Double Helix

August 12, 2017Leave a comment

Today, I believe, brought my next to last NEW bloom for 2017. Pizza Crust, a late bloomer that I added last year. This year, a two bud wonder. Seriously?

At any rate, I was taken back by how it looked like a twin to Western Sandstone. Like, can you see a difference?

So, curiosity got the best of me. I thought that these two had the same DNA, and while their parents were not listed, they originate from the same hybridizer. Ah, ha . . . I think my eye does not deceive.

Honorable mention goes to Cherokee Star, who put out a near perfect, velvet bloom today.

Today was the beginning . . . of a weekend of daylily digging and putting in pots, again. This time the Southwest Garden. Only the bad side. But, that’s over 40 daylilies and the digging is hard. Tight space, tree roots and clay below the good soil that is now full of tree roots, too. I have 17 done and like 25 left to go. I think I will hit the hay early and get up early to start. I would prefer to be done or mostly done by Sunday. I still have divisions to do for friends. This work actually makes me look forward to snow . . . kind of. I do wonder if I will end up with decorative pots out in that garden, too. I guess this is a pilot. PS – I was digging up the daylilies out there to raise the grade of the garden at exactly this time last year. Sigh. It never ends!

Tomorrow, I think my Ugly Daylily will be in bloom. That is my confused Amaryllis. Life in the garden is always full of surprises.

It is Better than Therapy!

August 19, 2016August 19, 2016Leave a comment

Here I am, finishing up my doctorate and still waiting for the next door to open. My knuckles get raw from knocking. They said it would open doors, and I need to stay optimistic, positive.

The garden helps. And, the blog is to be my happy place, so I won’t dwell on bloody knuckles here. I will say that when I left my computer to go put compost and manure in my daylily pots (some needed to be replanted do to settling), my mood shifted. I was focused in the moment. Painting daylily tiles does the same thing. Flow. Loss of time, self. So, hey, what a blessing these guys are to grow. It is more than the blooms . . . it is the cycle of life.

Today was my last Pizza Crust for the year. It is a lot prettier later in the day to me. So, this was actually taken in the evening. Have to savor the last one.

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

And. Stella. She seems to be taking a break before sending new scapes . . . and I have 3 of her. So, I shall be patient.

Golden Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

I still have Frans Hals, Heirloom Heaven, and Red Hot Returns. And, a few new plantings on the way . . . big, classy spiders. I just love them with the yucca. As Tom Hanks said in Castaway – Let’s see what the tide brings in tomorrow. A new bloom, an interview, a porta-potty? Here is to optimism!

The Sun, and the Rain, and the Daylily Roots

August 16, 2016August 16, 2016Leave a comment

When it comes to places to live, I stay on the sunny side. This place west of the Divide and east of the desert is not the habitat of daylilies. They are go-getters, though. I have only lost one or two of all those that I put in last year. Some act pretty shocked for a bit. Like, hey, we aren’t in Georgia anymore, Toto. So, below is my city’s annual precipitation from city-data.com – we are a couple standard deviations below the mean.

And, below are the sunshine days. Here, we are close to a couple standard deviations above the mean. Desert daylilies.

The downside of this climate, along with the very base ph, clay soil, is that it is nothing like the natural daylily habitat. It is trial and error. And some stuff you don’t get to see the results from for a year. And, so, today I finished putting my mulch concoction on my main flower garden cultivators. We will see if this helps. Not that I did poorly this year, but Stephanie Returns didn’t return. In fact, she only had one scape. She is not the only one who is below her mean. So, let’s hope this mulching is more than just a load of BS.

A few blooms to go with the calluses, sunburn, and bug bites. Two of my last three Pizza Crust buds:

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

And, my Stellas. Yeez, I wish those gals could help with yard work.

Yella Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Golden Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

PS – Heirloom Heaven is close – and has another brand new scape. Hopefully, the mulching won’t hurt these little buds. I think Red Hot Returns is very close, too. Tomorrow ????

Before the Last Bloom?

August 11, 2016August 11, 2016Leave a comment

Today seemed a bit cooler in my garden. We are decidedly on the downside of summer. My friend Frans Hals showed up, again. I put this guy in a few years ago and forgot about it . . . I was later surprised to find it blooming in September.

Frans Hals – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Pizza Crust was back today, as well. It has about 3 more buds.

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

Orange Flurry is a cool little bloom. Always a joy to have the late bloomers. Each bloom can be savored. And, this one is growing on me.

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

And, my Stellas showed up again. I have a feeling I will be giving these away right and left as they are very fast growers. And, easy care.

Yella Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Golden Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

That is it for this day . . . about 2 months out from freezing. About time to get the couple of fall plants that I ordered online in the mail. Probably next week. I am considering one more . . . and I hope for a new job that brings me half the joy that growing these bright blooms does. Soon. Before the last bloom?

Daylily Blooms Last Forever!

August 8, 2016August 8, 2016Leave a comment

Perhaps it is the blog. Or, perhaps it is painting with my granddaughter a few days ago. And, maybe it is because I want to keep peak season alive all year. At any rate, I broke out the paintbrush in an attempt to keep my last Zuni Thunderbird alive forever. It was fun. And, it’s been 9 months since I painted one of my cultivators. That’s too long. So, I got my fix.

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

Frans Hals appeared for the first time since 2014. I like this older daylily so much that I bought one online only to discover that I had one in my yard from the years when I wasn’t quite this addicted. I like bi-tone daylilies – I think that they are stunning.

Frans Hals – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Other blooms today in my thinning garden included my last Marque Moon:

Marque Moon – Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Pizza Crust:

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

Apache Uprising among the Prickley Pear:

Apache Uprising with Prickley Pear Cactus – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

And, Orange Flurry:

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

My mind is shifting to fall. I’ll be a doctor in a little over a month. I hope that there is a bloom on the day I give my presentation. That would rock. If there isn’t, I will still wake up to my favorite blossoms.

Three is a crowd!

August 6, 2016August 6, 2016Leave a comment

Today, there are only three daylilies in bloom. Pizza Crust and both the yellow and gold (or light orange) Stellas. The season winds down, and yet I still have nine cultivator scapes with unbloomed buds. Three of those have not bloomed yet this year. And, of course the Stellas are still making new scapes. That is why I got them.

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

My Yella Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Gold Stella – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Heirloom Heaven Scapes – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

It’s threatening rain, but not doing much yet. I did fertilize my pots, so a good drench like we had yesterday would be OK with me. I also got about half the potted lilies that I am moving to the garden in before the thunder started to pop. So, here comes the beginning of the transition to fall chores. Such is the life of a daylily addict.

Praise for the Sweetness of the Wet Garden

August 4, 2016Leave a comment

The rain came. Finally. Not much monsoon activity this year . . . so the big, cool storm is welcome. I got up reasonably early and several of the flowers had not bloomed all the way. Cool, wet weather. It is a nice break.

I’m two months into this daylily journey 2016. I hope for another two. It won’t peak again, but plateaus are good, too. And, then, comes the paintings. The cool weather and the presence of my granddaughter put me in the mood, a little. Ah, but alas, homework calls. Because the grandkids will be back through Sunday on their way home and due dates loom.

Enjoy the collage for today! This weekend, I am also going to try to sink some of my smaller potted daylilies into the ground. The rain will be good prep for that chore.

From L to R: Top Row – Stella de Oro, Orange Flurry, Prelude to Love, Royal Palace Prince, Marque Moon. Second Row – El Desperado, Primal Scream, Apache Uprising, Purple de Oro. Bottom – Pizza Crust.

Morning Has Broken

August 4, 2016Leave a comment

Today was an early day in the garden before a hike with my family. I love having my daughter and grandkids in Colorado so I can see them every couple of months. Grandkids are the best blooms of all.

The morning brought two very first blooms to my yard. The first is Nona’s Garnet Spider. Sadly, Nona only produced one viable bud year. (So far – keep hoping!) She was another small root planted last fall. I really like her. I hope Nona brings more buds next trip.

Nona’s Garnet Spider – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Apache Uprising was also added late fall and was pretty small. I added a couple of intentional late bloomers. It’s a pretty flower.

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

It was also a day of hiking and swimming, so I am beat. But it is making me smile to have 13 blooms on an August day. My dream is May – October. This year started early June. Let’s see where it ends. (71 blooms so far – so I made my 50% goal.) I have noticed Heirloom Heaven with brand new scapes forming. Plus Tiger Kitten and Frans Hals are growing scapes. I may hit 74. And, who knows, I may have another scape or two join the show.

From L to R: Top Row – Lime Frost, Fine Time Lucille, Nona’s Garnet Spider. Row Two – Royal Palace Prince, Purple de Oro, Marque Moon, Stella de Oro, Orange Vols. Bottom Row – Apache Uprising, El Desperado, Pizza Crust.

Like a Box of Chocolates!

August 2, 2016August 2, 2016Leave a comment

So, today I applied for two more jobs and tomorrow my family comes. After that, it is some catch-up work with school. I can’t believe I am done in 6 weeks – I’ll have my Doctorate in Nursing Practice! It’s wonderful and frightening. The downside of online school is that it can be isolating. It seems especially pronounced now that we are almost done.

So, I promise myself one trip away from the dogs every couple of days. It gets me out with real humans and no leashes. Now, I love my dogs but I also enjoy feeling human. So, today I visited a local nursery that is having a plant sale. Four dollar daylilies – cool. I’ve decided to put Stellas in a couple more of my containers so they have season long bloomers. It may be good motivation to water them more – and get more blooms from the more specialty plants.

So, welcome to the yard Orange Flurry (in bloom today with scapes and buds):

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

And, another couple of Stellas. I thought it might be interesting to show the ones I got over the weekend with the new one. The new one is definitely more orange tone.

The other new ones have buds and scapes, but not in bloom today . . . so we wait. And one is a mystery label one, so like Forest Gump said . . .

Other blooms are Pizza Crust:

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

Lime Frost:

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

Marque Moon:

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

Prelude to Love:

Prelude to Love – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Orange Vols:

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

El Desperado:

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

Royal Palace Prince:

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

With any luck, I’ll have blooms until Jack Frost shows. Here is to hoping I have a job by then, too! And, by next spring there will be more flourishing at my home than ever!

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.

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure

Tag: Pizza Crust

Double Helix

It is Better than Therapy!

The Sun, and the Rain, and the Daylily Roots

Before the Last Bloom?

Daylily Blooms Last Forever!

Three is a crowd!

Praise for the Sweetness of the Wet Garden

Morning Has Broken

Like a Box of Chocolates!

Pizza Crust for Lunch