Drip, Drip, Drip

June 22, 2020Leave a comment

I will say one thing positive about the pandemic is that I have spent a lot more time in my yard and patio doing projects that I have wanted to do for some time.

So, today I extended my side yard drip system to the upper part of my front flower bed. I am guessing there are 50 plants in that area – so it took a chunk of time. I was nervous to hook it up, but it works fine. My sprinkler system is great for the lawn, but not for the flower pots. It is just not enough. So . . . I will come back to drip systems in a minute.

First, I had several premiers. Mauna Loa is a pretty Ned Roberts daylily that I added last year. It is one of his older ones, but the color is still vibrant.

One of my minis, Petite Petticoats, gave me a premier bloom today, too. I seriously almost missed her in a big bucket of minis.

Purple Many Faces showed her face for the first time in 2020 today. Another colorful Roberts cultivator.

Oh, and sweet Return a Smile. She was one of my very first daylilies and always makes me smile.

So, that is it for premiers today. Likely, this week, I will shift to premiers only. I have a couple honorable mentions today. I had 4 premiers this week that didn’t open right the first time. Now, they are back with their normal beauty – Kokopelli, Land of Enchantment, Jungle Queen, and Mildred Mitchell.

OK, back to the drip system. Last year, I put one in on the front part of the bed I did today. Again, it had a lot of plants and I was new at doing drip systems other than it a short line. So, I did it the same, and needless to say, the drippers at the end did not have enough pressure.

I decided to research it and you need to put the line in a continuous circle – so both the start and end of the tube connect to the tap. Earlier this spring, I went back and fixed the front so it worked correctly. And, I am seeing a difference in the plant health – we will see on bloom rate. So far, Stella is much happier. And, my poinsettias are in heaven!

I don’t have either of the newer drippers on a timer – other than my brain. It is still a lot easier to crank the hose and do something else for 30-60 minutes that haul water to all those pots.

I am wondering if peak will happen before my trip in 2.5 weeks. I know it will be busy with blooms. I just need to get away and have an adventure.

As the World Turns

June 21, 20201 Comment

It is the longest day of the year for another hour or so in Colorado. Summer is here – the season of the daylily explosion. And, now the world takes us slowly to that dark, cold December day a few days before Christmas.

It wasn’t a real exciting day in the garden. I had one premier – Wild Horses. I really like the shape and color of her blooms. She is one of my favorite on the back porch.

I also am so disappointed in myself for not watching my scape when I went to get some sedum cuttings and accidentally knocked 3 buds off Jungle Queen. Every summer I do something like that and it hangs with me for a bit.

The good news is that the new sedum garden looks good. It is a little garden made of wine bottles with a new mural of a Navajo Tree of Life. It is the back side of my garage so I never painted there before – but it is my view from where I sit to eat. So, it’ll be fun.

Tomorrow, I extend my drip system to an area where my pots only get sprinkler water. It isn’t enough during the hot, dry weather. At this point, it may be too late to influence scape formation, but it could keep my buds from drying up before they bloom.

Any, hey, I own mother nature 3 buds now. And, that is the way the world turns.

Freedoms

June 20, 2020Leave a comment

Today, I woke-up late because I worked until midnight on a supply list for one of our new programs. It is busy on top of COVID-19 – the world of nursing academics is and will stay upside-down.

I was foggy . . . but when consciousness returned, I realized it was Juneteenth. I knew nothing about Juneteenth until I lived in Galveston and read a book by the same name. It is a day worth remembering.

We live in a world that seems shaken by so much right now. But, I am free to go out in my yard and take photos of the 13 bloomers of the day. All are different colors, and I treat each the same. I am free to write the blog. I can put just about anything I want in this blog – that is freedom. I can be a crazy daylily lady – that is freedom.

The other cool thing about today is that my Nurse’s Stethoscope daylily bloomed her premier bloom. She is the one I suggested the name for through the Daylily Society. She is named for the Show Me Your Stethoscope episode of the View. Maybe COVID-19 has helped the world understand all of the capabilities of my profession.

I had a few other premiers – I do believe the peak is beginning to build. Canyon Colors had a premier bloom today. There is so much grass in her put that she didn’t put out many scapes. I was going to replant her in March, but couldn’t get out to buy the soil before she got too big.

Indian Love Call had a nice first bloom. She is loaded with buds.

Land of Enchantment had a premier bloom that looks almost as beat-up as Kokopelli did yesterday. I think it is bud damage from the big windstorm a couple weeks ago.

It is Friday, summer solstice is tomorrow. It just feels like a significant day.

My flowers today are dedicated to those who don’t know the same freedoms that I have known. And, they are dedicated to the frontline workers during COVID-19 – my Nurse’s Stethoscope seems to say “thanks” to my colleagues.

It’s my home weekend tomorrow. A few things planned around the yard. Solstice . . . Summer Solstice. And, I get a little sad knowing that the days will start shrinking, again.

Enjoy the show below . . . almost time to limit to just premier blooms in the daily blog.

The Big Parade

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020Leave a comment

I think that, in the song, 75 trombones lead the big parade. Well, in my yard, it is a handful of yellow(ish) trumpets. But, it is a big parade . . . Christmas in July.

Today was an odd day. It was cold last night – I crawled back under the covers because my bedroom window was cracked.

When it is cold the daylilies usually open later in the day. Today, it was noonish before some were open enough for photos. The problem with that is the lack of humidity in Colorado means the UV is intense. And, so some of my blooms looked frazzled by the time I could take a photo of them open.

I had three premiers today. Jungle Queen – one of my early Lily Auction adoptees – marched proudly in the parade. I have always thought her colors were some of the most stunning in my yard.

Jungle Queen with her big, showy flowers 6.18.20

The other two premiers looked like they would have been better off to stay in bed and sleep late. Oh, wait, they did. Anyway, Mildred Mitchell had beautiful near blue bloom that didn’t open until the sun got the best of it’s splendor.

Mildred Mitchell looking weathered on her premier bloom day 6.18.20

And, oh poor Kokopelli. This cultivator’s name comes from the Native American legend of a traveler, trader, and turner of seasons. I knew something was up with her bud. Maybe wind damage, maybe insects. IDK, but I hope the other buds do a little better. Kokopelli is such a favorite that this poor bloom makes me sad.

The saddest Kokopelli on the planet 6.18.20

Ojo de Dios was back, probably the star of today’s parade because the show went on despite the cool night.

Ojo de Dios shows resilience after a cold night 6.18.20

Mesa Verde had another couple of blooms. Those ruffles had a rough time wanting to open today.

Funny Valentine has nice, rich color this year.

And, the trumpets – Saratoga Springtime had a nice little clump of marchers.

Stella has grit – always putting on a show. Both Stella colors.

And, their cousin, Yellow Punch.

I wonder who will lead tomorrow’s parade?

Folders of Flowers

June 18, 2020Leave a comment

I remember a presidential debate several years ago where one of the candidates said he had binders of women. Instantly, it was the twitter trend. Well, I am not sure my folders of flowers will rate that highly, but there are similarities.

Laughing Feather – premier bloom 6.17.20

This time of year, I organize my flower photos in folders labeled by cultivator name, date, and then which photo # it is that day for that flower. So, I might have stella6.17.1 for my first Stella de Oro shot today.

I use Microsoft One Drive as my back-up for my camera photos. It always worked great until I switched computers . . . or maybe it’s the new camera . . . or some update. I have checked every setting and I can’t figure it out.

My yellow (vs golden) Stella de Oro and her premier bloom 6.17.20

It just isn’t backing up the photos I put on my computer. Now, I can upload the folder to One Drive – but I have to delete the one off my computer. And, then the one from One Drive shows up. It honestly took me hours to figure out a work-around. I think once a week is plenty for this little procedure.

Dream Keeper still livin’ the dream 6.17.20

So far, I have eleven folders of flowers for 2020. Last year, I had 161 total. I have more work ahead of me than what lays behind. And, I need to move my flower software to the new computer, too.

So, I had more premiers to add to my list of folders. Today, a couple of Southwestern named cultivators. Mesa Verde is one of my favorites – especially for a ruffly bloom.

And distinctive Laughing Feather has bloomed – one of my Robert’s spiders. It usually isn’t a particularly early bloomer . . . beat Kokopelli this year, though.

Oh, and my yellow (vs golden) version of Stella put our a premier bloom today, too.

My other cultivators are pictured above between my writing. Tomorrow, I think I will be adding more folders. Maybe Kokopelli. I didn’t have time to make bud rounds today so I am not really sure. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

Firebird of the Aztecs

May 21, 2020May 24, 2020Leave a comment

A proud bird with a golden tail. That was the tagline for one of the major airlines a few years ago. It makes me think of my bright and beautiful Aztec Firebird daylily. She is one of the brightest color combos in my yard.

But, let’s back up to my vicarious road trip through the daylilies. Who were the Aztecs? They were ancient people of Mexico. They flourished 700 years ago and are known for the massive size of its empire.

Aztec Ruins National Monument, NM – 2016

I have never been to the Aztec ruins of Mexico, but there are ruins called Aztec Ruins in New Mexico. They are Ancient Pueblo Ruins, like Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde – but when they were first discovered, they were thought to be built by the Aztecs. I can see why, because they appear to hold a fairly massive population.

It is the last couple of days until my nursing students graduate. I am buried in grading and ready to be done. I enjoy working from home because I can wonder outside and see my gardens despite the crazy spring wind this week. And, today I spied the first scapes of the year – Dream Catcher and Kokopelli. I am jazzed. I wonder if I can go back to being away from home 40 hours a week – it is weird how my creativity is back now.

At any rate, soon enough Aztec Firebird will bloom her big, bright bloom. A bird rising from her own ashes. She is an inspiration and symbol or resilience during these crazy COVID times. I am grateful for my garden now more than ever. And, gratitude sure beats arguing over masks on social media.

Daylily of the Green Table

May 17, 2020May 17, 20201 Comment

Mesa Verde – Green table is Spanish. And, it looks like that from a distance during certain seasons. Mesa Verde is a climb – and if you have ever tent camped there, the temp drops accordingly. I have great memories of camping there with my daughters when they were growing up. And, in my adult life.

Yucca House National Monument – Mesa Verde National Park in the distance – 2019

Dogs have slowed down my camping there because National Parks are not dog friendly – although they would be fine in the campground – it is a drive to get in and out to dog friendly places.

The road up Mesa Verde – 2017

However, in 2017, Kachina, Maizzy and I headed up during our annual labor day trip. It was hot – too hot to hike. So, I thought the elevation would be to our advantage.

Smiling doggies – Kachina and Maizzy at Mesa Verde 2017

That was the weekend I also decided to foster my little disabled dog, Sazi, then Dotsy. Her name, Sazi Ana, is inspired by our drive through Mesa Verde that day.

Mesa Verde 2017

The ruins of Mesa Verde are unique cliff dwellings. It has probably been close to 15 years since I went by myself on spring break and climbed one of the ladders. Folks, I have a huge fear of heights and that was nothing I would ever repeat. But it does give some idea what the Ancient Pueblo Indians must have lived like. I always wonder how they ever kept toddlers off of the ladders without baby gates.

Mesa Verde – 2017

Mesa Verde – 2017

Mesa Verde is also a gorgeous daylily with outrageous ruffles. She was another of my early Southwest named daylilies.

Mesa Verde daylily – 2019

I was naive before thinking that there might be a few dozen kinds of daylily. Somehow, I figured out about ordering bare-root on-line. The first year, I just picked fun colors. After that, I picked Southwest names.

Mesa Verde Daylily – 2018

Mesa Verde is decidedly pink until the sun hits – then she resembles the orange cliffs of her name sake.

Mesa Verde daylily – 2018

Her pot is over growing in grass. I was going to fix that in March, until COVID-19 hit and I didn’t want to go buy soil until it was too late. Perhaps this fall.

Mesa Verde daylily – 2018

This weekend, I am repainting my Monument Valley mural. I think living vicariously during the safer-at-home phase of corona virus has inspired the creative in me. My creativity has been totally shut down for the last year or two. Feels good to be covered in mural paint.

Mesa Verde tile painting – 2019

A couple of Christmases ago, I did try my hand at painting Mesa Verde. The flower, that is.

Counting Flowers on the Wall; That Don’t Bother Me At All!

July 20, 2019July 20, 20193 Comments

So, I had a record number of cultivators in bloom the day before my trip, but no time to blog. Tomorrow, I’m home but too late to see any blooms. So, here is the 7/16 batch. Honestly, I don’t remember which were new bloom, but I’ll try. It’ll be good to see what’s new on Sunday!

Premiers:

Apache Beacon 7/16

Inwood 7/17

Wild Rose Fandango 7/16

Coral Taco 7/16

Little Cadet 7/16

Winds of Love 7/16

Lacey Doily 7/16

Royal Palace Prince 7/16

Black Eyed Susan 7/16

Anasazi 7/16

Reruns – lots and lots of reruns:

Purple de Oro 7/16

Mauna Loa 7/16

Longlesson Show-off 7/16

South Seas 7/16

Isaac 7/16

Stephanie Returns 7/16

Passionate Returns 7/16

Prairie Wildfire 7/16

Catherine Irene 7/16

Strutter’s Ball 7/16

Prairie Blue Eyes 7/16

Red Riddle 7/16

Indian Love Call 7/16

Purple Many Faces 7/16

Iktomi 7/16

Indian Love Call 7/16

Chief Four Fingers 7/16

Zuni Thunderbird 7/16

Rocky Mountain Friends 7/16

Soco Gap 7/16

Black Ice 7/16

Maya Cha Cha 7/16

Purple Mystery 7/16

Ruby Spider 7/16

Comanche Princess 7/16

Mildred Mitchell 7/16

Thin Man 7/16

Lady Fingers 7/16

Papa Long Legs 7/16

Purple Grasshopper 7/16

Chaco Canyon 7/16

Happy Hopi 7/16

Feather Woman 7/16

Ojo de Dios 7/16

Canyon Colors 7/16

Cheddar Cheese 7/16

Mesa Verde 7/16

Primal Scream 7/16

The Colorado Kid 7/16

Melon Balls 7/16

Pardon Me 7/16

Cricket Call 7/16

Wineberry Candy 7/16

Raspberry Propeller 7/16

Route 66 7/16

Golden Stella 7/16

Yellow Punch 7/16

Early Bird Cardinal 7/16

Pink and Cream 7/16

Mini Pearl 7/16

Orange Flurry 7/16

Golden Stella 7/16

Cheyenne Eyes 7/16

Pink Enchilada 7/16

Apache Bandana 7/16

Vaca Day Lilies

July 6, 2019Leave a comment

Today, we started our weeklong camping road trip through southern Utah. So, I’ll miss 5 days of blooms. But, I think there will be plenty left when I return next week.

Premieres:

Prairie Blue Eyes 7/5

Cheyenne Eyes 7/5

Papa Long Legs 7/5

Treasure of the Southwest 7/5

Reruns:

Indian Love Call 7/5

Petite Petticoats 7/5

Yellow Punch 7/5

Saratoga Springtime 7/5

Yellow Stella 7/5

Echo Canyon 7/5

Purple Many Faces 7/5

Mesa Verde 7/5

The Colorado Kid 7/5

Finales: While Dream Keeper has a few buds left (my first bloom this season), she will likely be done before I get home.

Dream Keeper 7/5

The Independence Thirteen

July 4, 2019July 4, 2019Leave a comment

Wow . . . It was slow on Solstice and I have only thirteen on the 4th of July. Last year, I had 40 something. And, for the last several years, I’ve had white daisies, blue bells, and Ruby Spider all in close enough proximity for a July 4th shot. Not this year.

Today isn’t only the 4th, but also the day before my trip. It was my dad’s birthday and my due date with my youngest daughter. My family have been a bit like daylilies in my life . . . Enjoy them when they last and consider each day a new beginning. Still, the 4th is both a community day and a time PTSD can rear its ugly head.