Truchas, Chimayo, and Ghost Ranch

July 27, 20212 Comments

When describing daylilies, most people talk about bloom season, bloom size, scape height, smell, etc. For me, I see places from road trips. I chose many of my daylilies because of their Southwest names, because that is where I go for my road trips.

Last week, I took a road trip through southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. My favorite hybridizer, Ned Roberts, lived in New Mexico and many of his daylilies find their namesakes in that State. When I shop for daylilies, I often get out the Google maps to see what it is named after. And, on this road trip I wanted to go new places and see things that I had never seen before.

I literally drug out the recreation map and looked for interesting places in northern New Mexico – because despite living not too far away, I know little about it (other than the 4-corners area). Anyway, I found something called the Enchanted Circle that sounded interesting and included Taos. The road between Taos and the highway east . . . well, there were two routes. I picked the High Road to Taos because there are two namesake towns on that road: Truchas and Chimayo

The next day, we visited Ghost Ranch, another daylily namesake. I had stopped there about 7 years ago on a road trip because of the daylily. It is a Presbyterian resort that is open to the public for hiking and other activities. It looks like home with the red sandstone. I stop not because I think it is unfamiliar, but because it is a daylily namesake! And, if any of you remember the old movie City Slickers, that is where it was filmed. So, if you have a Ghost Ranch daylily you be like me and think about that movie and the trail boss, Curly.

I have a bunch of premiers since my last post but I am drowning in vacation photos and daylily photos . . . it is going to take a few days to get the blog caught up. So, for tonight, lets look at the name sakes.

Truchas, New Mexico – A small mountain town on the High Road to Taos. I didn’t see a Truchas sunrise, more like monsoon over Truchas.

Just a few miles down the road it Chimayo, famous for the Santuario de Chimayo. We didn’t see a moon over Chimayo, although I may look into camping here in the future. (the lead photo is also Chimayo)

This is Moon over Chimayo daylily from my yard last summer. She put out tons of new foliage this year, but no bloom. She looks a lot like Truchas Sunrise – probably why they are named for communities just a few miles apart. However, after the road trip, I think I won’t mix the two up any more.

Ghost Ranch is to the southwest of Truchas and Chimayo – an hour plus down the road and to the west. The land changes from Rocky Mountains to Colorado Plateau in those miles. So, the geography is distinctly different.

This is Ghost Ranch daylily from my yard this year. Distinctly different from Truchas and Chimayo namesake daylilies.

That is all for tonight folks. I am trying to stay adjusted to tent times and get to bed earlier at night. I will get caught up with the blog and the new blooms in the next few days. There are several – Skinwalker, Zuni Thunderbird, Desert Icicle, Purple Thunderbird, Cripple Creek, Glen Eyrie, Royal Palace Prince, Pizza Crust , , , I don’t even remember where I left off with the blog. I need to refresh my memory. Stay tuned!

Thanks for joining my journey!

Under the Surface

August 16, 2017Leave a comment

Today brought a good variety of color. From the yellow-pink blooms of Pizza Crust and Pink & Cream to the deep red of Cherokee Star and Heirloom Heaven. In the middle was pretty Indian Sky.

I am keeping a close eye on the Southwest garden since the replantings. Some yellow leaves here and there. Overall, they are in much better shape despite looking a bit frazzled.

It makes me think of our humanity. Sometimes everything can look pretty perfect on the surface. The garden had mulch and few weeds. The sprinkler ran regularly. And, the lilies looked pretty much OK. But, several were too small and one died. The bloom rate was poor and the blooms looked stunted. I wondered about the sunlight, mostly. Something was off, but the thought of fixing what lay under the surface was something I wanted to deny.

It was odd to deny it . . . I knew what was underneath. Somehow, I hoped top soil would be enough to get the lilies started. I mean, maybe they could do OK in the clay . . . that is what it says on the internet. Seriously, this Colorado Plateau clay is like an abusive, addictive relationship. Not only does it not provide nutrition, it is like cement. I have never seen it get damp more than a couple inches below the surface. The roots that do penetrate are stuck forever, unable to move yet starving for a better existence.

Diving under the surface and fixing the real problem is hard, hard work. And, I am sure there is more of it ahead in this adventure. I could continue to ignore it . . . normalize it. You know, just keep watering harder and hope somehow it corrects itself. But, then it comes time to stop the cycle and do something different. I hope it will pay off and that everything flourishes and blooms. Then, it will be worth it for daylily generations to come.

Quiet

August 9, 2017August 9, 2017Leave a comment

Today was quiet in the yard. Four blooms. Cool, rainy. Shifting seasons in the air. It is good to see the new growth on the daylilies I put in pots a couple of weeks ago. There is no doubt they look healthier.

I walked by Fairy Tale Pink and saw her shrinking fans under those invasive blue bells. I stopped to put her in a pot before the dog walk. I’m out of potting soil, again. More, tomorrow.

I sincerely hope I never have to put this many buried pots in any place ever again. The veggie garden was the worse. The Southwestern garden is more of a challenge than the front. At least as far as big roots. The invasive blue bells are in all the roots out front. A woman at the farmer’s market last weekend says they probably have something in their roots that inhibits the growth of other plants. I have to do a procedure where I paint the weeds that appear in the pots with herbicide. After all the pots are in the ground, that is. I hope the bloom next year is worth it! Oh, life on the Colorado Plateau!

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.

A Good Day . . . in the Daylilies

August 22, 2016Leave a comment

Today started with an email from one of my resilience websites. I have seen this before – but it is still as beautiful. I wish I had the patience for time-lapse of these blooms. If you want to feel a little positive emotion and wonder, give this a few minutes.

So, here are my weekend miracles. Frans Hals:

Frans Hals – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Orange Flurry:

Orange Flurry – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Red Hot Returns:

Red Hot Returns – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Stella:

Golden Stella de Oro – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Not bad for late August. PS – I could have sworn that Heirloom Heaven bloomed yesterday but no photos – I must have missed it somehow.

Today brought a light application of Mir-Acid. (Miracle Grow for acid loving plants). My soil here is so basic that it won’t change. The base in the soil quickly neutralizes the acid. The iron is bound at that pH, so it can’t be absorbed. Anemic daylilies. Mulch, manure, peat moss, acidifiers can all help. They probably won’t change the pH for long (if at all), but they do boost the availability of nutrients. The joy of living in an ancient sea bed. It’s trial and error. I am grateful for the lessons of my garden. It makes me feel like a hands-on healer, again. A good day.

Prepping the Daylily Beds is a Bunch of BS!

August 15, 2016August 15, 2016Leave a comment

So, first there are the first fans of spring. Actually, other than my garlic and spring bulbs, one of the very first signs of spring in my yard. Then, there come the scapes followed by peak bloom season. And, then the lovely late bloomers signal time to start preparing for another cycle. I think of the Native Americans and their focus on the changing seasons.

I did have bloomers this weekend. So, I will show those first, followed by the tale of BS in my garden.

Tiger Kitten only produced two buds. This was a one fan root last summer. It’s making progress. Can’t wait for next year!

Tiger Kitten – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Stella, of course, was here with me all weekend, in both yellow and gold.

Yella Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Orange Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

And, Orange Flurry lit up my smaller zeriscape garden in the rocks.

Orange Flurry – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

So, here is my Ned Roberts Southwest spider garden that I put in this spring. The first two pictures are before. It is of note on the second photo that the earth no longer comes up to the top of the bricks. PS – I would have done a higher raised bed, but the yuccas won.

Ned Roberts Southwest spider patch (before) – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Note the level of the soil and mulch within the bricks.

Here is the after picture. Probably no different to most people. The difference is that the earth is now back up to the top of the brick. Because daylilies are funny about planting depth, this meant raising the grade of the garden by first loosening up each daylily, putting the growing medium underneath, and then surrounding each cultivator with the medium. It reminds me of the tale of raising Galveston Island several feet after the 1900 Great Storm. They did it one structure at a time, too. It took all afternoon yesterday.

Southwest lily patch (after) – a lot of work for something that looks pretty much the same. Just ask the daylilies, though, it has been a weekend of prep for a new season.

Today, I filled the gaps with the remaining medium because the daylilies were all in mounds after being raised. Sounds easy enough, except I was mixing up a concoction of steer manure, compost, peat moss, water crystals, soil acidifier, and time release fertilizer. Oh, and given that I tromp around pretty hard with my camera, I also added some little stepping stones so the soil could stay fluffy. I think my motivation is not only the anticipation of the blooms (a type of savoring), but also the number of little gardens that I see on my dog walks that have gone untended. I think how cool the initial intention was . . . . but it is long gone. This Colorado Plateau is a different ecosystem than the South.

I read yesterday that with plenty of water, amendments, and the right amount of fertilizer you can get 2-3 x as many blooms. Might as well give it a shot. For tomorrow, we will talk about grass weeds vs daylily sprouts. Maybe someone out there can help me with that issue!!!

Back to the Drawing Board

July 27, 2016Leave a comment

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Put the Lime in the Coconut!

July 24, 2016July 24, 2016Leave a comment

My computer just blitzed my first post – all but the last caption done. I think I could use a little lime in the coconut right now. At any rate, that song was going through my head this AM when I started looking at my garden. I think it was the sight of Lime Frost surrounded by two near-white daylilies, Marque Moon and Lullaby Baby. I guess the song was about a cure for morning sickness??? (Well, that is not my problem, although I treated it a lot during my midwifery practice years.) The new bloom, Melon Balls, sort of added to the fruity theme. This was a gift plant – and it looks like melon balls floating in my drink!

Melon Balls – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

That was the only new bloom today. The other one of that I am highlighting today is Mesa Verde. This cultivator has been blooming for a full month – and I have over 80 pictures of these gorgeous blooms. Unfortunately, today is the last bud unless she gets new life later in the summer. Every time I snap the shutter, I wonder how I will ever paint this on a Christmas present? Oh, I will. And, it will be a challenge to capture the full aura of this blossom.

Mesa Verde – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

The other highlight today is Zuni Thunderbird, one of my Ned Roberts babies. This one started with insect damaged blooms and I was less than impressed. But, the blooms have straightened out and the spots are mostly gone. I love the curls! This will be on a present, too, me thinks. (PS – Sounds like my tropical drink is up on the Colorado Plateau somewhere today!)

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

So, for the collage today, I tried to get similar poses where the flower anatomy would allow me. Lucky 13 today. Now, off to do the work of a farmer and work on flower pot drainage.

L to R: Top Row – Lady Fingers, Zuni Thunderbird, Baja, Aztec Firebird, Dream Catcher. Second Row – Fooled Me, Lime Frost, Lullaby Baby, Marque Moon, South Seas. Bottom Row – Return a Smile, Mesa Verde, Melon Balls.

First Frost! (and 26 daylilies)

July 23, 2016July 23, 2016Leave a comment

No, it’s really 88 degrees. It would be warmer if the monsoon clouds weren’t providing some shade. No real rain yet, but cooler than the last few weeks. In fact, cool enough for frost. Well, Lime Frost.

When I arranged daylilies last summer, I put plant labels and entered each location in my software. However, it doesn’t really sink in what is where until they bloom and then you remember to color. So, when I was checking for buds last night, I was surprised that Lime Frost looked full-term. This is booked as a very late season bloomer, but it is still mid-July. Oh, well, we had Desert Icicles so welcome to our delusion of cold weather.

Lime Frost – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Another brand new face is Autumn Jewel. This was a gift plant – this spring. A later gift plant, even. I love the bloom. It is a relative of El Desperado. It’s slated as another late bloomer. But, here it is anyway.

Autumn Jewel – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Fine Time Lucille is another brand new face today. I ordered her last summer when I was first learning the online order thing. The name sold this one . . . I have been humming the song all day.

Fine Time Lucille (with Primal Scream) – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

And, Skinwalker showed up in my Southwestern garden today . . . these first blooms are sometimes a little rough looking. Hoping for more soon from this one!

Skinwalker – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Of mention is that Electric Lizard, having been fertilized, put in another pale bloom. I now wonder if it has too much sun. I am getting some more fans at a summer sale, as I think it would look better a little fuller.

Electric Lizard – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

So, here is the collage with all 26 blooms. I tried for rainbow order, as I had both a near-blue and a green in bloom today.

From L to R: Top Row – Baja, Indian Love Call, Ruby Spider, Thin Man, Soco Gap. Second Row – Orange Vols, Primal Scream, Aztec Firebird, South Seas. Third Row – Mini Pearl, Mayan Poppy, Pick of the Litter. Fourth Row – Skinwalker, Electric Lizard, Dream Catcher, Lullaby Baby. Fifth Row – Lime Frost. Sixth Row – Blue Beat. Seventh Row – Stephanie Returns, Prairie Blue Eyes, Return A Smile, Fine Time Lucille. Eighth Row – Blackthorne, Zuni Thunderbird, Purple de Oro, Autumn Jewel.

As peak lingers, I begin to think of next year. I want to do more work with the Southwest garden. Maybe some compost or manure around each plant. Loosen the soil around the roots and add the amendments. That area has been sterile of plants so long, it probably could use some bio additives. Pots, yes, some need to be relocated. Others need pebbles in the bottoms. It will be fun moving them inside the porch this winter – the evergreens. I have had 57 different cultivators bloom so far this year. Next year, 100 by this time! Let’s do it!

The Monarch Has Landed!

July 20, 2016July 20, 2016Leave a comment

Today, I continue the wait for news. I worry some, and know that my daylilies will pull me back into the moment. I step outside, with camera in hand (and a queezy stomach) to admire my days blooms. I work it from the porch to the west edge of the walkway garden. Then out to check some of my pots and the xeriscaped area before going out to check on my Southwest named Ned Roberts garden. I am almost done, but decide to stop for one more shot of South Seas next to Primal Scream. Routine.

And, then, I spot it . . . a large Monarch butterfly on Thin Man. I quickly take my PowerShot out of close-up mode and attempt to focus on the distant flower. The Monarch was flower-hopping. From one to the next. I got a few good shots . . . in others, she seemed intent in hiding from me. Here are my favorites.

Monarch on an old Orange Vols bloom – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Monarch in the South Seas – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Monarch on the Orange Vols – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

The only new bloom for 2016 today is Baja. For some reason, this is one of my favorites each year.

Baja – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C Hartt

Of note, my other Primal Scream bloomed. The one that was labeled Primal Scream (and not Desert Flame). This was one of my <$5 fall sale daylilies. It struggled with insects when I planted it. I was unsure if it would come back in the spring, let alone bloom. But, her it is. The bloom is smaller than on the new nursery-bought plant that I thought was Desert Flame. But it is a different location and year one for a smaller fan. What do you think, same flower? (Today’s bloom is on the left.)

Today’s collage is by garden area. The top blooms are in my walkway garden. The middle ones are in the xeriscaped area of my front lawn. And, the last ones are in my Southwest named daylily (mostly Ned Roberts) to the West of my house. Sadly, I believe we have seen the last Ruby Spider for the year 😦

From L to R: Top Row: Mini Pearl, Chorus Line, Prelude to Love, Primal Scream. Second Row – Baja, South Seas, Thin Man. Third Row – Indian Love Call, Lady Fingers, Fooled Me. Bottom Row – Dream Catcher, Zuni Thunderbird, Aztec Firebird.

I wonder what blooms today’s monsoon will bring tomorrow? Hopefully blooms of news!

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure

Tag: Colorado Plateau