Tag: Memories of Oz

Drought Impact on Daylilies: Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim Fire & Garden Update

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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.

7.10 Colorado Drought Monitor

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!

Apache Bandana first bloom 7.5
Baja first bloom 7.5
Cherokee Star first bloom 7.7
Cheyenne Eyes first bloom 7.6
Chokecherry Mountain first bloom 7.8
Dr. Doom first bloom 7.9
Fairy Tale Pink first bloom 7.9
Heavenly Curls first bloom 7,5
Hesperus first bloom 7.8
Ink Heart first bloom 7,8
Laughing Feather first bloom 7,5
Lobo Lucy first bloom 7,9
Marque Moon first bloom 7,11
Memories of Oz first bloom 7,5
Mesa Verde first bloom 7.10
Mildred Mitchell first bloom 7.5
Nearly Wild first bloom 7.10
Orange Flurry first bloom 7,5
Painted Petroglyph first bloom 7.9
Petite Petticoats first bloom 7.10
Pink Enchalada first bloom 7,8
Prelude to Love first bloom 7.8
Red Bird Mary first bloom 7,6
Rocky Mountain Pals first bloom 7,8
Ruby Stella first bloom 7.8
Soco Gap first bloom 7.8
Star Over Milagro first bloom 7.8
Talon first bloom 7.8
The Colorado Kid first bloom 7.6
Treasure of the Southwest first bloom 7.8
Truchas Sunrise first bloom 7.8

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

The Late Show

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Sorry, no blog for a few days. Had some evening social events. I’ve had several mid-late and late cultivators join the collection of 2023 blooms. Here we go.

Thursday 8.3 blooms in order: Purple Corn Dancer, Spirit of the Morning, and Zuni Eye. All Ned Roberts spiders on this day.

Friday 8.4 blooms in order: Heirloom Heaven, Shape Shifter, and Memories of OZ. Potpourri day as far as colors, shapes, hybridizers.

Only 2 today (8.5) – so regular photos. Had an orange and yellow theme.

Dream Catcher first bloom 8.5
Frans Hals first bloom 8.5
Please visit my website Www.artfromthehartt.com

Stay Tuned For The Late Show

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I can’t believe I haven’t blogged in 4-5 days. I’m revamping my old porch that’s 80 years old with a 50 year old extention. And, part of it was DIY to begin with. It’s been an adventure.

My old porch stripped of paint that covered the previous owner’s names. I’ve owned my home for 25 years.

Meanwhile, the daylilies keep blooming. I’m even starting to get late bloomers. My daily count has dropped from 70 to 40. It’s slowing down but definitely not done.

7.21 saw Golden Eclipse, Shape Shifter, and Purple Grasshopper. All Ned Roberts spiders.

Golden Eclipse 7.21
Shape Shifter 7.21
Purple Grasshopper 7.21

7.22 saw Zuni Eye, Coyote Laughs (which I think is a different Roberts spider but was sold to me as CL), Pizza Crust and Memories of OZ.

Zuni Eye 7.22
Coyote Laughs 7.22
Pizza Crust 7.22
Memories of Oz 7.22

7.23 saw Dancing Maiden. My 55th Ned Roberts spider. I have 8 more with unbloomed scapes. Still hoping Navajo Gray Hills will throw a scape.

Dancing Maiden 7.23

And, today, two bloomers that signal that the season is winding down: Royal Palace Prince and Heirloom Heaven.

Royal Palace Prince 7.24
Heirloom Heaven

I’m still working on the porch but hopefully done in a couple of days. I had no idea what I was getting into.

Staying engaged after the peak

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I’m back, but only to catch up on finales since Sunday. Once school starts next week, it seems like the daylilies fade in my mind a little. But, this year I am semi-retired so hoping to stay a bit engaged. Last year, I did that huge 70+ buried pot repotting. That was 4 weekends of work and nearly ran into freeze. So, I suppose you could call that engaged.

This year’s project is to re-organize some of my less favorite/poor bloomers with some new cultivators. I just purchased Singing in the Sunshine, Irish Handshake, Ghost Ranch (more fans because I only have one), Off to See the Wizard, Memories of Oz, Sea Panther, Ruby Slippers, Blue Flirt, Wildwood Flower (mine died a couple years ago), and (maybe) another fan of Coyote Laughs (I am not sure the one I have is actually Coyote Laughs). That is 9 or 10 more, but I will be selling some of mine that I am eliminating. I also may do a big pot of leftovers – I have one that does great! I am amazed because it is soooo crowded.

Chaco Canyon – Finale 8.4. Bloomed from 6.27 to today – good year for this one!
Pizza Crust Finale 8.3
Taco Twister finale 8.4 (today).
Treasure of the Southwest finale 8.3
Dancing Maiden finale 8.2
El Desperado finale 8.2
Indian Sky finale 8.2

I have several with only a few (if that) buds left. I think the closing daylilies this year will be Purple Corn Dancer, Navajo Curls, Purple Thunderbird and Adios Albuquerque. Will they last until September? Will there be an August surprise scape on a non-bloomer?