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This day started before the sun. Trying to photograph daylilies right after the sun rises is futile – or at least not productive. I had 30 in bloom on this first day of faculty meetings. I had to finish photos this evening because daylilies look sad when the bud is only a little open.
Anyway – This is a short blog because I am tired and tomorrow is another 5:30 wake-up. I am a late bloomer, so my bud is only half-open when I get to work. But . . . I have to blog because my favorite daylily showed-up today! Purple Corn Dancer was my premier today. I don’t know why I like that bloom so much, but I do. So, tonight let the Corn Dancer enjoy center stage. I’ll see you tomorrow!
I was downloading photos from my camera tonight and had to laugh that the first 5 or 6 were horribly out-of-focus. Must have been Monday! The first photo is Mini Pearl – I was trying to catch a bee on her. No luck, but the focus is kinda cool. (Little Cadet – in focus.)
Daylilies give a focus to my life for several months every year. Not the only focus, but a creative focus. Now, work is more structured and less creative. I crave my time with the colors. One woman walked by yesterday and says she choose this route so she can see which lily blooms next. Yea, me too! (Black Eyed Susan is putting on a good show.)
Nothing new in bloom today – and not much cued-up. I’m featuring my golden blooms with eyes today, I guess. The season winds down a bit, and I am sad by the number of blooms I did not see this year. Fol de Rol dropped its bud. Why? It is hard to be a farmer. (Indian Sky paints the front lawn today.)
I did order pots – lotsa pots – from Amazon. Digging and transplanting kills much of a chance for reblooms. But, making the plants stronger this season will build blooms for the next. And, that’s my focus. PS – Two of the three featured blooms today are in pots!
Today, Heirloom Heaven bloomed for the first time. This little one was one of my first root plantings last year.
Heirloom Heaven – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
It is a miniature, at least this first bloom cycle. Here it is with my petite finger:
Heirloom Heaven with my finger for proportion
Other blooms were my orange/yellow combos. Frans Hals:
Frans Hals – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, Orange Flurry:
Orange Flurry – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Oh, and Stella, of course:
Yella Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Today also brought the first of a couple fall plantings. I got one called Painted Petroglyph on fall sale at Shady Rest Gardens. It is not a Robert’s cultivator, but it still belongs in my Southwest garden. It is beautiful. Live long and prosper little one. I also replaced Navajo Rodeo – love the fall sales! I added a few more fans of Electric Lizard, as mine are still anemic.
I didn’t order much this fall, but the daylilies keep me going. I am getting two new Roberts blooms, too. Twirling Pinata and Glen Eyrie. My daughter lives in Colorado Springs, so I couldn’t resist the second one. (Many of the Roberts cultivators were hybridized right there!) I love fall plantings because, by spring they act like they have been here forever! I think I will hit 80 cultivators that bloomed this summer. That’s just over 50%. Keep on mulching!
Oh, and keep on painting. I finally finished Chief Four Fingers in the wee hours.
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!
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!
Today was much less overwhelming than peak day yesterday. Every bloom was a return. However, the bloom(s) that caught my eye were twin Aztec Firebirds. There is something about two blooms together, facing the same direction. They look like dancers.
Aztec Firebird – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
The name brings to mind Aztec Ruins, an Anasazi site close by in the Four Corners. I need to superimpose these blooms on the ruins picture from my spring Southwest road trip this spring. They are awesome ruins, just like the blooms.
Aztec Ruins National Monument – Photo by C. Hartt
Since I have no new blooms, I will highlight a couple of other Ned Roberts spiders in bloom today. Desert Icicle is a beautiful bloom.
Desert Icicle – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, poor Zuni Thunderbird was invaded by thrips and looks like it has reverse measles. I did some photo touching with it to make it presentable. One thing about having over a hundred cultivators – you begin to learn the work of farming daylilies.
Zuni Thunderbird in enamel – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
So, here is the collage for today. Some really nice blooms, all in all.
Left to Right: Top Row – Just Plum Happy, South Seas, Desert Icicle, Lady Fingers. Row Two: Chorus Line, Ruby Spider, Soco Gap, Lullaby Baby. Bottom Row: Purple de Oro, Aztec Firebird, Zuni Thunderbird.
I sit in a hotel so that I can attend a clinical conference the next few days. It’s going to be good, I think. Still, I hate missing daylily blooms.
Today’s featured bloom is Soco Gap. It was sent as a gift plant last fall. I had no clue what the name meant so I Googled it and found out that it does link to Native Americans. Soco Gap was a place in North Carolina where the Shawnee were defeated by the Cherokee. Therefore, it is in my Southwestern (mostly) Ned Roberts garden. It is a pretty bloom amongst the yucca plants. I like the red-orange color.
Soco Gap – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
The other new face today is Mildred Mitchell. The name reminds me a bit of Watergate, but it is really named for the hybridizers family member. It is a near blue, which was clear to my eye. It was too bright by the time I got out and it does not look blue to the camera under the sun. It is a pretty flower, just the same.
Mildred Mitchell – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
The other bloom that I will mention in the text is Return A Smile. She had blooms in her container on the porch and in the front garden. It is a division of the same plant. I am amazed by the difference that the sun exposure makes to color. It makes identification much more interesting because these guys are not color stable in bright sun.
And, my collage for today. Best day yet – that is nine blooms if you count both Return a Smile blooms. (Flowers moving clockwise from top left – Mesa Verde, Early Bird Cardinal, Primal Scream, Ruby Spider, and Lady Fingers (center).
Mesa Verde, Early Bird Cardinal, Primal Scream, Ruby Spider, and Lady Fingers – Photos by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Can’t wait to see what is up next when I return home! I am considering finding high country flowers as I walk around this area and blogging a bit about those. I am at 9,000+ feet above sea level. And, I have empty nest for my own garden already. 🙂
Today is Independence Day, and my dad’s birthday. He is gone now, but the day is always a memory of him. It is also the first day of my last term at school. In 11 weeks, I am a doctor! I hope my daylily blooms have peaked by then.
I am so glad I have Ruby Spider in the front garden now, with separating my original plant last year. Why? Because it is peak bluebell and daisy season. Makes for a great red, white and blue photo.
Ruby Spider with daisies and blue bells – photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Other than a hint of patriotic hues in the garden, it was another slow day. At first I thought I had no blooms in my Ned Roberts southwestern spider garden. It wasn’t until we got home from the downtown events that I noticed Winds of Love. It was pretty burned out by the time I got the photo.
Winds of Love – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
What is cool, though, is that to the yucca in that garden are in love with more water . . . and one I have never seen blooming is doing so now. It was a much smaller yucca garden for several years. One put in to hide the blemish of a tree removed to replace the sewer line. It got it got ignored more than not. But the yucca grew, so I figure there would be enough sun for daylilies. I can’t wait until the space has matured a bit, because I think the yuccas and daylilies will look fabulous together.
Yucca Bloom – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
All of that said, I would give the prize for best flower to The Colorado Kid. Once again, fabulous vibrant color.
The Colorado Kid – photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Wild Horses came to march in the parade of color today. Always a favorite.
Wild Horses – photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, Early Bird Cardinal tried to look patriotic, as well.
Early Bird Cardinal – photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, hey, one of my favorite daylily companions, Flamingo Grass, is blooming. Come on daylilies, lets roll!
So, that is it for the Fourth of July. I think we may see Canyon Colors tomorrow. Slo-mo daylily season.
The storm is passing, slowly but surely. It should start warming up by the end of the week. However, it wasn’t a bad daylily day. A Jungle Queen and a Voo Dancer showed up! Now, that is something to blog about.
Jungle Queen was amongst my first Lily Auction purchases. It was the day I needed to figure out how to win stuff so that I would get Kokopelli when the bidding closed. After losing on an earlier Ned Roberts daylily, I was determined to figure out the system. Jungle Queen caught my eye . . . and now she lives in my garden.
Jungle Queen – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
VooDoo dancer is one I purchased locally this year to go in a beautiful Mexican pot that my daughter bought me when they came to visit for Memorial Day. It should be a double bloom, so still adapting to its new surroundings. I’m hoping to see doubles soon! It is really pretty in the picture . . . more purple, too. I’ll put the web picture below. Hopefully, it wasn’t mislabeled 😦
Two of my Ned Roberts spiders are in bloom today. For fun, I put together a collage of all the blooms I have had from his creations to date. Five so far. I have 40+ Neds in my yard – so 10%. The larger ones (Chief FOUR Fingers and Kokopelli) are from today. This is the first FOUR finger bloom on the Chief! The smaller ones are Black Ice, Dream Keeper, and Winds of Love.
Ned Roberts collection to date – Photos by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Other bloomers were Ruby Spider, who adds visual splendor to both the front and side garden today. In front, it was a little red, white, and blue. And, on the porch garden, it was a pose with a friend (Return a Smile – I think).
Early Bird Cardinal landed again, too.
Early Bird Cardinal – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
I have had 18 different blooms so far this year. It is a start! Tomorrow, I am betting on Canyon Colors. Can’t wait to see it!
Colorado Kid Daylilies 