My Stargazers aren't up much yet and I'm in zone 7. The later orientals take their time coming up.

When I cut back my lilies in the Fall I leave about 6" of the stem (no leaves). This acts as a plant marker for the next spring. If not, (or the plant is too small for that) I use real plant markers. In the winter it looks like I'm "growing" white plastic in my garden! While the winter time aesthetics leave something to be desired, if I didn't, I'd be chopping up bulbs left and right in my garden.

Forgot to list above that there was also no sign of dwarf oriental "Garden Party". That was planted in late April/very early May last year and barely grew, so I more or less wrote it off.

I have left a stem too but sometimes it breaks off.

I have put plant markers out every year, both wood and plastic. By spring 80% of them are gone. I used to blame it on DH and his eager spring raking, but this year I did the raking myself so I know now that something is taking them. It could be birds, or some other animal.

Someday I will run across a local beaver dam (there is at least one within a mile) and find it bristling with my white plastic plant markers. I keep meaning to buy the metal ones but IÂm not sure I like the look of them.