Oops-a-Daylily! It’s Bloom Time in the High-Desert

June 29, 2026Leave a comment

Hello Daylily Fans,

Another week has sailed by in the garden. I have 34 gorgeous daylilies that showed their faces (or throats) for the first time this season since last Sunday.

The daylilies are stunning but the real surprise is that they have survived “fire weather” watches and warnings nearly every day this week. For our friends in China and anyone not on the Colorado Plateau – that means low relative humidity, warm temperatures and gusty wind. We did have a couple days of rain last week – it was a nice break.

Of course, fire weather means it’s wildfire season. We have had a couple major fires close by this week – the Snyder Fire near McInnis Canyons and the Gold Mountain Fire outside Ouray. I’m near the airport and there is a constant buzz of firefighting traffic over my home all day the last couple of days going to Ouray. Sadly, three firefighters died fighting the Snyder Fire – so these flower pictures are dedicated to them and their loved ones.

What does fire weather do to daylilies? It melts them. Or at least they look melted by noon. They fade, get translucent – some more than others. Butthey were made for humid ditches, not high-desert droughts. It also means they have dealt with high winds that have ripped off petals and the smoke isn’t good for anyone.

My win this week is a first ever bloom on Fulva – the original ditch lily. She is rumored to be invasive but in the desert, she is pretty tame. I planted her 3 places in my yard as an experiment. This year, the plant near the sprinkler head is the one that finally bloomed! After 5 years. The second one is in a pot and does “ok” but is small and doesn’t bloom. The third is in a raised planter with the native plants and she looks like a seedling at year 5.

It’s been too busy. I am experimenting with my business and adding some new avenues for my art sales. My special needs senior rescue dogs get stressed with the heat and my busier summer schedule – I swear they are telling me to slow down. Of course, camping is happening. So, I miss a couple days a month of my blooms in June but I watch for cool blooms whereever we travel.

Don’t forget to stop by my Etsy shop. I have some cool garden gnomes that are handpainted to look like the Painted Wall at Black Canyon of the Gunnison. They are perfect companions for any daylily garden.

I’ll be back next week.

Until then, keep on blooming!

Cathy Hartt (Doctor of the Daylilies)

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

Canyon Colors of the Southwest

May 22, 2020May 24, 20201 Comment

The red canyons of the Southwest warm my heart and soul in ways beyond words. My body instantly comes alive, my curiosity sparks, I feel like I am where I belong in the Universe. So, another blog in my series on my vicarious road trip through my Southwest named daylilies.

I think my favorite canyon is Canyon de Chelly, Arizona. The red is just deeper or richer than most of the sandstone of the Southwest.

Dominguez Canyon, much closer to home, is my favorite day adventure.

McInnis Canyons National Recreation Area – Fall 2019

McInnis Canyons National Recreation Area is also pretty close to home. My first COVID plan was to hike here every weekend all spring, but it is more than 20 miles.

Canyonlands National Park is fabulous on a grander scale, and we usually get her once a year in February. It is often snowy at Island in the Sky.

Chaco Canyon is the most spiritual canyon I can think of – I hope to go back on one of my roadtrips soon.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – 2019

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is in my own back yard – 10 miles or so away. It is a canyon of a different color.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument – 2018

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is so cool – Hovenweep and all the surrounding areas filled with Ancient Pueblo Ruins.

Of course, there is the Grand Canyon. And, that’s just to name a few.

In my yard, there is a daylily named Canyon Colors. When she blooms, she takes me to all the canyons that I love from my road trips. She was an early Southwest order, the name (of course) drew me in.

Being a semi-evergreen, she lives on my little back porch in winter but summers in her pot on the corner of my house. IDK – Which canyon do you think best reflects her color?

I didn’t look to see if she had scapes yet. Saratoga Springtime, Ojo de Dios, Dream Catcher and Kokopelli are the only ones I noticed – but I was busy grading so didn’t get outside much.

I did have a chance to hook-up my new solar drip pump. It is one of those you get off of Amazon. I have used them for the last decade – replaced them often at first but the last one lasted 3 years. They have made improvements – so I am hopeful for at least a couple with this one. Three days of 50 MPH winds, I think my driveway pots are ready for a little drip of water.

And, I am ready to see canyon colors.

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure

Tag: Black Canyon of the Gunnison