I walked out the door to over twice as many blooms as yesterday.  Twenty-one!  So, we are continuing to climb to the apex of the season.  Interesting that in this bouquet that there are no new cultivators.  So, what to talk about?  Perhaps what the sun does to color in daylilies.  I am no hybridizer, but I was a printer at one point much earlier in my life.  I learned about color then . . . additive and subtractive.  

It is my understanding that daylilies don’t have genes to make blue.  So, the near blue flowers are a mosaic.  Additive color is what I use when I paint my blooms.  It is easy compared to subtractive color . . . which is done with light and filters.  If I was issuing a somewhat educated guess, I would say this must be a subtractive process.  

So, here is my stunning Blue Beat before the rays of sun hit it directly: 

Blue Beat – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

And here it is just 5-10 minutes later, as the first rays of sun found its pedals: ( It shifts from blue, green, and light pink to peach, yellow, and purple).  I would love to hear a hybridizer’s take on this!

Blue Beat – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

I had a lot of cool spiders today – Ruby Spider, Thin Man, Aztec Firebird, Zuni Thunderbird, and Desert Icicle.  Here is one with Ruby and the Thin Man.

Ruby Spider with Thin Man in the distance – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Also, three out of five in my family garden are blooming today: Here are all three: Isaac (grandson), Mini Pearl (Minnie Pearl – grandma), and Stephanie (daughter).  The colors are nice together.  Maya Poppy (for granddaughter, Maia) is going to blend right in.  Hopefully, soon.  Catherine Irene, momma’s namesake, looks like it is waiting for now.

All in the Family from L to R: Isaac, Mini Pearl, and Stephanie Returns – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

So, here are today’s 21.  Busiest day of 2016 so far.  At least until I start trying to paint all of these for Christmas presents!  Oh, help!

In alphabetical order from L to R: Top Row – Aztec Firebird, Blue Beat, Desert Icicle, Early Bird Cardinal, Isaac.  Row Two – Lady Fingers, Mesa Verde, Mini Pearl, Pick of the Litter, Prelude to Love, Purple de Oro. Row Three – Razzamatazz, Return a Smile, Route 66, Ruby Spider, Soco Gap, South Seas.  Bottom Row – Stephanie Returns, Thin Man, VooDoo Dancer and Zuni Thunderbird.

So, I am ready for a nap!