Tacos, Firebirds, and Skinwalkers: Come see what is new in my drought ridden daylily garden!

July 19, 2025July 19, 2025Leave a comment

Droughts, Wildfires, and Daylilies

Droughts and wildfires go together, daylilies not so much. The smoke has cleared (mostly) from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim Fire (<10 miles away), and they have the fire 15% contained. My last blog post talks more about the fire. Some rain has fallen on my garden since the last post, too. The drought continues, though. Keep reading to enjoy my daylilies from the past week!

Monitoring and Maintaining My Resilient Daylilies

I am surprised my daylilies have done as well as they have this year with the heat and drought. I have somewhere around 190 cultivators. I badly need to do inventory, maps, and labels this year. I love the Flower daylily software, but I struggle to keep it updated. I seem to lose a lot of the newer ones from other climates over the first winter/spring – but I am not even sure what I have lost until I do inventory because some lost tags.

Black Canyon South Rim Fire – Watch Duty from today. About 15% contained.

Honestly, though, I am limited by time and water. I may replace some cultivators if I lose them, but I won’t be adding many more to my total. I’m at capacity. I am growing ditch lilies in the desert drought. I love daylilies, and they are survivors! My time goes into keeping those I have alive and healthy. And, my money goes into city water. I can’t imagine trying to hybridize or sell in my situation.

New Blooms and Current Bloom Rate

I have had a total of 139 cultivators bloom this season (out of around 190). That is a 73% bloom rate. Last year, we only got to the mid-sixties, so I am thrilled. And, the season isn’t over. In the high desert, 80% is a huge win. I need to fertilize, but without the monsoon moisture and cooler temps, I am waiting until next month. With daylilies in pots, I find applying liquid fertilizer improves bloom rate for the following year because the plant is more resilient.

Here are my “first bloom for 2025” cultivators since my last post:

The bloom peak is now over the top and past the plateau. However, I still have 30-40 cultivators in bloom daily, with 2-3 new ones most days. My beloved Ned Roberts’ southwest names spiders are just now peaking! Life gets extremely busy during daylily season, especially with my business and volunteer work.

Which is your favorite daylily from this post? For me, Zuni Thunderbird has always been a favorite! This computer is even named Zuni Thunderbird after the daylily.

Keep flourishing, Cathy H

Drought Impact on Daylilies: Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim Fire & Garden Update

July 12, 2025Leave a comment

Hi Daylily Lovers,

The South Rim Fire, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

I want to start by saying a few words about the drought that has been growing in Western Colorado all season. Yesterday, in the early hours of the morning, a “dry lightning” storm came through and set off multiple fires in our region. This is like striking a match to dry kindling.

Now, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is evacuated because of an active fire on the South Rim – about 15 miles away on the road – maybe 10 miles as the crow flies. The smoke and air quality are bad. The South Rim Fire is one of three very active fires in my county – the others are the Sow Belly Fire and the Deer Creek Fire. I can hear the aircraft humming almost constantly from my garden, about 2 miles from our airport.

Watch Duty screen shot 7.11.24 Montrose County, CO

So many daylily farmers live in places that get regular rain. Here, the daylilies often get their only water from my City water hose. But, beyond the daylilies, please keep our firefighters in your thoughts as they battle these blazes in 90+ degree weather and single-digit humidity.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park photo (credit Facebook) 7.11.25

Garden Update: First Blooms for 2025 Since July 4th

I’ve had a lot of bloomers since I last posted on July 4th. It’s hot now, too uncomfortable to garden. And, now there is smoke. But, I still manage to get out everyday for my photos and a jog around the neighborhood.

I hit peak bloom 2 days ago, with 60+ in bloom that day. As of today, I have had 113 total cultivators in bloom this season for a bloom rate of 60%. I am hoping to make it to 80% this season. If I keep all the current buds and add a few more, I’ll be OK. Bud blast happens in these conditions, thought. I need 39 more!

I continue with my community volunteer work. I feel that is my priority this summer, but I miss my more frequent and in-depth posts about daylily gardening. Fortunately, it has been a better bloom year than I expected with the drought. And, I am getting a couple of hours on my porch editing my photos every day. It is a joyful escape (even in the heat) from today’s politics. I am grateful for my daily daylily escape!

Until next week, keep blooming! Cathy H

Late June/Early July Daylily Blooms: A Peak Season Update

July 4, 20251 Comment

July is here, and with it comes peak season. I don’t think we are quite to peak yet, but it is approaching quickly. My day starts with photographing each daylily in bloom. Then I feed dogs, irrigate, jog for an hour. When I return, I sit on the front porch and edit the photos. Then, I put them in folders online and post to my personal Facebook page. By then, it’s 2 PM and time for breakfast!

I have had a bunch of new ones since my last post. I will put them in a gallery below. I’ve had 50 new ones since my last post last week!!!

I have had 73 cultivators bloom so far this season out of approximately 190. I lost some last winter. I really need to update my inventory in the software program. Based on those numbers, my bloom rate is about 38% currently. My hope is for 80% this season.

Today, the rain came. Finally! I am hoping for a good monsoon season. We need it. The drought lingers and is growing to the north. So many wildfires out west. I’m surprised that my daylilies are as happy as they are all things considered.

I adore daylily season. But it is always a lot of work that takes a chunk of the day with the photography. However, at this elevation, heat and humidity, the blooms don’t last long. Somedays, they are pretty faded by noon. They look like melted wax to me.

It’s a very different summer with my civic volunteer work. I adore my mornings on the porch editing daylily photos. Finding balance is hard in a “drought of time.”

Catcha next week. I hope your 4th of July garden brings you joy. Sometimes, we are best to focus on the small things right before our eyes and feel gratitude.

June Daylily Highlights: Thriving in the Heat

June 23, 2025Leave a comment

Hello Daylily Fans,

It’s gotten hot, and my yard is exploding with many daylilies. Peak season is still a couple of weeks away, and I have about 130 cultivators with scapes! I lost a couple over the winter, so I need to update my total number one of these days.

Last post, I talked about my first 3 cultivators to bloom: Saratoga Springtime, Dream Keeper, and Stella de Oro. Since then, I have had the following:

Wow! That’s 20 more cultivators in bloom since my first post of the year! My very large array is getting larger! Today, I celebrate 3 years retired from 40 years of nursing. Quite a retirement anniversary bouquet.

I will say that some of my buds opened funny today – Stephanie Returns and Bluegrass Music both look like they wanted to sleep in. We have had days of fire weather with highs in the 90s, wind speeds 35+ MPH, and humidity under 15% (often single digits). And, we are still in extreme drought here (although no water restrictions yet). I think the buds get dried out! I will also say that the super ruffled blooms just don’t open right in such low humidity. I stay away from super ruffles now.

My community work consumes me. I don’t feel as retired as I did last year. I have always made time for the daylily blog. This year, I feel what I am doing is time-sensitive, and I need to balance my time with that in mind. I am not doing daily Instagram posts this year. I think I will update my latest blooms and gardening tips here about once a week.

Tip for today: Deserts don’t have ruffles! They have ridges.

Which of my blooms from this blog is your favorite?

See you soon! Cathy

Maylilies and Early June Daylilies

June 16, 2025Leave a comment

Hi Daylily Fans,

The weather has turned from spring to summer since my last post a couple weeks ago! It is in the mid to upper 90s this week. The scapes are sprouting fast and furious. I have around 100 cultivators with scapes now. I’m never sure how the daylilies will respond to drought, but I am optimistic that my bloom rate will be decent. My water bill, not so much! (I am city water dependent. It’s not cheap because we don’t get much help from Mother Nature.)

I have two cultivators that just came into bloom today. Jungle Queen and Wild Horses. Sounds like the title of a good sci-fi novel. I asked AI and got the photo below. I kind of like it. Maybe I need to use some fun AI photos of daylily names in the blog this year!

What AI says Jungle Queen and Wild Horses look like!

Here are the actual blooms. Both of these are cultivators that were early to my collection and neither bloomed last year. Good to see them back.

My Maylily was Saratoga Springtime. I don’t usually have a Maylily, so worth a mention that the blooms started earlier than usual.

My other early bloomers are Dream Keeper and Stella de Oro. Both are still actively blooming. I always say when Saratoga Springtime gets done, that is when the popcorn starts to pop.

It’s getting too hot to be outside during the day. Maybe I will have more time to post between camping and community involvement! This year brings new civic priorities but I will do my best to keep you all updated on what is going on in my Western Colorado daylily garden!

My pups, Cimarron, Kachina, and Kokopelli, enjoying camping season at Ridgway, CO last week.

TTFN, Cathy

September Daylily Blooms: 2024 Recap & 2025 Preview Plus Art Sale Update

September 10, 20241 Comment

September: Where Have All The Daylilies Gone?

It’s September. How on earth did that happen? The days are growing shorter and cooler. Glad for the cool – but dread the time change and cold months.

I had a few more blooms in August – the 20th and 22nd.

Four-Corners Adventure Ends Daylily Season

The 22nd was the day we left for a 2-Corners camping adventure. It’s so fun to see the Ancient Pueblo Ruins. My love of the Southwest shows in my selection of daylilies!

Since returning, I had 1 bloom on September 1st. I have no scapes. This year will either end early or late. We will wait and see. But as of right now, Navajo Curls is my latest bloom for 2024. The scape got broken in the monsoon a few days before, but bloomed she did.

Broken but blooming: My last bloom from Navajo Curls on 9.1.24

Until The Last Daylily Blooms Sale Ends September 20th!

The Until the Last Daylily Blooms sale continues until September 20th – if I have no scapes by then, the sale ends. If I get a late, late scape, then I will resume the sale as previously outlined. This sale means 35% off purchases on selected merchandise including:

Art pumpkins
Hypertufa pots
Terra Cotta pots
Leaf castings
Tile clocks
Daylily wall art
Daylily cards

Check them out AT MY ETSY SHOP!

If you entered the “guess the date of the last daylily bloom” contest – I am waiting until freeze and if no new blooms by then, I will give everyone (who entered) the choice of a new plant or a 40% off coupon.

New Daylily Roots: Looking Ahead To Bloom Season 2025

I did get my daylily roots from Doris at Shady Rest Gardens on Saturday.

Daylily roots taking a re-hydration swim before being planted in my yard today.

I generally soak my roots in a big pot to rehydrate them for a day or two before planting. This year, I decided to convert my two squash pots to daylilies because the squash have not done well. You can see how I place the roots in the pot. I cover them and trim the plant back. It’s magic to watch the leaves put out new growth before freeze.

I put my two new OZ daylilies in the squash pots and my two new Ned Roberts daylilies in the large multi-species pots I have out front. I want to get covers for the tops of the pots that are not buried this year.

Anyway – I will check back in about the sale and the contest in a couple of weeks. Until then, keep blooming. And, remember that my daylily art can add a daylily bloom to your decor 24/7/365. Please check out my sale! 35% off on many items through the 20th of this month!

Ultimate Daylily Blooms Contest: Win $35 Coupon!

August 12, 20242 Comments

As the daylilies slacken-off, life begins to revert to default mode. I have been busy in the Art from the Hartt studio and at my shop. Plus, my other blogs needed a lot of attention. Not to worry, the daylilies are still blooming.

Since my last post, I have had first-of-the-season blooms from Adios Albuquerque, Navajo Curls, and Indian Sky. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I have any other unbloomed scapes. I do see a rebloom scape on Happy Returns, though – so the first of my rebloomers.

I want to encourage some rebloomers this year, so I am going to do another fertilizer experiment next week with liquid Bloom fertilizer. I am using an organic liquid because it is still pretty warm and I think it is a little safer in regards to burning the roots. Liquid fertilizer is often recommended for midseason application. I also need to trim up any spent scapes so the plant can focus needed energy on reblooming.

Rebloomers Matter: My Art Giveaway (ENTER TODAY)!

Ok, folks, I am sweating it because I need rebloomers in order for my Until the Last Daylily Blooms sale to be a success. And – I need readers like you to ENTER THE CONTEST! There is no cost and potentially a $35 coupon to spend in my Etsy shop! I am doing this to help more people know about my Art from the Hartt business.

Art from the Hartt Until The Last Daylily Blooms Giveaway! Enter Today!!!

Here are the details: All you have to do is guess the day that the last daylily will bloom in my yard and email your guess to Cathy@artfromthehartt.com by no later than September first – put “daylily” in the subject line. You need to pick a date that occurs later than September first in order to be entered, so the first date you can pick is September 2nd.

I typically have some blooms throughout September. Last year my last bloom was October 30th. I have had blooms up until Thanksgiving. If I get a very late scape, I may put it in the lean-to at night to protect it from freezing. However, it is rare to get a new scape once the freeze happens. Our date of first freeze is generally around October 1st. Zone 6 Colorado. That’s all the hints that I am giving!

Purple Corn Dancer: One of my favorite late bloomers.

The entry closest to the actual date of the last daylily bloom will win. In the case of a tie, the winning entries will receive a coupon code for $17.50 each. (I do not sell my email list or use it to send spam.)

Last Year’s Last Bloom: Open My Eyes (October 30th.)

One entry per customer. Winner will be notified within a week of the last daylily bloom and will be sent a code to use in my Etsy Shop valid through January 1, 2025.

What If There Are No Rebloomers?

I hope I didn’t jinx myself by running this sale. What if there are no rebloomers? What if the scapes I have now are the last ones of the season? I think the best way to handle this is to give a 20% off coupon to all people who entered the contest if there are no blooms on September 2nd or later. In that case, everyone wins!!! Coupons will expire January 1, 2025 – these will be great to use for Christmas!!!

Purple Thunderbird: Another stunning late bloomer

Come on, Bloom fertilizer, work some magic.

Cool Stuff You Could Win!

Daylily art – of course! Wall art, paintings, signed prints, pots and more.
Pour knobs – colorful hand painted fluid art door knobs (coming soon to Etsy.)
Fall palette hand painted tiles
Hand painted fluid art pumpkins
Stunning pour paint tile and wood pallet clocks
Handmade pots and planters for succulents and houseplants
Daylily and wildflower greeting cards
Yard art and pet memorials!

Visit my shop Art from the Hartt to see the possibilities – you can apply the $35 to any item in my shop!!!!

Pour knobs: Fluid acrylic cupboard knobs.

You have nothing to lose – just drop an email to cathy@artfromthehartt.com with “daylily” in the heading with your guess. Be sure to send in your entry before midnight on September 1st.

Recycled Habitat for Humanity tile turned into a colorful, hand painted coaster.

I am working on fall seasonal decor right now that will be added. For more info on my art – please follow my art process blog at Art from the Hartt.

The Savings Are Happening Now!

Don’t wait for the $35 prize! The shop now has several items at 30% off. This goes up to 35% off in about a week – and I will be throwing in more items! What would you like to see added to the sale items?

Exciting New Daylily Blooms of 2024: Ghost Ranch, Simmering Elephants, and More

July 31, 2024Leave a comment

I am posting a quick update. Several mid-late bloomers in the past week. I haven’t posted here because of brain fog (no AC), little dogs, other blogs (I have 4 active) and old frogs. I am just going to do a quick post to catch-up.

My 3 Special Needs/Senior Rescues Keep Me Busy!

On 7.24, Ghost Ranch bloomed with the first decent sized blooms ever in my yard. I replaced the first plant a couple years ago because it died. I also had a NOID Red Spider that may be another Skinwalker or Winds of Love, but doesn’t perfectly match either. It was suppose to be Coyote Laughs, but it clearly isn’t. I also had reliable El Desperado.

On 7.25 I had a first ever bloom from Simmering Elephants. I like it! I also had Kachina Firecracker and Laughing Feather, but Ned Roberts spiders

Then, 7.26 brought Apache Uprising, Mama Cuna and Little Cadet.

The days 7.27-28 brought Petite Petticoats, Purple Corn Dancer and Cripple Creek.

Today, the newbies (for 2024) were Royal Palace Prince and Frans Hals.

It’s an interesting year – I am still in the low 20s every day. My highest day was in the 30s or low 40s – nothing like 60-70. It has been a slow, steady season.

I am going to go to weekly with this blog now that the season is slowing. I will continue to blog until the last daylily blooms, but frequency will decrease as the yard slows. I need to get back to life!

And, a quick reminder about my Until the Last Daylily Blooms Etsy sale! I use my earnings to help support my rescue dogs, so I appreciate readers who take the time to visit my shop. Thank you!

Visit Art From The Hartt by clicking on picture.

A Dedication to My Daylily Friend and More Colorful Spiders!

July 23, 2024Leave a comment

A Dedication: For My Daylily Friend

Life can change in a moment. A couple of years ago, an online friend who I met through a Facebook daylily group called Daylily Lovers and I did a daylily exchange. He lived in the same USDA zone but in the eastern US. I’m out west. I sent him Saratoga Springtime and he sent me Autumn Minaret. I guess we were looking for daylilies from opposite seasons to add to our yards.

The daylily he sent didn’t do much last year, so today is the first ever bloom for Autumn Minaret. I want to dedicate this post to my friend. So much happened to him so quickly. I doubt he will ever see this post but I wonder how he are doing. The flower will always remind me of his love of daylilies.

Readers – Have you ever exchanged daylilies with a friend? How did it go? Please share the experience! Did you stay local or ship the daylily roots? Do you recommend daylily exchanges to others?

More Ned Spider Daylilies

I had two new Ned Roberts daylilies in the Southwest Road Trip Garden today: Black Arrowhead and Skinwalker. I like the dark daylilies, and I didn’t even realize Black Arrowhead had a scape. Nice surprise.

Skinwalker is an old favorite – love the pale yellow and the wispy petals.

Yesterday, was also a day of new spider daylilies from my Ned Roberts collection. Maybe my Southwest Road Trip Garden will catch-up a little. Cheyenne Eyes, Desert Icicle, Shape Shifter, and Taco Twister. That makes 31 total Roberts Spiders for the year out of 72, I believe. That’s 43% for the year. A dozen more and it’ll be 60%. Stretch goal!

Until the Last Daylily Blooms: Skinwalker Painting and Signed Prints

Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of nature with this exquisite, original hand-painted daylily wall art. Capturing the delicate forms of Skinwalker, a yellow daylily with subtle pink edging, this piece serves as a charming accent for any room.

Speaking of Skinwalker, I have an original hand painted wood panel or limited edition signed prints available of my Skinwalker painting. These are available through my Until the Last Daylily Blooms Sale and they are now 30% off through August 19. These are limited edition and available while supplies last. The original panel is now $24.50 (plus free shipping) and the prints are only $8.50. Click on photo to go to listing for the painting (or click here). Click here for listing of the limited edition signed prints.

Visit my Etsy shop Art from the Hartt at the link above – or my business website here. This is a time-limited sale – until my last daylily blooms!

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Driving Me Buggy: How to Prevent Earwig Photobombs

July 21, 2024Leave a comment

Ugly, Smiling Pincers

How many of those of us who take photographs have ever been disgusted to take a closer look at our beautiful flower photo and see those ugly pincers (click link to find out more about earwig ID) were smiling at the camera when we clicked the otherwise gorgeous shot? Ugh!

Parts of earwig visible in the throat of the flower.

Manual Extraction of the Earwig

I am not here to talk about photoshop or insecticide. I am here to talk about twigs. That’s right, twigs. I don’t like to use insecticide because my earwig issues are usually only for a few weeks during hot weather and I worry about other pollinators.

I inspect the flower for earwigs before I take the photo. If I see the nasty little pincers, I grab a nearby twig. I want a fine enough twig not to damage the flower – but it also needs to be strong enough to grab the insect and allow me to drag it out of the flower. Below is a short video with my process. Sorry about the shakiness, I had to try to hold the camera while manually extracting the insect. Normally, I hold the flower steady with the other hand to minimize or prevent flower damage.

Manual extraction of earwig from throat of daylily.

PS – As a nurse-midwife, I occasionally had to manually extract a placenta. There are some similarities to the process. 🙂 Kind of like high, hot, and a hell of a lot!

Dog photo bombs are much cuter than earwig photobombs.

More Colorful Spiders: Reaching for My Stretch Goal . . . of 60% Bloom Rate

I had two first of the season blooms today – both Ned Roberts’ spiders. That makes 25 total for the year so far . . . out of 70+. 😦 That’s about 35%. As with the rest of the yard, I hope for 60%. That’s about 18 more cultivators. It’s my stretch goal!

Winds of Love is such a beautiful flower – she always looks like she is blowing in a gentle breeze. Golden Eclipse has unique coloring. I was cautioned by the grower that it looked a little brown to some buyers – but I adore the color.

When Will My Last Daylily Bloom?

Maybe I should run a contest! Last year, it was the day before Halloween. I have actually have had blooms into November some years, but I moved the plant into the lean-to so the buds didn’t freeze. Typically, late September/early October – about freeze time in Colorado zone 6.

My last bloom last year was Open My Eyes on10.29 – It was hit with freezing rain after blooming.

30% Off Art Sale: Until My Last Daylily Blooms!

I am running a sale. It includes my daylily wall art, tile art, planters, and greeting cards. I will be adding more items once I cut down on blogging in August. For the current 30% off sale (July 21-August 19), I threw in more items – yard art (more gnomes styles coming soon) and my pet memorials. I make pet ash memorials from hosta or begonia leaves and summer is the time to order for more leaf selection!

My dog Maizzy’s memorial leaf during it’s creation.

Yesterday, I decided to include my Colorado wildflower cards. These are made with my own photography of Pearl Lake State Park – the Park is named after my grandma.

Until the Last Daylily Blooms – 30% off art sale!

Visit my Etsy Shop! You can click the photo above, the icon below or this link to see all of my art!

Tie It Up

Today’s blog looked at non-techno, eco-friendly approaches to removing earwigs from your daylily photos. I shared photos of my latest beloved Ned Roberts spider daylilies. And, I shared updated information on my Until the Last Daylily Blooms art sale. I am seriously considering a contest for the person who guesses the last bloom date! What do you think?