGHT.

Huell: WELL, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY'RE GONE.

BUT THEY'RE BEGINNING TO COME BACK.

AND YOU HAVE PROMISED ME THAT IF I HIKED DOWN THE FOREST LANE WITH YOU TODAY, YOU WOULD SHOW ME A LIVE, BLOOMING LEMON LILY IN THE WILD.

YES.

ARE YOU READY?

Huell: I'M READY.

WHERE DO WE-- WHERE DO WE GO?

LET'S HEAD OFF THIS DIRECTION.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THIS DIRECTION?

IT LOOKS LIKE A BUNCH OF OVERGROWN-- WE NEED TO GET TO THE CREEK.

AND WE'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF GREEN IN THE CREEK, AND THAT'S BASICALLY A HAPPY STORY.

Huell: SO WE'RE GOING DOWN TO THE CREEK?

WE ARE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY GROW.

Huell: OK. KATE AND I ARE MAKING OUR WAY.

THIS IS LIKE A SAFARI WE'RE ON, GOING THROUGH--OH!

THESE ARE STICKERS.

WHAT ARE THESE?

WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF WILD ROSES DOWN HERE, AND WATCH OUT FOR STINGING NETTLES.

Huell: FOR WHAT?

STINGING NETTLES.

Huell: WHAT IS THAT?

OH, IT'S ANOTHER LITTLE PLANT THAT CAN CAUSE YOU SOME GRIEF.

Huell: OH, WAIT A MINUTE.

NOW THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT IS THIS?

THIS IS WILD AZALEA.

Huell: OH, SO WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS ISN'T' IT?

NOPE.

NOT YET.

Huell: WILD AZALEA.

FALSE ALARM.

OH, THERE IT IS.

OH, BOY.

WOW.

OUR FIRST NATURAL, GROWING IN THE WILD LEMON LILY.

AND I HATE TO SAY IT, IS THAT IT?

THAT'S THE WHOLE LEMON LILY POPULATION AROUND HERE?

HA HA HA!

THIS IS ONE OF ABOUT 40.

AND THEY WERE IN FULL BLOOM ABOUT 5 DAYS AGO, SO THESE ARE THE STRAGGLERS THAT ARE LEFT OVER.

Huell: WHY DID WE MISS-- WAS IT SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FESTIVAL, AND THEY--YOU KNOW, CAME UP WITH THE WRONG DATES?

OR WAS IT BECAUSE OF THE WARM WEATHER OR WHAT?

ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

IT'S HARD TO PLAN AN EVENT IN ADVANCE WHEN YOU HAVE A SEASONALLY DEPENDENT SPECIES.

Huell: YEAH.

WOW, LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL-- IT'S A VERY FRAGILE PLANT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME.

IT IS, BUT AREN'T THOSE STUNNING FLOWERS?

Huell: DO THEY SMELL?

DO THEY-- I CAN'T SMELL.

WELL, LET'S TAKE A SNIFF AND SEE.

[SNIFFING] Huell: OH, BOY.

THEY SMELL-- AND THEY GROW UP.

UH-HUH.

Huell: SO THEY'RE VERY, UH-- OH, WOW.

NOW IS THAT TO REACH THE SUNLIGHT?

MM-HMM.

THEY NEED SUN AND-- THEY NEED SUNLIGHT IN CREEKS.

SO WHEN OUR CREEKS GET OVERGROWN--THAT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM, THEY GET SHADED OUT.

Huell: BUT THEY DO GROW ON CREEK BEDS?

AND IN A FOREST SITUATION LIKE THIS, THIS WAS PERFECT FOR LEMON LILIES.

THEY DON'T GROW OUT IN THE BRIGHT SUN IN MEADOWS OR THINGS LIKE THAT?

ON THE EDGES OF MEADOWS.

THEY JUST NEED WET SOIL.

THEY NEED THEIR FEET IN THE WET.

Huell: THEY NEED WATER.

LAST YEAR, WE COLLECTED SEED AFTER THEY FLOWERED, UH, UP IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.

AND WE STARTED A PILOT PROJECT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GROW THEM.

Huell: YEAH, NOBODY KNOWS.

WELL, PEOPLE KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT REAL COMMON.

Huell: THE TOWN IS DOING IT AND THE FOREST SERVICE IS DOING IT.

YES.

YEAH.

SO WE'RE GETTING-- WE'LL PROBABLY BE COLLECTING MORE SEED THIS YEAR, AND GETTING MORE STARTED.

WE THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE ONE TO 3 YEARS, PROBABLY 3 TO 5 YEARS BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO PLANT BACK OUT IN THE WILD.

Huell: SO YOU'LL BE RE-INTRODUCING THEM OUT INTO THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST WHERE THEY BELONG, AND THE PEOPLE IN TOWN ARE GONNA BE PUTTING THEM IN TOWN AS WELL?

I THINK PEOPLE IN TOWN WANT THEM TO BE WHERE THEY CAN SEE THEM.

THEY'RE JUST GORGEOUS.

Huell: WOW, THIS IS-- THIS WAS WORTH THE HIKE.

I'M SO GLAD.

Huell: NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL BEAUTY, BUT THE-- [SNIFFING] OH, THE SMELL IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU WERE APOLOGIZING THAT THIS WAS IT, WE'RE JUST GONNA SEE ONE.

BUT I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING VERY POIGNANT ABOUT THIS, THAT THIS ONE LEMON LILY OUT HERE BY THE CREEK BED REPRESENTS THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT TO BRING THEM BACK AND TO RESTORE THEM THE WAY THEY USED TO BE, AND MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO SEE AND ENJOY.

I GOTTA SAY, I'M GLAD IT'S HERE SO WE COULD BRING YOU DOWN AND YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE ONE IN THE WILD.

Huell: YEAH.

IT'S ONE THING TO SEE ONE ON A QUILT, IT'S ONE THING TO HEAR THEM SING A SONG ABOUT IT, OR TO HAVE A LITTLE BODY PAINTING, LITTLE TATTOO ON-- THAT'S VERY NICE.

AND PRETTY REALISTIC, BUT YOU KNOW.

Huell: IT'S ALSO MIXED IN NOW WITH BLOOD WHERE I'VE NICKED MYSELF ON THE WILD ROSES COMING OUT HERE.

BUT TO SEE THE REAL THING OUT HERE REALLY MAKES AN IMPACT AND SHOWS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT'S BEING DONE HERE TO BRING THEM BACK, LITERALLY FROM THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION.

BECAUSE THEY WERE ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE, WEREN'T THEY?

THEY'RE FOUND IN SMALL NUMBERS IN REMOTE PLACES, SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BRING THEM BACK FOR MORE PEOPLE TO SEE THEM.

BECAUSE IT'S A REAL TREASURE IN OUR LOCAL MOUNTAINS.

Huell: OK, KATE AND I ARE LEAVING THE BRIAR PATCH, THE BRAMBLES.

BOY, I'M SCARRED UP FROM HEAD TO TOE.

BUT, BOY IT WAS WORTH THE VISIT.

AND LOOK UP HERE.

WHEN WE WENT DOWN, THERE WAS--WE WERE ALONE.

WHEN WE CAME BACK, I GUESS THE LEMON LILY HAS DRAWN A CROWD, WHICH MAKES YOU HAPPY.

REALLY HAPPY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE AS A BOTANIST, PEOPLE GET REALLY TIRED OF LONG, SCIENTIFIC NAMES, AND IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT GENUS AND SPECIES, BUT I GOTTA SAY I'M GRATIFIED THAT THIS TOWN HAS RALLIED AROUND A PLANT.

Huell: YEAH, THE LEMON LILY.

HOW MANY LOCALS DO WE HAVE?

HOW MANY PEOPLE VISITING?

SO IT'S ABOUT 50/50.

WHERE'S A LOCAL?

LET'S SEE OUR LOCALS AGAIN.

HAD YOU EVER SEEN OR HEARD OF LEMON LILIES BEFORE?

NO, I REALLY HAVEN'T.

NOT UNTIL ALL OF THE EXCITEMENT CAME WITH--IN ABOUT, OH, ABOUT FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF THIS YEAR.

Huell: YEAH.

AND THEN, WOW.

AND WE JUST LIVED LEMON LILIES.

Huell: SO THE WHOLE TOWN HAS GOTTEN SWEPT UP IN LEMON LILY FEVER.

EVERYONE IS.

THE WHOLE TOWN, EVERYBODY.

I VOLUNTEER HERE AT THE NATURE CENTER.

AND THE NATURE CENTER HAS BEEN, UH-- HAS GOT SOME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TRANSPLANT IN.

AND, UH, SO WE KEEP 'EM WATERED, AND, UH, BEEN LOVING THEM.

Huell: WHO'S VISITING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE?

HAD YOU EVER HEARD ABOUT THEM?

NO, NEVER HEARD ABOUT THEM.

JUST HAPPENED TO COME UP FOR THE WEEKEND FOR MY BIRTHDAY.

Huell: AND IT WAS LEMON LILY WEEKEND.

YEAH, SPECIAL.

Huell: DID YOU COME UP JUST FOR THE FESTIVAL?

YES, BUT WE'VE SEEN THE LEMON LILY BEFORE, AND WE WANTED TO SEE IT AGAIN.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE, WHERE HAVE YOU SEEN IT?

I THOUGHT IT WAS ALMOST EXTINCT.

WELL, WE GO CAMPING UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.

Huell: OH, YOU WENT WAY UP INTO THE WILD COUNTRY UP THERE.

THAT'S--YOU HAVE TO REALLY HIKE TO SEE THOSE.

YES.

Huell: YOU'RE AN OUTDOORS PERSON, AREN'T YOU?

A HIKER, THAT'S WHY YOU'VE GOT THAT STICK WITH YOU.

YOU'RE READY TO HIKE UP IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.

WELL, HAS IT BEEN WORTH IT FOR EVERYBODY?

EVERYBODY EXCITED?

YEAH, YES.

Huell: TO SEE THE LEMON LILIES?

YEAH.

Huell: SEE, LOOK.

THOSE ARE WORDS TO HER HEART.

LOOK AT HER.

SHE IS A HAPPY CAMPER.

A HAPPY FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEE.

AND A HAPPY BOTANIST.

THANK YOU.

Huell: AND A HAPPY BOTANIST.

OUR LEMON LILY ADVENTURE CONTINUES.

WE ARE NOW ABOUT A MILE FROM THE NATURE CENTER.

WE'VE COME BACK TO DOWNTOWN IDLEWILD.

WE'RE IN ONE OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES.

WE'RE IN GARY'S DELI, I ASSUME YOU'RE GARY.

YES.

WELCOME.

HOW ARE YOU?

Huell: WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW, THE LEMON LILY THEME IS NOT JUST AT THE NATURE CENTER, IT'S ALL OVER TOWN.

ALL OVER TOWN.

WE HAVE LEMON BARS.

Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.

LEMON BARS-- FROM LEMON LILIES.

Huell: SO THAT'S--WELL, THEY'RE NOT REALLY FROM LEMON LILIES.

WE GOTTA PRETEND.

Huell: THEY--THEY CELEBRATE THE LEMON LILY.

AND WE HAVE A BOAR'S HEAD HOT DOG WITH OUR HOMEMADE LEMON LILY MUSTARD.

Huell: NOW IT'S JUST TEMPORARILY CALLED LEMON LILY MUSTARD, RIGHT?

YEAH, BUT THERE'S LEMONS IN THERE.

Huell: NOW WE'VE COME NEXT DOOR TO THE MOUNTAIN HARVEST MARKET.

AND THERE SHE IS, SITTING IN FRONT OF THE LEMON LILY FESTIVAL POSTER.

STAND UP AND INTRODUCE-- WAIT A MINUTE.

IT SAYS HERE YOU'RE THE SPROUT LADY.

I'M THE SPROUT LADY.

Huell: YOU'RE ALSO AN AMBASSADOR FOR LEMON LILIES.

OK, WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE?

WHY ARE YOU IN THIS STORE?

WELL, I COOK OUT OF THIS KITCHEN, I PACKAGE HEALTHY FOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

AND TODAY, WE HAVE THE LEMON LILY FESTIVAL SAMPLES OUT.

AND THAT IS A LEMON LILY SALAD.

Huell: A LEMON LILY SALAD.

WHAT MAKES THIS HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH LEMON LILIES AT ALL?

A LEMON DRESSING.

Huell: A LEMON DRESSING?

YES.

Huell: AND WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU GOT-- IS THIS YOUR STORE?

I'M ACTUALLY THE STORE MANAGER.

I'M KEVIN.

Huell: WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU GOT HERE THAT'S LEMON ORIENTED?

WELL, ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE-- ANYTHING THAT SAID LEMON ON IT, WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND PUT IT OUT-- Huell: BRING IT OUT.

BRING IT OUT AND TRY AND, UH, PROMOTE THIS.

Huell: WHAT IS THIS?

THIS?

WE HAVE SOME LEMON CURD THAT WAS MADE FOR US FROM STRAWBERRY CREEK INN.

Huell: WHAT IS LEMON CURD?

LEMON CURD, UH-- THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

Huell: WELL, I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS?

YOU'RE THE AMBASSADOR.

IT'S LIKE A PUDDING, KIND OF.

BUT YOU USE IT ON SCONES, OR YOU PUT IT IN YOUR MORNING TOAST, OR-- Huell: OK, SO WE'VE GOT LEMON CURD.

LEMON CURD.

AND THEN WE HAVE SOME LEMONADE, OF COURSE.

Huell: LEMONADE.

UH-HUH.

ORGANIC LEMONADE.

Huell: ORGANIC LEMONADE.

THAT'S THE IMPORTANT KEY.

Huell: SO BASICALLY, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE LEMON.

THAT'S IT.

YES, WE ARE.

Huell: ALL THINGS LEMON IN CELEBRATION OF-- THE FESTIVAL.

Huell: THE LEMON LILY FESTIVAL.

YES.

Huell: OK, DOUG.

THIS ALL TIES IN.

WE DID THIS FOR A REASON, VISITING THESE STORES.

BECAUSE THE WHOLE TOWN HAS BEEN SWEPT UP IN THIS LEMON LILY FESTIVAL.

HOW DID ALL THIS START?

WELL, THIS GOES BACK MANY MONTHS AGO TO KATE KRAMER, WHO YOU MET THIS AFTER-- Huell: SHE'S THE WOMAN FROM THE FOREST SERVICE.

SHE'S THE FOREST SERVICE PERSON.

AND SHE HAD THE IDEA OF CREATING A CELEBRATION, A FESTIVAL, TO GET PEOPLE MORE AWARE, KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE LEMON LILY AND TRY AND SAVE IT.

Huell: AND HOW DID THE TOWN GET SWEPT UP IN IT?

WELL, A FEW CONVERSATIONS LATER, SHE CAME TO ONE OF OUR BUSINESS ROUND TABLE MEETINGS AND SUGGESTED THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO GET TOGETHER AND PUT ON A FESTIVAL.

AND WE'RE A GROUP OF BUSINESS OWNERS, AND WE LOVED THE IDEA.

A MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL UP IN IDLEWILD, BRING PEOPLE UP THE MOUNTAIN, GET OUR LOCALS ENGAGED IN A NICE CELEBRATION.

Huell: THIS WAS THE COMMERCE SIDE OF THE FESTIVAL.

THIS IS TRUE, CORRECT.

Huell: IT WAS A GREAT, LOGICAL, REAL REASON FOR HAVING A FESTIVAL.

ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: HOW HARD WAS IT TO PUT TOGETHER THE FIRST ANNUAL LEMON LILY FESTIVAL?

WELL, I LIKE WHAT YOU SAY, THE FIRST ONE.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE, UH--TOOK A LOT OF WORK THIS FIRST YEAR, BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THE LEMON LILY.

SO CREATING A FESTIVAL AROUND A PLANT THAT NO ONE HAD SEEN OR SMELT OR BEEN CLOSE TO WAS A LITTLE CHALLENGING.

SO YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF SILK FLOWERS TODAY, AND WE USE THOSE FLOWERS TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE LEMON LILY IS.

AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THE FLOWER IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT THEY BLOOMED.

Huell: DO YOU THINK THIS REALLY IS--I MEAN, WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL.

THIS IS THE FIRST OF WHAT IS GONNA BE MANY LEMON LILY FESTIVALS IN YEARS TO COME.

THIS IS THE KICK-OFF TO A LONG, LONG-RUNNING FESTIVAL IN IDLEWILD.

THERE WON'T BE ANY CONVINCING NEXT YEAR.

AND WE'RE SURE THAT THE BUSINESSES, THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE LOCALS, THE VISITORS WILL BE READY AND COMPELLED TO BE A PART OF THE LEMON LILY FESTIVAL, YES.

Huell: ISN'T IT INTERESTING, THOUGH, THAT THIS WHOLE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATING SOMETHING THAT, WHAT, 6 MONTHS AGO WASN'T EVEN ON ANYBODY'S RADAR SCREEN?

BUT IT WASN'T HARD WHEN YOU REALIZED IT'S NATURE, IT'S A NATIVE WILDFLOWER, IT'S SOMETHING PRECIOUS, IT'S DELICATE, IT'S ALMOST GONE.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO GET PEOPLE CAUGHT UP IN THE EXCITEMENT OF PROTECTING SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL FOR HERE.

Huell: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

I SAID AT THE OPENING OF THIS PROGRAM THAT JUST ABOUT EVERY COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA HAS ITS LOCAL FESTIVAL, BUT THIS ONE IS UNIQUE.

AND I AM LEAVING HERE TODAY NOT ONLY WITH MY TATTOO, MY PAINT--MY PAINT-ON LEMON LILY-- THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: I'VE HAD LEMON LILY CURD, WE'VE HEARD THE LEMON LILY SONG.

I'VE MET A LOT OF VERY NICE PEOPLE.

I HAD FORGOTTEN HOW FRIENDLY THE PEOPLE IN IDLEWILD ARE.

THIS IS A VERY FRIENDLY TOWN.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE LOVE THAT YOU'VE COME AND SPENT SOME TIME WITH US.

THANK YOU-- Huell: WELL, I'VE ENJOYED THIS DAY.

AS I SAID EARLIER, IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO VISIT IDLEWILD ANY TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT ESPECIALLY DURING THE LEMON LILY FESTIVAL.

THIS PLACE IS WORTH A VISIT.

THAT'S IT, OUR DAY ATTENDING THE FIRST ANNUAL, WHAT WILL BE MANY MORE-- MANY MORE.

Huell: LEMON LILY FESTIVALS.

THIS FESTIVAL IN IDLEWILD THAT CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF THE LEMON LILY.

WE ALMOST LOST IT, BUT IT'S COMING BACK.

♪ OH I MISS MY SUNNY FUNNY FRECKLED FACE A-PEEKIN' FROM HER SHADY LITTLE PLACE... ♪ [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] ♪ WHEN WINTER MELTED FROM MY HEART WHERE SPRINGTIME BEAUTY MADE ME START TO SING THE PRAISES OF A WORK OF ART LEMON LILY, I LOVE YOU ♪ "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.