Happy Cinco de Mayo: A Southwest Road Trip in My Garden!

May 6, 2017Leave a comment

My southwest named daylily garden is in. I added around 20 new blooms this year. My garden is a dream come true. I never dreamed I’d actually find all of these. Next, blow out the elm seeds and mulch.

These kids are an investment. So, labeling and mapping are key to maintaining that. I experimented with various labels. Nothing has held up well through winter. I found these metal ones on Amazon. The reviews said the paint may have to be redone every spring. I sprayed mine with engine spray. We’ll see.

I love the names. It’s like having a road trip on a garden 🙂

Spring has sprung, the daylilies has riz. I wonder where the sunlight is?

April 27, 2017Leave a comment

It’s late April, although it feels more like February outside this week. None the less, I planted about 10 new daylilies in my Southwest garden last weekend. The daylilies here all have Southwest or Colorado names . . . Mostly from hybridizer, Ned Roberts. Close to 100 varities! I have about a dozen more to add this weekend. Then, it will be essentially complete. Here are the roots that came last week . . . I love the smell of them.

With this many specialty plants, I’ve found it a challenge to know what’s where. I’ve put many hours into garden labels, and just created this map. I love all the Southwestern names. Sadly, though, my labels are not going to hold up much longer. The map is a great adjunct to the project. Such adventures! Reminds my of working in the (newborn) nursery.

I just want some warmth! Sadly, so did my poinsettias. I thought I’d have 16, then 14, then 12. Now, may be 8? They were starting to form leaves in March. But, April has been colder and not enough solar energy for them to continue to try to put out new growth. They were so close to sprouting, too. Right now, I feel the same way. Go daylilies!

The longest blooming daylilies in my yard!

April 3, 2017April 3, 2017Leave a comment

As my daylilies begin to grow taller and taller, I begin to imagine the season ahead. I have a system for numbering photos that allows me to know start and stop blooming dates. As far as blooming for several weeks, I have several top performers.

The winner is probably Red Hot Returns, which started in August and was blooming in early November.

Ruby Stella also bloomed from early August into early November.

Of my peak season bloomers, several lasted for over a month with lots and lots of summer blooms.

Mesa Verde was profuse and bloomed for a month from 6/26 to 7/24

My old favorite, Ruby Spider, bloomed from 6/24 to 7/22. Not bad.

PrimalScream cheated a little with two different plants in two different locations. But all in all she lasted from 6/25 to 8/4!!!

South Seas rolled in from 7/11 – 8/4 (and I was out of town the week prior, so I may have missed a couple blooms.

And, lastly, Soco Gap produced big, gorgeous blooms from to 7/6 to 8/2.

Daylilies: My Gateway Addiction

March 19, 2017March 19, 2017Leave a comment

I want to start by saying that daylilies are a gateway addiction. They bring flow, or engagement, though. So, it’s an authentically happy addiction. This winter brought poinsettias, amaryllis, orchids, and calathea. Oh, and growth to my Rex Begonias. . . Maybe their colorful leaves are also a gateway.

My last post was about poinsettias in hybernation. I lost the one that I posted the picture of last time. Of 16, I’ve lost 2. The one in this photo (below) has beautiful purple bracks (or colored leaves). I think it’s going to pull through, though it has no leaves other than a couple sprouts like this. The releafing is in its early to middle stages on all of my babies, who live on the sun porch by day.

Purple poinsettia

The orchids are still blooming, mostly.

The Rexs and Calatheas just have showy leaves year around. I live the colors.

And, today, I turn to my outdoor garden, where daylily sprouts are everywhere. The ones in pots on my outdoor porch get the most southern exposure. They are getting big! This is Ruby Spider yesterday.

Spring is only hours away!

Out of the frying pan, into the fire

February 6, 2017February 6, 2017Leave a comment

Daylilies for 2017 ordered. Unless Solstice, my cat, killed the potted ones that she dug up. So, I wait for spring.

My Amaryllis are done. The bulk of my poinsettias are hibernating, at least to some degree. I have over a dozen and figured I’d loose a few by spring. So far, all still have green stems.

They have been spending warm days on my fiber glass back porch. It’s on the south side, so makes a good ggreenhouse. My evergreen daylilies are out there. Man, I hope Mesa Verde, Canyon Colors, and Wild Horses are resilient. Not happy with my beloved Solstice a out this. For now, we wait for growth.

I’ll update when the new growth comes. I’ll be putting the poinsettia pots in with the daylilies. Can’t wait.

Sometimes, A Brown Thumb

December 17, 2016December 17, 2016Leave a comment

I’m new with poinsettias. Like I was with daylilies and garlic 5 years ago. And, so, I’m down one from last week. Another is in ICU with my begonias. They don’t like cold. That’s for sure.

I also have a couple new additions. This little deeper orange guy is cool.

And, this pink and red dapple replaces my sweet peppermint colored one.

This one has neat red and white coloring. It was the closest thing to peppermint I could find.

It funny how much less fragile poinsettias are after a summer in the garden. These guys are bloomed as throw aways. I’m guessing I’ll loose more, but still excited to see which ones choose to stay.

Poinsettia Addict or Daylily Grieving?

December 5, 2016Leave a comment

I am surprised at my addiction to poinsettias and amaryllis this year. I have always liked them, but never wanted to be surrounded by so many. Maybe it is because I am working from home and they add a certain joy. Maybe it is stress management for a new job. Maybe it is cause (despite a lot of blunders) I got my orange one from last year to bloom. Or, possible it is daylily withdraw. Or, all of the above.

This week, I picked up a few more. Today, I went back for the variegated one, and the first one I picked up lost a limb when I went to look for a pot. The woman in floral saw me replace it with another. It was an odd moment, but I did not bump it with any force, so my guess is that it was partially off before. I felt bad . . . but they have made a huge profit off of my poinsettia journey this year. And, these were $9, so they kept their profit 🙂 They should give poinsettia points instead of gas points.

So, here are the new ones. (I am not sure on names on most of these and am wanting a book with that info if anyone knows of one):

A dappled pink one (above).

A dark pink one (above). My beautiful lighter pink one is dying 😦

This one is called Ice Punch, I believe (above).

This one is huge – reminds me of peppermint (above).

This one is a variegated red one. Yes, I finally got a red one . . . but it is unique!

I have ideas for the short day lighting these guys need to rebloom. This year, I tried the cellar with some extra light on a timer. To cold and dark, so while it bloomed, it dropped a lot of leaves. Very leggy now beneath those blooms. Next year, I will try a much warmer closet and add more lights for the first 4 weeks. After that, they will go up on the bookshelf in my basement room, with boosted lights via timer. I am hopeful that this will work . . . and keep me gardening into fall without overwhelming myself with covering and uncovering these. Oh, and I also need to follow the pruning and fertilizer routine much better than this year.

I am guessing some will not make it to spring, but most will. They will be out in my garden this summer with the daylilies. I am jazzed by a winter hobby. But, it is time to call it good and stay out of the poinsettias!

Lady Jane: The First Amaryllis 2016

November 30, 2016November 30, 2016Leave a comment

It took her 3 days to bloom fully. I think she is pretty. It’s freezing outside. My daylilies are buried under mulch and a bit of snow. Thank you, Lady Jane, for reminding me of the simple joy of watching a flower bloom.

Poinsettias: A daylily gardener’s winter smile :-)

November 27, 2016November 27, 2016Leave a comment

My daylily gardens are under a few inches of mulch as it spits snow. My family is headed home after a Thanksgiving visit. Christmas and winter are upon us. What is a daylily hobbiest to do? How about invest in some cool colored Poinsettias?

I am working from home, so I am really enjoying my indoor garden this year. And, poinsettias are cool because the blooms last most of the winter months. Then, come spring, they and the amaryllis can grow strong for next winter by hanging out between the blooming daylilies in my garden.

I am trying to learn the names of the poinsettias this year. So, bear with me and don’t take this as gospel! This one is called Picasso, I believe:

And, this one is called Pink Carousel:

This one is Mars Marble:

The one below also looks like Mars Marble. This one has a cool half-and-half effect of the hybridizing. (PS that is why I got a second one like this!)

This one is White Star, I believe:

The one below I purchased last year for Thanksgiving. It was a very pretty orange. It is just starting to put out bracks now, so I am guessing when I say it could be Cinnamon Star. PS – I have new ideas to improve my blooming process next year.

This is a Sonora White Glitter:

This one may be Ice Chrystals:

And, just a guess, this could be Premium Lipstick Pink:

The one below is a purple/burgundy color with pink marbles. I looked and could not find a clear match. If any readers have ideas on the name of this variety – or any others – please let me know!

Next up, the Amaryllis. See you then! Thank heaven for the sanity that winter blooms bring! Who else loves these???

Late Bloomers

November 11, 2016Leave a comment

I have not blogged for a couple of months. Daylily season has passed. I started a new job. It’s almost Thanksgiving. No, wait, Red Hot Returns and Ruby Stella are still blooming despite a few freezes. Grit.

Red Hot Returns

Ruby Stella

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Speaking of winter, this year I’m taking up Amaryllis. Their big bright flowers remind me of daylilies. And, their spring is just starting. Watching for signs of new growth every day. And, when they fade, it’ll be time for the daylilies, again.

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure