Papa Long Legs visits for Father’s Day!

June 15, 2017Leave a comment

Wow, tonight I am blogging from my laptop and using my Canon photos! Getting into the daylily season routine. At least as much as possible when I work until 10 PM. Fortunately, I work from home so can run out quickly and snap photos here and there.

Today, Papa Long Legs bloomed for the first time in my yard! And, he is officially the first bloom in my Southwest named daylily garden. I am unsure how much daddy longlegs spiders are Southwestern, really. Although, they certainly inhabit the region. I love the Ned Roberts (hybridizer) spider daylilies, and I am fortunate to have a whole garden where they dominate. So, when I go through the lists of his blooms, I pick everything that reminds me of my home area. And, honestly, I have a lot of these creatures in my yard. Watching these ones bloom is amazing, it takes a couple hours.

Anytime one takes a space that has been a rock garden on top of W. Colorado adobe earth, one risks. It is hard, clay that is so basic (pH) that the nutrients lock-up in it. Amendments help, but not for very long. Most of my daylilies in that garden are growing, several have scapes. A few struggle. Why? I seem to always find a lot of clay soil in the roots when I dig these ones up. I also find roots of other species of plants that infiltrate everything in my mature yard. I’m trying something new and cutting the whole bottom out of cheap pots and burying them with the strugglers inside. And, good soil. Hoping for some moisture retention and root guard protection. Taking care of those who don’t flourish is the work of a true gardener. Here on the Colorado Plateau, I have my work cut out as the nurse of the daylilies.

Nightlilies

June 14, 2017June 14, 2017Leave a comment

Daylilies bring to mind blooms that come and leave with the daylight, each lasting only a day. Some, however, are called nocturnal or extended bloom. These open in the evening and bloom all night, perhaps until the following evening. This is Yellow Punch with a retro filter.

My Lowe’s newcomers seem to be nocturnal extended bloomers. This makes me even more curious about the genes, other than Stella.

PS – I had Indian Sky bloom in March in my fibreglass porch. The blooms (only 2) lasted 3 days each in that cooler, shadier place.

For tomorrow, I think Ruby Spider and Papa Long legs.

Big Box Punch

June 13, 2017Leave a comment

Today came my first Yellow Punch bloom. One of my Flower Power daylilies from my weekend trip to Lowes.

I’m not much of a big box shopper, but I do appreciate rebloomers. Stellas are the best! So, I was curious about what big box did with Stella. I wish I could find out the parentage. Monrovia just says it’s new this year. (It looks lots like Pink and Cream that I got at the same time. Hmmm.)

I do see mother Stella. It also reminds me of my Frans Hals, which is an older daylily. Hard to know. Many after it’s less new??? (Below: Stella and Frans Hals)

Flower Power!

June 12, 2017June 12, 20171 Comment

My new little Pink and Cream Monrovia (Stella de Oro offspring) daylily bloomed. It bloomed for 270 miles. It bloomed at 12k feet above sea level. It bloomed in more than half a dozen counties. It crossed the Great Divide.

I planned to stop in one town for gas, then the next, then the next. One thing or another made me decide to wait til the next town. I got 45 miles to the gallon this trip in my Honda Fit, so we made it to the gas station. Maybe, just maybe, we were running on flower power.

Two For the Road

June 11, 2017Leave a comment

Today brought family . . . And a trip to Lowes. I don’t normally buy daylilies from big box stores, but I like live souvenirs. So, two new daylilies. Miniature offspring of Stella de Oro. The one that is starting to bloom in my hatchback is called Pink and Cream. I can find no information on it. The other one is Yellow Punch. Never a daylily-less day. Tomorrow, it’s the long drive home. With two for the road.

Return a Smile

June 10, 2017Leave a comment

My second bloom of the year was Return a Smile. It was really yesterday, now. Crazy long day. Glad it started with a smile. This daylily is one of my oldest. I got it at the same time as Ruby Spider and Just Plum Happy . . . To hid my drip system hose. This bud survived the snow storm and looks none the worse for the wear. Tonight’s smile was grandkids. It’s time to rest. Daylilies teach that.

First bloom: The Yellow Trumpets

June 8, 2017June 8, 2017Leave a comment

Today brought my first bloom of 2017. A golden Stella de Oro. Well, more like two Stellas. Simple yellow trumpets are the early birds. Happy Returns will join, soon. So will Ruby Spider . . .the one in a container on my patio. It gets hot back there. That bunch is always a couple weeks ahead.

While Stella led the way, more scapes became visible. Indian Love Call, Pink Enchilada, Stephanie Returns, Isaac, Early Bird Cardinal, Mesa Verde, Heron’s Cove, Red Hot Returns, Lady Fingers, Royal Palace Prince, and Prairie Wildfire. And, a tiger that the nursery wasn’t sure what it was . . . So, I got a big discount. The list grows. I’m hoping for a 75% bloom year.

This blog will be different this year. Last year, I was finishing up my doctorate. I had a lot of flexibility to be in the garden and playing with photos. This year, I work 45+ hours a week for Western Governors University. I’m committed to the blog, but it needs a new approach. Because, sleep is good.

Estimated Day of First Daylily: Tomorrow

June 7, 2017June 7, 2017Leave a comment

Stella in half bloomed, so I think it’s safe to say my first daylily of the year shows up tomorrow. I have to give up AM news for camera time in the garden. It’s better, the garden.

I killed my very first Stella a few years back. Then, I got into daylilies, and Stella seemed too common. But they bloom all season. So, last year, I hit the sales and got a few.

I have a growing number of scapes popping up. It’s like watching popcorn start to pop. Kokopelli, Soco Gap, Papa Long legs, Hopi Jewel, Happy Returns, Ruby Spider, Chama Valley, Strutters Ball, Wild Horses, Ghost Ranch, Funny Valentine, Inwood, Jungle Queen, Return A Smile. All have scapes. And, it’s just the beginning. I guessed Juneteenth (16th) for bloom 1. Off by 9 days. I’m good with it.

I have a lot of friends who think I’m a Lily expert. Daylilies are not really lilies. They are more closely related to Olathe Sweet Corn. And, I hope they do as well in my high desert garden.

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!

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure

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