The only time you can't plant in our PNW zone 8 is if the soil is too saturated to work. Typically, the end of January/early February coincides with some of our rainiest weather, so keep that in mind :-)) Mulching is not a requirement for oriental lilies here - they are totally hardy. Keep the bulbs cool and slightly damp and plant as soon as you can - they don't benefit from prolonged storage. If the weather doesn't cooperate, you can always pot them up and plant out later.

Thanks very much, Gardengal48,
I was told by a nursery 20 miles inland I couldn't plant them until March. On the container it tells you to plant immediately.

I had a virus hit them two years ago. I dug up all of them; treated the soil and added new soil. I'm going to plant in a 3' high raised bed - not the same area. Should or can the soil be treated while planting to prevent another virus?

Thanks

Very few viruses affecting lilies are transmitted by soil organisms (nematodes) and they are not common in this country - the most common lily viruses are spread by aphids. Just make sure you new lily bulbs are planted well away from any possible carriers (many common tiger lilies are carriers but exhibit no obvious symptoms) and control the aphids. You should be fine.

Fortunately, lily hybridizers are now offering more and more virus resistant selections.

Here is a link that might be useful: lily virus excerpt