Where is the Rain?

July 20, 2017July 20, 2017Leave a comment

Today, we were supposed to get a lot of rain. Maybe flash floods. I wasn’t sure I would get any work done in the yard on split-shift, but I worked outside the whole afternoon. More on that in a minute.

Today brought 2 new blooms. Royal Palace Prince was a bonus plant a couple years ago. It has done better than some of the purchased plants. It reminds me of Pick of the Litter.

The second new face for the year is Apache Uprising. It is the second year for this one. I like the red. It reminds me of Baja a little.

I also like this photo of some of my last near blues today – Blue Beat, The Colorado Kid, and Bluegrass Music.

I don’t know about a later peak this year. Bud counts down and buds dropping. March was warmer than April. And, we had the late May snow storm . . . then no rain. Last year was better in the front garden.

I feel like I am freeing hostages. Daylilies that are not flourishing, but could under different circumstances. Buried pots in order for several in the front garden. Today, Catherine Irene and Happy Happy. Neither has ever bloomed here, and this is going on 3 years. Others that need a transplant include Alabama Jubilee, Coburg Fright Wig, Navajo Blanket, Primal Scream, Lacy Doily, and Heavenly Curls. All have had either extremely low bloom this year or have never bloomed.

When I dug up the two today, I was amazed at the other roots that were woven in with theirs. And, in one case, an ant hill. The whole front garden looks so dry. I have the sprinkler on daily. I need to get a sprinkler hose or something. I wonder if eventually, all 100 plus of my in-ground daylilies will be in buried pots. That makes me tired to think about it . . . but it worked well for the veggies. Come on monsoons. Where are you?

Black Eyes and Twirls

July 19, 2017July 19, 2017Leave a comment

Today, two brand new faces joined the yard. I am most excited about Twirling Pinata. It’s a new Ned Roberts spider that I added last fall. I just love the curly ones! The color is nice, too.

The other one joined this spring after a trip to the nursery in Grand Junction. The name caught my eye – Black Eyed Susan. I like the color of those flowers. And, the daylily version does not disappoint with the rich golden yellow-orange. It has a LOT of buds, too. It was an early addition, so I think it is happy here.

The blooms continue at a steady pace. I am disappointed so many are dropping buds. In continuous improvement, we make changes at a rapid pace to improve outcomes. Daylilies are slower. I can try adding more water or fertilizer, but the die have been largely cast for the year. I’m at 35% bloom. If all bloom with scapes (help me out here insects), then it climbs to 45%. I am sure I will get a handful of late ones to add. Maybe 50% for the year.

At some point, you go from having a few daylilies in your yard to being a hobbiest/collector. For me, I think that happened at about 50. In a way, it becomes more work at that point. There is an art and science that you have to learn. Most do better in pots here, a few prefer the ground. Most all prefer the drip system on my porch. Some areas get more sun. I have a ton of work to do on those who didn’t bloom for the next cycle. But, will it work for next year?

Life goes on, and the years we have left with the flowers shrinks. Heaven help me, I will be at 80% bloom long before I run out of time.

Sun-Day!

July 17, 2017Leave a comment

It is so good to be home. However, I found the need to catch-up on a little sleep took priority over the garden work I had wanted to do. Work travel weekends are a little awkward in the summer.

At any rate, I had several new kids in the yard today.

El Desperado is a favorite. It is so odd, because he didn’t bloom much last year. This year, lots of scapes and buds. I moved him 3 feet. Right next to him is Canyon Colors, who bloomed like crazy last year but did nothing this year. I think I will divide it this fall and see. Time to start giving away extra roots!

Lime Frost is my only real off-green daylily. I love this one with its big, fluffy near white blooms. And, it sounds like a treat from Dairy Queen. (Same bloom with and without the sun shining on it.)

Mini-Pearl is in my yard because my grandma’s name was Minnie Pearl (she hated in and dropped the Minnie). My car is named Mini Pearl, too.

Razzmatazz is a cool little purple flower that reminds me of Purple de Oro.

It was kind of a low bloom day – less than 20. Last year it peaked again the 3rd week of July. I am hoping!

Engagement

July 13, 2017July 13, 2017Leave a comment

Smiles are a sign of human engagement. And, for now, my smiles are daylilies. I miss my mornings in the garden and am thankful for my photos.

Last night, I praised my Ruby Spider for having the most days of blooms. Tonight, I praise Return A Smile for having the longest run of blooms. She was the first one, and she was blooming on Monday when I left. She has scapes that survived that late snow storm. She was purchased at the same time as Ruby Spider . . . maybe 8 years ago. They live in the same planter – which seems too small but they thrive. Return a Smile, Like Ruby, has been divided and lives in 2 locations in my yard.

It gives me some faith to see them flourish. I figured it out, and if all those with scapes bloom, I’ll be at 42% bloom this year. I hope a few more produce. I have to dig some more up and put them in pots. I may bury the pots – but they need better soil and less competition to stand a chance of blooming. I wonder if I’ll need to do that in the Southwestern Garden? For this year, I think I’ll try breaking through the clay a little deeper and see what next year brings.

Farming is hard work, yet it brings a sense of engagement and purpose to life. All of the world’s longest living people garden. I can understand why.

Fruits and Veggies: Health Blooms Day!

July 10, 2017July 10, 2017Leave a comment

I went on a short overnight camping trip last night. It was mid-afternoon before I pulled in the driveway. I enjoyed the night in nature, but was curious to see what was in bloom in the yard.

Rasberry Propeller is one of my Ned Roberts daylilies. No, not a Southwestern name. A hybridizer was out of what I wanted, so it was a replacement. It is in a pot in the front yard. I think it will go in the ground next year. Or, a bigger pot. I think I’ll only get two blooms. Despite the heat and high UV, it is still a cool bloom.

The second bloom that is new for the year is Blue Beat. This is a favorite near blue – up there with The Colorado Kid and Blue Grass Music. Ths sun scorch turns it to purple – so hoping for an early morning picture tomorrow. Mildred Mitchell did not bloom this year – I think she needs to be divided. I can’t wait to get an early morning shot.

Tomorrow will be my last day in the garden for a few days. This is like leaving a good movie in the middle to go to the restroom and wondering what you missed. I am hoping to see a couple new ones tomorrow . . . Maybe Best Seller. There is also a tiger named one that is close. Some are late this year, too dry, I think. Rain has just not happened this summer. I need to get soak hoses for those gardens, too.

I bought pots this weekend, as my next project is to dig up the daylilies in the front garden that haven’t bloomed and do partial buried pots for them. Too much competition, so the pots give them their own space. Always something . . . Daylily therapy! Thank goodness for daylilies and camping trips right now.

Double-Take

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017Leave a comment

The Fourth of July came and went with no blog post, so I have three new blooms to share tonight. But, before I do, I want to share this fused Ruby Spider bloom from the 4th of July. Talk about fireworks. Mother nature gave this bloom double DNA! Some experts say that weather is a factor. It got over 100 likes on the Daylily Society page!

As for new blooms, I will start with my favorite first – its name is Indian Giver. This was a bonus plant that I put in the Southwest garden last spring. I don’t have many buds this year, but I am hoping for more fans and more productive scapes next year. I love the white border!

Another new addition is Wineberry Candy – added to one of my pots that just got a drip system. The two daylilies in the pot from previous are struggling, but hopefully will come back with water. I didn’t have any of the many “candy” named ones, so I guess I do now.

Prelude to Love showed up today for the first time this year. It is a favorite. It was this afternoon that I noticed my early AM shot was blurred, so this one is what it looks like with 6 hours of high UV in nearly 100-degree heat and probably 10% humidity. Not too bad.

It’s funny how being a daylily farmer brings you closer to the earth. Some pots that were quiet last year are thriving this year, and visa versa. I am disappointed in the Southwest garden bloom rate. I did discover another cultivator with a scape today. Last year, 10 bloomed. This year, it is 13 so far have blooms or scapes But, it is somewhat different ones that bloomed this year. Of the 5 that did not repeat a bloom this year, I still have some hope for Skinwalker because it is a late bloomer. But, what causes the shift? I would guess it is that they were newly planted from the South last spring and still are adapting. It takes time for them to get established and I can’t claim that the high desert of the Colorado Plateau is natural for them. And, the trees probably need to be trimmed, but the fact that the blooms are scattered throughout the garden says that the sun issue is not profound.

For tomorrow . . . I don’t know about new blooms. I have lots of scapes in the front garden so we will see what Mother Nature brings. Work brings a 10 hour computer day!

Bluegrass Blues

July 2, 2017July 2, 2017Leave a comment

Today, at long last, I get to tell the story of Bluegrass Music because she bloomed! When I first started getting savvy about buying bare root daylilies, I learned that there were no true blue ones. This made me want blue ones!!! We always want what we can’t have. So, I found this one on a website and tried to order . . . it was a weird process, but I finally called them. They had one small fan of this one left, but it would be $50. Well, I had to have my addiction fix, so I bought the one small fan as the first of a handful of near blue daylilies. PS – I have not ordered from that place since – you can get these on the Lily Auction for $25 for 2 fans.

Other newcomers – This one is Heron’s Cove. It has a story of being a wanna be near blue. I lost a near blue and this one was an economical one. BTW a much more ethical grower told me to expect it not to look blue except in exceptional circumstances. I want to get out to see it before the sun hits it next time.

Prairie Blue Eyes (I am pretty sure) showed up in my yard today . . . in an unexpected place. It is in one of my driveway pots, but it did not put up scapes this year. Interestingly, I had some daylilies in my back garden, but it was too shady and the daylilies there were slowly dying back. So, two years ago, I fixed it so they had more sun, water and better soil. This one, I moved to the front garden last year not having a clue what it was. (I did not always know names or label them). So, it was stunning to see this little one open in the front garden. Makes me think I need to move the others to a sunnier spot.

Zuni Thunderbird is one of my favorites, but the thrips like it and the first blooms are always a little beat up. Need to spray it today. Think I will take a nap first, though.

Iridescent

July 2, 2017July 2, 2017Leave a comment

This weekend is my home weekend . . . so working on yard stuff today. Not much new in bloom, despite having 16 in bloom. The half-bloomed bud fell off of Bluegrass Music 😦 But, South Seas did have a first bloom today. I love the color combo. It’s kind of iridescent.

The big project of the weekend was irrigation, again. I dug the big rain barrel that my renter had (yes, 11 years ago) and hooked it up to a solar drip system. I know those solar drip systems get lousy ratings. They are somewhat disposable every year. They are a pain to get running but once they are pumping, they work pretty well for a decent amount of time.

At first the system was just for the existing pots – Prairie Blue Eyes and Route 66. But the barrel is kind of ugly, so I decided to put in some annuals. I also rescued Hesperus, Saratoga Springtime, and Orange Flurry from where they were. Too much shade, not enough water. Curious to see if I can get blooms next year. (If I do, I may go for a pretty barrel!)

I also put in a drip line (this one goes to the hose) for my daylilies in the edge garden. It is going to be much easier to turn that drip hose when I do the other watering than to carry the can. Both of the new areas are places I have thought of expanding my daylily garden to when I run out of room other places. So, off we go with a pilot study!

For tomorrow – Maybe Bluegrass Music or Zuni Thunderbird. Who knows what else?

Bless the Beasts and the Daylilies

July 1, 2017July 1, 2017Leave a comment

I wonder what life would be like without my puppies and my flowers . . . they add so much that would otherwise be lacking. If I live to be 100, it will be to experience another daylily season.

Today, there were lots of new faces. Interestingly enough, Bluegrass Music is still unbloomed.

Aztec Firebird is a favorite. It is one that has taken off in the Southwestern garden. Very happy, and the blooms are more reddish this year. I have a painting of this one somewhere, I think. First blooms are often a little less showy than the follow-ups, but still pretty cool.

Primal Scream is another favorite – and today I feel a little like a primal scream! It looks a little weathered from the sprinkler and the heat. It was very busy at work today, so I did not get out to take a photo at peak.

I have two that bloomed today that were bonus plants. If you know about buying bare root daylilies, you know about bonus plants. They are fun in the garden. The first one is Longlesson Showoff – it is a first bloom ever in my yard. The second is Pick of the Litter in its second year.

And little Purple de Oro. I have one in a pot and one in the front yard. I was going to give the potted one to my daughter, but it is sort of growing on my where it is. People can see it from the sidewalk when they walk past the house.

I’m not sure about new blooms tomorrow . . . I didn’t get much of a chance to bud count this evening. I did put in a little solar drip system for the two daylilies in pots by the driveway. Hoping for some blooms, but think they may not perform that well this year. It is getting a little late to resuscitate in time for 2017 blooms. But, that’s why I have to hang around until next year . . . every year.

Today, Our Mascot Bloomed!!!

June 29, 2017June 29, 2017Leave a comment

The Colorado Kid. I found her on some site and ordered her from far away. Near-blue, Colorado in the name . . . This is her second year in my yard. And, her blooms make me smile. They are so pretty in the morning before the sun hits and turns the near blue to a deeper, more lavender color. Still pretty, but the UV by mid day makes all the blooms frump a little.

Other first blooms today – the much awaited Pink Enchilada. This flower gives me hope that it just takes time for the bare roots to bloom in the new garden. It is year 2 in the garden, but a first bloom today.

The Southwest Garden also welcomed Indian Love Call. This flower seems happier here than in the pot I had it in last year . . . so that is a positive sign, too.

Soco Gap is a huge daylily in that garden. It was a bonus plant that I stuck between 2 yuccas before I enlarged the garden. It thrives, also a positive sign.

Those positives said, I only have 12 plants with scapes out of 76 plants in the Southwest Garden. Yard-wide (including the porch pots, front garden and Southwestern Garden, I have had 28 cultivators bloom so far (most in the front now have scapes). I have around 160 cultivators total. So, it’s under 20% still. Should be interesting to see what happens in July. (6 of 9 of my back porch pots have bloomed already – interesting on sun and drip systems).

In hindsight, I don’t think I did enough spring watering in the Southwest Garden. The new sprinkler hose also seems to give better coverage. I have also leaned on over fertilizing this year to get the plants some size before they invest in blooms. The soil will need more work – but it is decent for year 2. I wonder about the trees giving too much shade. I think I will go out and snap a cell photo every hour some day soon to see if each area gets 5 -6 hours. I think it is close, but I may invest in some tree trimming this fall. LOL – Who says skiing is the most expensive hobby in Colorado???

Up for tomorrow . . . maybe Bluegrass Music. Maybe Primal Scream or even Aztec Firebird. And, Indian Sky has some baby scapes, finally. The daylily garden is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure

Category: daylily container garden