The First Sunday of August

August 6, 2018Leave a comment

It was camping weekend, which is good because I need the stress relief. Work is too busy and I am too exhausted. So, I returned to an encore – Stella de Oro has been out of bloom for 3 weeks and she is back. I will just leave her in the roll call. Our last roll call of 2018. We had 37 in bloom this week. We had 56 last week and I predicted half as many this week. Actually – more like 2/3rds. When you look at all the finales this week (see photos below), I will make the same prediction for next week. That’s about 18 for the week. We don’t have many scapes yet, and the ones mostly only have a bloom or two left. Heirloom Heaven, Indian Sky, Pink and Cream, Dream Catcher, and Purple Corn Dancer have some life left in them. I am hoping Passionate Returns, Stephanie Returns, Ruby Stella and Red Hot Returns all return.

Here Goes Roll Call 7/31-8/5:

Anasazi 7.30 – has had finale bloom

Apache Uprising 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Baja 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Blue Beat 8.2

Cherokee Star 8.2

Chorus Line 8.5

Classy Lady 7.31 – Has had finale bloom

Comanche Princess 8.2

Dream Catcher 7.30

El Desperado 8.5

Fox Ears 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Heirloom Heaven 8.2

Heron’s Cove 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Hesperus 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Indian Love Call 8.2 – Has had finale bloom

Indian Sky 8.5

Lady Fingers 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Marque Moon 8.1 – Has had finale bloom

Mini Pearl 8.3

Moon Over Chimayo 8.1 – Has had finale bloom

Navajo Curls 8.1

Nearly Wild 7.31

Orange Vols 8.3

Passionate Returns 7.31 – Has had finale bloom

Pink and Cream 8.1

Pizza Crust 7.30

Prairie Blue Eyes 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Purple Corn Dancer 8.5

Purple Thunderbird 8.1 – Has had finale bloom

Rosie’s Red 8.3

Royal Palace Prince 7.30

Ruby Stella 8.3

South Seas 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Stella 8.5 – Encore bloom today

Tiger Kitten 8.3

Twirling Pinata 7.30 – Has had finale bloom

Yellow Punch 7.31 – Has had finale bloom

Sweet Sixteen and My Orchid Experiment

August 5, 2018Leave a comment

I must have been super exhausted – I forgot to hit publish last Thursday.

Wow! I worked 13 hours today. I asked for a little less work while I get my health back in order . . . got the opposite. Rapid change organizations are like that – so buckle your seatbelt.

Not a bad day today in the yard. Sweet sixteen in bloom. Had 9 this day last year – and was doing my repotting project all around them. 125 daylilies put in pots and buried between 8/1 and 9/1. Where did I get that energy? I had 10 in bloom this day in 2016 and 7 in 2015. Today wins!

My orchids do take a little energy. I have thought about talking about them a bit on the blog as the daylilies wind down. I have an experiment going with having them outside under a shade and a mister. I am not sure on my results yet. Seemed like in May they all started throwing out new roots, but sort of stopped. They are putting out leaves – but smaller than their old leaves (the phals, that is). Stressed – the heat. But, I want to play it through til fall to see. I wish the monsoons had shown up.

Orchids are such slow growers . . . such patience. But, the blooms are big and bold – and last for months. My vanda is in bloom out on the front porch now. (Who said you can’t grow orchids outside in Colorado in a drought.) My dendrobiums hang from a tree out front – lots of new growth. I have oncidiums, cattleyas, cymbidiums, and a ground orchid under the mister with the phals – all doing well. I’m using my indoor back porch for phals, too. When you convert to water culture, the orchids lose most their roots – so many of mine need to grow new water-adapted roots before fall. I only put phals and oncidiums in full water culture. (That is a topic for later.) Inside, I have phals, catts, oncidium family, miltonioptis, miltonias, zygos, a phrag and a paph. Oh, and some cuttings off rarer ones that I am trying to grow.

Vanda Orchid in bloom in Colorado

After all the daylily roots that I have ordered, I finally ordered an orchid from Hawaii. If you follow my blog, you know I love the southwest named daylilies. Well, with my bonus (that isn’t going to my doctors), I ordered a catt named Bryce Canyon. She will fit right in!

And, so my mind starts to shift to thinking about fall. Friends are asking for daylily divisions. Yes, it is almost time to divide so the plants grow more buds next year and others can enjoy the beauty. I wish I could clone myself and work 6 hour days 🙂 In no way am I ready for my camping trip tomorrow.

Finales:

Moon Over Chimayo 8.2

Twirling Pinata 8.2

Indian Love Call – 8.2 Finale on her rebloom

Happy Colorado Day!

August 2, 2018Leave a comment

Well, August has arrived. It was dark when I walked my dogs after work, but I worked almost an hour late. I am glad for fewer pictures because big changes at work mean more days where I work later than normal. It will be an improvement once it gets settled.

It’s Colorado’s birthday – so a good day to celebrate with a bouquet of daylilies! The photo at the top is my Ned Roberts Purple Thunderbird. And, below are the finales:

Finales (I forgot Classy Lady yesterday):

Classy Lady 7.31

Baja 8.1

Marque Moon 8.1

July Grit

August 1, 2018Leave a comment

Today was a mellow day in the garden with 13 cultivators in bloom. It has been weeks since we had under 10 in a day, but it won’t be weeks until that happens, again. The workday brought more news of change – meaning lots more work in the weeks to come. I guess it is good daylily season is winding down because I am sure there will be a lot of very long days in my future! I am kind of like a daylily any more – I open with such creative color, but after a few hours I am feeling the heat. By the end of 11 or 12 hours, I wilt. I need a winter rest!

So, for fun, I looked back to see what was in bloom on July 1st. And, two of those daylilies were still in bloom today! So, hats off to our July Grit Girls, Passionate Returns and Yellow Punch!

July Grit Girls:

Passionate Returns 7.31

Yellow Punch 7.31

Passionate Returns is also a finale bloom – for now. I am hoping for a rebloom. To be honest, I think the same may be true for Yellow Punch, but I don’t remember.

Other Finales:

Heron’s Cove 7.31

Anasazi 7.31

And, OK, I gotta share Purple Corn Dancer from today because she is stealing my heart. I want to paint her this winter if my hands will allow it.

Purple Corn Dancer 7.31

So, this is the last week of not posting every cultivator that bloomed that day in the daily blog. And, the blog may not be daily by the end of August. In September, it will go weekly, most likely. I am still looking for any late bloomers that did not bloom yet to put up scapes . . . not much to report. The good news is Indian Sky is putting out 2 brand new scapes, so she will be with us for a while longer.

Other bloomers today where Dream Catcher, El Desperado, Rosie’s Red, Classy Lady, Orange Vols, Mini Pearl, Tiger Kitten, and Nearly Wild.

Running into the Sun, and I’m Running Behind

July 31, 2018July 31, 2018Leave a comment

It is getting dark earlier. It is really noticeable when you get off 3 hours later than most people. I get off in time to walk my dogs when it is still light from mid-May to mid-August. It is probably one of the most depressing parts about working evenings 4 days a week. Oh, I get to look out my window at the yard during the day all year – and I like that. But, there is something about getting off after dark. What most people deal with 3 or 4 months of the year I deal with for 9 months.

So, tis the time for more finales. Six today – oh, how I will miss them. No late scapes yet that I see. Hoping by mid to late August we at least have some reblooms. Darned drought. For now, the peak is still slowly drifting. Or, maybe not so slowly. I love the resilient fall daylilies.

Finales:

Hesperus 7.30

Prairie Blue Eyes 7.30

Fox Ears 7.30

Apache Uprising 7.30

Lady Fingers 7.30

South Seas 7.30

Last Sunday in July

July 30, 2018Leave a comment

Wow – It will be August next weekend. The daylily peak has come and gone. The cultivators were in the teens today . . . a massive drop off from 2-3 weeks ago. It is funny how the first 3 weeks of June are slow progress, then it explodes, then it goes to just a few here and there for months.

Today, we had one new cultivator. Heirloom Heaven bloomed for the first time in 2018. She is an adorable late-blooming mini. She is my last unbloomed scape on a cultivator that hasn’t bloomed yet. This could be it. It seems like I usually get some August scapes . . . not many, but a handful. I don’t know with this drought, though.

Heirloom Heaven 7.29

And, I had a rude awakening last night – because Mount Echo Sunrise doesn’t look anything like Mount Echo Sunrise. I looked at her tag, and she has two. The other one says Moon over Chimayo . . . and she looks like that one. So, I assume . . .

Moon over Chimayo 7.27

Finales:

Lullabye Baby 7.29

Roll Call 7/23-29:

Adios Albuquerque 7.26

Anasazi 7.27

Apache Uprising 7.25

Aztec Firebird 7.27

Baja 7.25

Bela Lugosi 7.24

Blue Beat 7.25

Bluegrass Music 7.24

Bold Tiger 7.23

Cheddar Cheese 7.24

Cherokee Star 7.28

Chorus Line 7.26

Classy Lady 7.27

Comanche Princess 7.28

Dream Catcher (with Navajo Curls) 7.27

El Desperado 7.24

Fox Ears 7.25

Heron’s Cove 7.27

Hesperus 7.25

Indian Love Call 7.24

Indian Sky 7.24

Lady Fingers 7.25

Lime Frost 7.26

Longlesson Show-off 7.23

Marque Moon 7.24

Mildred Mitchell 7.23

Mini Pearl 7.29

Navajo Curls 7.24

Navajo Rodeo 7.23

Nearly Wild 7.28

Nosferatu 7.26

Orange Vols 7.24

Passionate Returns 7.29

Pick of the Litter 7.23

Pink and Cream 7.29

Pizza Crust 7.28

Prairie Blue Eyes 7.28

Prelude to Love 7.25

Purple Corn Dancer 7.26

Purple de Oro 7.24

Purple Moonrise 7.27

Purple Thunderbird 7.26

Raspberry Propeller 7.28

Rosie’s Red 7.23

Route 66 7.26

Royal Palace Prince 7.27

Ruby Stella 7.28

South Seas 7.27

Stephanie Returns 7.23

Tiger Kitten 7.27

Twirling Pinata 7.24

Yellow Punch 7.26

56 for the week . . . that is all! I bet we are down to half of that by next week.

Finale Ally

July 29, 2018Leave a comment

It is a busy life when I try to add anything. And, this weekend brought an intense application and the rodeo. I did it, got both checked off the agenda. I have been tired all day, through – despite sleeping until 10AM. So, without further ado, here are the Friday and Saturday finales (see date for the finale date). Our cultivators in bloom are dwindling quickly. Still, we had over 20 in bloom today.

Finales:

Purple de Oro 7.27

Aztec Firebird 7.27

Purple Moonrise 7.27

Lime Frost 7.28

Nosferatu 7.28

Twirling Pinata 7.28

My little friends say goodbye. I think about fall work to enhance bloom, again. I have a few to put in pots or divide. My energy is not anything like last summer, where every second of August was spent putting daylilies in buried pots. Actually, glad I did it last year. Especially with the drought. Where on earth did I get that energy?

Other cultivators the past 2 days include: Cherokee Star, Purple Corn Dancer, Purple Thunderbird, Dream Catcher, Mount Echo Sunrise, Chorus Line, Mini Pearl, Hesperus, Ruby Stella, Indian Sky, Orange Vols, Prairie Blue Eyes, Raspberry Propeller, Nearly Wild, El Desperado, Pizza Crust, Marque Moon, South Seas, Baja, Comanche Princess, Pink and Cream, Anasazi, Lady Fingers, Royal Palace Prince, Navajo Curls, Heron’s Cove, Tiger Kitten, Classy Lady, Prelude to Love.

Attachment, Separation, and Loss

July 27, 2018July 27, 20181 Comment

Today, it is just finales. Worked today . . . big reorg at work. Like starting over. I imagine a lot of chaos before it settles into anything with a rhythm, again. I’ll lose most the students I have worked with for two years. Finales remind me of something one of my instructors in midwifery school taught me once – Life is like a placenta: It is all about attachment, separation, and loss. I am attached to my blooms . . . and then they go away. Sometimes they are back in a year, and sometimes they don’t bloom every year. Life is unpredictable. But, there is a cycle to it. Can you believe that my poinsettias and amaryllis come in next month to start their rest cycle? Heavens, time to gear up my bloom closet for the <12 hours of light per day for the poinsettias soon. They have loved summer in the yard. Hope for a colorful Christmas while the daylilies sleep.

Finales:

Adios Albuquerque 7.26

Cheddar Cheese 7.26

Mildred Mitchell 7.26

Bold Tiger 7.26

Christmas in July

July 26, 2018Leave a comment

Today was Christmas in July and we had 25 cultivators to match that date! We had a weird work meeting dress-up for the occasion or I doubt I would have noticed.

Anyway – We had a new cultivator in the yard today. I think this is it for a while and only few more (well, right now only 1 other is in scape) for 2018. It is odd when ones that bloomed last year are not scaping this year . . . one wonders what motivates a flower to bloom. Probably not a drought.

So, Apache Uprising bloomed. She is in the little corner garden in front and I nearly missed her. She has bloomed for the last 3 summers – I like her deep red color.

Apache Uprising 7.25

Because it is Christmas in July, I will mention Lime Frost bloomed today. This adds some green to our red and she has a Christmastime name:

Lime Frost 7.25

Finales:

Prelude to Love 7.25

Bela Lugosi 7.25

Sort of Christmas colors. I only remember one celebration of Christmas in July . . . and today that makes my heart heavy. I am especially glad I have flowers to keep me company today.

I have been forgetting other blooms – so here we go: Dream Catcher, Mount Echo Sunrise, Navajo Curls, Purple Corn Dancer, Cherokee Star, Mount Echo Sunrise, Classy Lady, Rosie’s Red, Tiger Kitten, Nearly Wild, Comanche Princess, Marque Moon, South Seas, Baja, Mini Pearl, Lady Fingers, Hesperus, Fox Ears, Ruby Stella, Blue Beat, El Desperado, Heron’s Cove, Purple de Oro.

Short Blog

July 25, 2018July 25, 2018Leave a comment

Despite having 29 cultivators in bloom today, we had no new blooms and only one finale bloom. She has put on her best show ever this year! So, here we go:

Finales:

Bluegrass Music 7.24

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure

Category: daylily container garden

The First Sunday of August

Sweet Sixteen and My Orchid Experiment

Happy Colorado Day!

July Grit

Running into the Sun, and I’m Running Behind

Last Sunday in July

Finale Ally

Attachment, Separation, and Loss

Christmas in July

Short Blog