Tag: Christmas presents

Back to the Drawing Board

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Going back to the drawing board is both literal and figurative for me this day.  And, when you are a creative, drawing boards can help generate positive emotion.

When I buy daylilies with southwestern names, I usually am attracted to names like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon – places where I have been. With Ghost Ranch, I put the cart before the horse.  Or, the daylily before the trip.

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Oh, the name sounded southwestern, and it is a Ned Roberts bloom, so I Googled it.  Much to my surprise, this place called Ghost Ranch was just over in my neighbor, New Mexico.  At first, I saw it said no dogs.  But, I did call the morning we were driving through that area on the road trip.  Dogs, sure!  Just bring a leash.

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This is a beautiful place that is the subject of Georgia O’Keefe’s paintings.  It is clearly on the Colorado Plateau – I knew as soon as  saw the rock structures.  The only downside was that we got there during the beginning of a good size windstorm, so hiking was not as fun and the light was rather muted.  At any rate, here is Ghost Ranch on Ghost Ranch . . . my drawing board.

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Ghost Ranch was the only new bloom today.  I had 10 different cultivators today.  Nice little smiles, each.  My last Blue Beat, though.  See you next year! No, wait.  See you when I break out the Christmas present paint.

 

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From R to L: Top Row – Classy Lady, Fine Time Lucille, Desert Icicle, Blue Beat, South Seas.  Row Two: Primal Scream, Lullaby Baby, Ghost Ranch, Marque Moon, Mini Pearl.

 

 

A Classy Lady Comes to Town!

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Ah, now I think, perhaps, the season of blooms is slowing down a bit.  At least as far as having a new cultivator every day or so.  But, hey, today I had several plants with three or four blooms at once.

But, hold on!  I did have a new girl today.  Her name is Classy Lady.  She was one of my fall auction purchases, along with Electric Lizard, Kokopelli, and Quilt Patch.  It looks like Quilt Patch will be my only non-bloomer this year.  I like this bloom – it has a shape like a gymnast.  And, a nice color to match.

 

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Classy Lady – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

Now, for my multiples – Marque Moon, Zuni Thunderbird, and South Seas.  The only down side is they burn buds fast this way.

 

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Marque Moon – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

 

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Zuni Thunderbird – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

 

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South Seas – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

And, today brought another visit from the monarch butterfly.  This time, she chose the Mexican Daylily (Shellflower).  I got several photos – the center of the collage is my favorite.

 

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From L to R: Top Row – Chorus Line, Lullaby Baby, Pick of the Litter, Lime Frost. Row Two: Classy Lady, Mexican Daylily with Monarch Butterfly, Thin Man.  Bottom Row: South Seas, Marque Moon, Stephanie Returns, Zuni Thunderbird.

 

Thank you, garden, for the therapy.  Great positive emotion to get me through a Monday. Only 5 months until Christmas.  I have a ton of painting to do this year 😉

And, the Peak Goes On! (In Colorado)

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I walked out the door to over twice as many blooms as yesterday.  Twenty-one!  So, we are continuing to climb to the apex of the season.  Interesting that in this bouquet that there are no new cultivators.  So, what to talk about?  Perhaps what the sun does to color in daylilies.  I am no hybridizer, but I was a printer at one point much earlier in my life.  I learned about color then . . . additive and subtractive.  

It is my understanding that daylilies don’t have genes to make blue.  So, the near blue flowers are a mosaic.  Additive color is what I use when I paint my blooms.  It is easy compared to subtractive color . . . which is done with light and filters.  If I was issuing a somewhat educated guess, I would say this must be a subtractive process.  

So, here is my stunning Blue Beat before the rays of sun hit it directly: 

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Blue Beat – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

And here it is just 5-10 minutes later, as the first rays of sun found its pedals: ( It shifts from blue, green, and light pink to peach, yellow, and purple).  I would love to hear a hybridizer’s take on this!

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Blue Beat – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

I had a lot of cool spiders today – Ruby Spider, Thin Man, Aztec Firebird, Zuni Thunderbird, and Desert Icicle.  Here is one with Ruby and the Thin Man.

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Ruby Spider with Thin Man in the distance – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

Also, three out of five in my family garden are blooming today: Here are all three: Isaac (grandson), Mini Pearl (Minnie Pearl – grandma), and Stephanie (daughter).  The colors are nice together.  Maya Poppy (for granddaughter, Maia) is going to blend right in.  Hopefully, soon.  Catherine Irene, momma’s namesake, looks like it is waiting for now.

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All in the Family from L to R: Isaac, Mini Pearl, and Stephanie Returns – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

So, here are today’s 21.  Busiest day of 2016 so far.  At least until I start trying to paint all of these for Christmas presents!  Oh, help!

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In alphabetical order from L to R: Top Row – Aztec Firebird, Blue Beat, Desert Icicle, Early Bird Cardinal, Isaac.  Row Two – Lady Fingers, Mesa Verde, Mini Pearl, Pick of the Litter, Prelude to Love, Purple de Oro. Row Three – Razzamatazz, Return a Smile, Route 66, Ruby Spider, Soco Gap, South Seas.  Bottom Row – Stephanie Returns, Thin Man, VooDoo Dancer and Zuni Thunderbird.

 

So, I am ready for a nap!