Savoring the Four Seasons with Daylilies

August 7, 2016August 7, 2016Leave a comment

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:

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

Royal Palace Prince:

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

Fairy Tale Pink:

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

Marque Moon:

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

Orange Flurry:

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

Stella do Oro:

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!

Pizza Crust for Lunch

July 31, 2016Leave a comment

Pizza crust is what I had for lunch. I shared a bite with my doggies . . . and then I found my daylily, Pizza Crust, in bloom. This is a brand new baby to my yard. I really love the mottling. The colors are neat – and it is tall enough to go perfect in a back space in my flower garden. You see, I planted the daylilies in that garden last summer, then dug out the old red concrete bed in the fall. The bed is bigger than I thought, but the grass had grown over the edge. I added bricks to the outside of the bed so that should not happen, again.

Pizza Crust – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Another new bloom today is Royal Palace Prince. It is a nice one that was a gift plant last summer. I have found that my gift plants have had a higher rate of bloom this year (in my main garden) than the ones I picked. I am guessing the hardy ones are generally the ones the sellers use as bonuses.

Royal Palace Prince – Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Here are the other bloomers – the two small orange gals, Mini Pearl and Mellon Balls:

Lime Frost – I wish it was a lime Frosty:

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

Primal Scream:

Primal Scream – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

El Desperado:

El Desperado – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Ghost Ranch:

Ghost Ranch – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Marque Moon:

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

Soco Gap:

Soco Gap – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

And, by golly, Miss Stella. I am still chuckling at the poor nursery person who was trying to be nice and explain daylilies to me. I said, “Yea, they are cool. I have 130 varieties in my yard.” Oh, the look on his face. He went immediately back to watering. Here is Stella:

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

And, my mind is now thinking of where to put the gift plants that I put in pots and they didn’t bloom. I have ideas . . . now, wait for September.

Return a Smile :-)

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016Leave a comment

Today, no new blooms. I am impressed, however, that Return a Smile returned. It’s the one I divided into the front garden last year. It has never rebloomed in the container. That is cool. The old gal has grit.

Return a Smile: Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

In my positive psychology course, we are talking about how we tend to mimic the faces of those who we make eye-to-eye contact with. Smiling does usually get returned. And, they are calling this a form of love. So, I will credit my daylily for reminding me of that lesson today.

I decided to update my collage of Roberts daylilies that bloomed this year, as I think Ghost Ranch may be the last. I am still hopeful for late bloomers, but no scapes yet. This can always be updated. If I get 80% next year, It will be 40 or so cultivators.

Ned Roberts Spiders as of 7/29/2016 L to R: Top Row – Winds of Love, Black Ice, Aztec Firebird, Chief Four Fingers, Desert Icicle. Center: Skinwalker. Bottom Row: Ghost Ranch, Kokopelli, Dream Catcher, Zuni Thunderbird, Dream Keeper.

And, here is the collage of today’s blooms. Gratitude . . . Love, joy, and gratitude. A garden of positive emotion.

7/29/16 L to R: Top Row: Fine Time Lucille, Lullaby Baby, Dream Catcher, Baja, Return a Smile. Bottom Row: Orange Vols, El Desperado, Ghost Ranch, Marque Moon, Prelude to Love.

Winding down . . . a little

July 28, 2016Leave a comment

The daylily peak has come, and gone, for another year. With my intense focus on savoring it during this summer of my doctorate, I am almost glad. Heavy on the almost. As with all things, we assimilate over time. If I did not get my daylily withdraw pains from November through March (yes, fans count!), I would not have time to think creatively about daylilies in a new way. Last year, I made tile coasters, tiled tables, self-watering jars, and solar lit mason jars all with the images of my daylily heavy summer.

Dream Catcher – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

If I have any regrets about this year, it is not the yard improvements that I have made. It is that some of my regulars did not bloom . . . or had much-reduced bloom. I am not sure why . . . well, probably water and sunshine. I am sure I played into it by putting pots in places that were too shady or not pre-watering enough in the spring. But, there is something bigger, because two of my three clumps of flamingo grass also did not bloom. Strange.

El Desperado – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

I’ve already made changes in the last couple of weeks. Amended soils, moved pots, changed watering systems. It’s a long quality improvement cycle until next spring. Oh, how I wish daylilies could talk. That said, I have a few sending up scapes for later blooms – one that last bloomed 2 years ago. At any rate, last count I have had 64 of 135 bloom this year. That’s 47%. I have 4 more with scapes that have not bloomed yet. If they all survive, I will hit 50. That’s good, but leaves room for some quality improvement to make sure all my new additions this year can flourish. Look out, 2017!

From L to R: Top Row – El Desperado, Dream Catcher. Second Row – Marque Moon, Lime Frost, South Seas. Third Row – Primal Scream, Soco Gap, Melon Balls.

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.

The Fruit Doesn’t Fall that Far from the Daylily

July 26, 2016Leave a comment

Today, I got the coolest bouquet from Mother Nature. And, while I am a little sorry to be cutting so many finished scapes, I welcome some great fall bloomers. Today, a favorite that joined my yard last year – El Desperado.

I bought this one last year because it still had unbloomed scapes when I walked through the nursery one Sunday. I wasn’t sure where to put it, so I potted it and put it in the center of the yucca garden. That was the beginning of my idea to make a southwestern garden out of that space. I love the yucca, but the space needed more color, more inspiration. And, from there I got into Ned Robert’s blooms.

El Desperado – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

I obviously love daylilies. But, I don’t know if I could ever be a hybridizer. I do, however, sometimes looking at the genetic similarities of the blooms. And, El Desperado is the parent to another bloom that showed up today, Autumn Jewels.

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

It doesn’t take much imagination to see the genetics at work. So, for fun, I looked up the other parent, Calico Jack, and found this picture. What do you think, does baby look like its parents?

Calico Jack – Google Image

The other eye-catching blooms in my yard today where Primal Scream (amidst the Potentilla).

Primal Scream – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

And, Zuni Thunderbird. Break out the paint brush. The buds are getting used up . . . one left?

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

So, here is the collage. I’m at 13 today. Without the additions of last fall and this spring, I believe I would be at two. I can live with that. Viva La Daylilies!

L to R: Top Row – Marque Moon, Soco Gap, Isaac. Second Row – Prelude to Love, El Desperado, Primal Scream, Autumn Jewels, Zuni Thunderbird. Bottom Row – Skinwalker, Mini Pearl, Orange Vols, Melon Balls, Lime Frost.

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.

Peaks and Troughs

July 23, 2016Leave a comment

In medicine, we draw peak and trough levels after giving some meds. It tells us where the medication reaches its highest and lowest levels. So, yesterday, I got my daylily peak with 26 cultivators in bloom. It’s a high therapeutic level. For me, anyway.

Today, the level dropped off a bit. Only 9. So, I am highlighting my Mexican Daylily (Shell Flower) in the background. Those bulb blooms look like blown glass. Really nice complementary flowers in my yard.

From L to R: Top Row – Aztec Firebird, Soco Gap, Dream Catcher. Row Two – Purple De Oro, Prelude to Love, South Seas, Orange Vols. Bottom Row – Blue Beat, Chorusline.

So, some statistics – I have 135 cultivators living in my yard. Fifty-seven of those have bloomed this year, 78 wait in the wings. Most of the new garden will wait until next year, although I am approaching a bloom rate of 20% out there. Who knows what will happen when you turn a rock pile into a garden?

I have some in pots that did less well – much less well – than average. I am not sure what happened to Cheddar Cheese, but all it’s buds fell off. Nosferatu did not bloom, nor did Funny Valentine. Inwood put forth 3 blooms and Strutter’s Ball, only one. Next spring, more water earlier in the season. Because, next year, my goal is 80% bloom rate. Or, bust!

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!

The Rainy Season (Monsoons!)

July 19, 2016July 19, 2016Leave a comment

Yesterday, I believe we got our first monsoon of the year. They are a couple weeks late – and I have missed the cooling off effect that they bring to the evening. I am curious to see how the this impacts the blooming.

Today brought 19 cultivators. Two are new – and I mean new, new. They have not bloomed here before; both were added last fall. The first one represents my granddaughter, Maia, in the family section. Her name is Mayan Poppy. I love the pastel colors.

Mayan Poppy – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

The other one was a small one fan gift plant that I wasn’t sure would make it. And, if it did, I did not anticipate blooms this year. This is Heavenly Curls. As a nurse-midwife, I look at some of these and wonder how they ever bloom without a c-section.

Heavenly Curles – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

The collage today was kind of fun. I paired like-looking flowers. Some were closer matches than others. Gives it a different look.

From L to R: Top Row – Zuni Thunderbird, Ruby Spider, Aztec Firebird, Dream Catcher, Pick of the Litter, Mayan Poppy. Second Row – Return A Smile, Stephanie Returns, Lullaby Baby, Isaac, Mildred Mitchell, Purple De Oro, “Montrose Sunset” (unknown), South Seas. Bottom Row – Inwood, Blackthorne, Heavenly Curls, Indian Love Call, Soco Gap.

Still no news. Thank heaven for my garden. I believe that brings me to 53 blooms for the year. I may just make that mid-60s (50%) goal. Some of my later bloomers are getting scapes! Yea!!!

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure

Tag: Ned Roberts

Savoring the Four Seasons with Daylilies

Pizza Crust for Lunch

Return a Smile :-)

Winding down . . . a little

Back to the Drawing Board

The Fruit Doesn’t Fall that Far from the Daylily

Put the Lime in the Coconut!

Peaks and Troughs

The Monarch Has Landed!

The Rainy Season (Monsoons!)