Tag: Daylily auction

Grand Daylily Mesa, Colorado

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What an interesting year! Not only have I reached semi-retirement age, I am having an amazing daylily bloom year. The drip systems with miracle grow soil replacement paid off in spades. It is honestly overwhelming because it takes an hour just to photograph them. I spend about 5 hours a day (not counting the painting) on daylilies right now.

I would not call this a peak – because on 7/3 we hit 60. It has been in the 50s and 60s each day since. And . . . drumroll . . . today I had 63. Last year, I charted the peak and it was clearly one day at 40, the other days were 20s at best. Granted, I was on vacation the last 2 years this week, but I think the numbers are an accurate reflection of a short, less intense peak. This isn’t a peak, it is a Southwest Mesa – and a grand one, at that.

I had 6 premiers today. Laudy. Here they are:

Quilt Patch 7.9 – I am headlining this one because I got her on the auction at the same time I got Kokopelli. The start of being a serious hobbiest. I put her in a different pilot garden and she almost died – she became a seedling in size. I moved her to a pot out front after a year out there and put her in the front garden. Each year, she gets a little stronger. Today, the first ever bloom came. Now I see why I had to have her!
Blue Beat 7.9 – One of my early near blues. I must say it is my near blues that need repotting once we get over the Grand Mesa and things settle down. They are not at their best this year.
Cherokee Star 7.9 – A pretty velvet cultivator that fits with my Southwest collection. She is from the local nursery.
Iktomi – This is a classic Robert’s spider. I see his DNA in so many of his hybrids. Reminds me of Chaco Canyon but I also see Apache Bandana and Black Arrowhead.
Rocky Mountain Pals 7.9 – Another Roberts cultivator. I understand it was named for his cancer treatment team in Denver.
Rosie’s Red – Another cool bonus bloomer who is usually one of the later bloomers in the front garden. This year, she is at the top of the Mesa with everyone else.

That’s all folks! Off to paint some daylilies in the basement while the temps reach 100 today.

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Fol de Rol

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The rain came today . . . and in a big way.  For the high desert.  And, one of my two Fol de Rol buds opened.  This is one that I got on the auction, I think.  I ordered a Ned Roberts spider and the same hybridizer had this one.  The thing about postage and daylilies is that you are better off to buy more than one.  So, I liked this one!  And, I hope for more buds next year when it is in a pot.

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Speaking of the pots, I did some research.  Most say that it is best to plant in-ground.  Unless, of course, your soil is clay.  Now, my front garden soil isn’t bad, but everything turns alkaline here in no time.  And, the daylilies are not native to this place, so the more native plants take over.  They like daylily roots – moisture holders in the desert.  In these cases, pots can be better.

Looking at the bloom rate and scape size around my yard, pots are better. The Southwest garden (fortunately) has fewer competitors.  And, most the plants are decent sized and healthy.  Some put on quite a show this summer out there!

So, one of the other things I learned about pots is that you can move them.  Well, I knew that.  But, I hadn’t really thought about moving the ones in the front garden because they are (or will be) partially buried.  But, it did occur to me that if I want to add a new flower and give away one that I am less crazy about, it will be a ton easier.

That brings to mind the chore of dividing a few pots.  And, some I want to have in two places.  Jungle Queen, Mesa Verde, and Canyon Colors, for sure.  All three are evergreen, so the grand experiment is to see how they do if they are left out all winter.  They are big enough, I think they stand a decent chance.  While I am developing 3 new daylily areas, neither is that big.  Eventually, I will run out of space!

Savoring the Four Seasons with Daylilies

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Savoring is the art of being in the moment and totally immersing ourselves into an experience.  It means no multi-tasking or thinking about chores.  It also includes planning for experiences, as well as reminiscing about the past good times.

So, today my yard takes on all of the above.  Here are my in the moment blooms:

Apache Uprising:

 

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Apache Unrising – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

Royal Palace Prince:

 

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Royal Palace Prince – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

Fairy Tale Pink:

 

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Fairy Tale Pink – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

 

Marque Moon:

 

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

 

Orange Flurry:

 

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

 

Stella do Oro:

 

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

 

In savoring the 2016 daylily season, I write this blog.  Last night, I actually looked through every post I made this summer.  It will be so cool to read back on things this winter, while I am painting these beauties.  I have tile paintings of Inwood, Cheddar Cheese and Route 66 in my room.  I said I didn’t want to ever have a day of the year where I didn’t wake up to daylily blooms.  And, so it is.  I cannot wait to add a few paintings of my new Ned Roberts Spiders.

And, that is a perfect segway into savoring through planning.  I have a few interventions for my Ned Roberts garden to start this month.  Things to empower more blooms next year.  Last night, I also found a Ned Roberts spider that is pretty rare on the auction, and put in a bid (it’s under $10).  I got my potted ones planted yesterday . . . the ones that were only temporarily in pots.  And, I fertilized.  It’s all part of beginning to savor next season.

The seasons of savoring daylilies:

Spring: Looking for the baby fans, cleaning out beds, watering on nice days, fertilize a little, early bloomers show-up!

Summer: Bloom fest! Photography and active blogging. Savor each colorful bloom.  Also, water, weeds, insects, and dead-heading.

Fall: Savor the late bloomers. Take time to smell each one.  Begin preparing beds for fall.  Fall planting.  Begin to consider which cultivators will make the best paintings.

Winter: Break out the paints!  Be creative – what new ways can daylilies be painted objects that I see every day during the cold, bleak months?  Paint daylilies on pumpkins.  Hey, what about daylily ornaments?  (I just thought of that one and need to consider how I might accomplish that before Christmas.) I love the daylily solar lights in my garden.  More for this winter, too.  Oh, the list goes on.  And, hey, what about searching for a few rare daylilies to add to my garden in the spring?  Look, winter is the busiest season of savoring of all!