Gradual increases in elevation as we climb to the peak. Today, it felt like the peak was not too much more of a climb. Grab your oxygen, here are the new blooms for today:
That’s 9 new, 44 in bloom today, and 70 total that have bloomed this year. That’s a 40% bloom rate and we are headed for around 90%. 70 down, almost 100 to go to reach that goal. Makes me tired but tomorrow, we climb, again. Good thing for our Rocky Mountain Pals.
Here is part 1 of this blog post These posts include all daylilies that were in bloom in July in my yard. Please see first post for more details.
No U, No V – I need to fix that with some new flowers 🙂
No X, either!
That is all for July, folks. Look for our Colorado Day (8/1) blooms up next!
. . . and dried up all the rain. And, I ended up with over 60 cultivators, again!
Rain is a rare thing here in Western Colorado. The US average is 38 inches of rain a year, we get 11 on a good year here in Montrose. The South, where many of my bloomers came from, gets an average of 45 inches or more. Rain is a good thing – it brings the temps down, too.
Today, we will get back to the high 80s and it is sunny. We are sunny here 245 days/year. That is 40 more days than the national average. My daylilies probably wonder what planet they landed on.
Anyway – I had 3 premiers and 5 finales. The output is higher than the intake, which means we are on the downside of peak but it hasn’t really shown in our bloom count yet. It is like hospitalizations vs positive tests with COVID. It takes a while for the change to show up in both areas.
Premiers . . .
Finales . . .
Weirdly, Bella Boo, Purple Mystic, and Just Plum happy put out blooms today after I said finale. It isn’t a rebloom, it is me missing a bud.
Next week is my camping road trip. I will only be out of the garden for 4 days. Honestly, I am ready to take some scenic photos and get a little breather from the garden. Yeez, though – my hedge needs to be trimmed before I go. I can tell we got rain.
Last year, I posted all my blooms each week on Sunday since it is too much to do daily. This year, I am going to try to do a recap at the end of the month. So, for June 2020, we had the following 50:
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.
Wow, time flies when you’re having July. Almost road trip time. I won’t miss peak, I don’t think. But, it could be starting by the time I get back. I’ll be cutting down used scapes soon enough.
So, a couple quick stories. All American Chief gave me a first bloom ever after three years. He was a gift plant. I love that the sellers pick up my Southwest theme and send approximately named daylilies. Hopi Jewel has bloomed every year, but has a similar story.
Here are today’s Premieres:
All American Chief 7/3
Hopi Jewel 7/3
Return a Smile 7/3
Petite Petticoats 7/3
And, that makes for 13 Reruns:
The Colorado Kid 7/3
Echo Canyon 7/3
Saratoga Springtime 7/3
Canyon Colors 7/3
Mesa Verde 7/3
Navajo Blanket 7/3
Comanche Princess 7/3
Funny Valentine 7/3
Dream Keeper 7/3
Indian Love Call 7/3
Yellow Stella 7/3
Yellow Punch 7/3
Golden Stella 7/3
For the first time in years, Ruby Spider isn’t going to bloom on the 4th. I don’t I can do a shot with red, white and blue flowers together. Oh well, happy 4th!
It is roll-call day! But, first, a dedication. It is camping weekend and I was listening to a song “Desperado” on my ipod. I have always identified with the song. So, I will put El Desperado as our lead photo today.
Desperado – The Eagles
Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She’ll beat you if she’s able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can’t get
Desperado, oh, you ain’t gettin’ no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they’re drivin’ you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that’s just some people talkin’
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine
It’s hard to tell the night time from the day
You’re losin’ all your highs and lows
Ain’t it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin’, but there’s a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you (let somebody love you)
You better let somebody love you before it’s too late
Pizza Crust 7.22
Thin Man 7.22
Route 66 7.18
Fairytale Pink 7.22
Nurse’s Stethoscope 7.18
Here goes Roll-Call for the week of 7/16-7/22:
Adios Albuquerque 7.19
Anasazi 7.17
Aztec Firebird 7.17
Baja 7.18
Bela Lugosi 7.19
Black-Eyed Susan 7.16
Blue Beat 7.20
Bluegrass Music 7.16
Bold Tiger 7.17
Canyon Colors 7.15
Catherine Irene 7.16
Cheddar Cheese 7.22
Cherokee Star 7.17
Chorus Line 7.18
Classy Lady 7.18
Comanche Princess 7.17
Dream Catcher 7.18
El Desperado 7.19
Fox Ears 7.19
Happy Hopi 7.17
Heavenly Curls 7.17
Heron’s Cove 7.17
Hesperus 7.17
Indian Sky 7.16
Isaac 7.16
Jungle Queen 7.16
Just Plum Happy 7.17
Lacy Doily 7.20
Lady Fingers 7.18
Lime Frost 7.15
Longlesson Showoff 7.18
Lullabye Baby 7.22
Mama Cuna 7.17
Marque Moon 7.20
Mellon Balls 7.17
Mildred Mitchell 7.18
Mini Pearl 7.19
Mount Echo Sunrise 7.16
Navajo Rodeo 7.16
Nearly Wild 7.18
Nosferatu 7.18
Papa Longlegs 7.17
Passionate Returns 7.20
Pick of the Litter 7.17
Pink and Cream 7.18
Prairie Blue Eyes 7.17
Prairie Wildfire 7.16
Prelude to Love 7.18
Purple Corn Dancer 7.20
Purple de Oro 7.17
Purple Grasshopper 7.17
Purple Moonrise 7.17
Purple Thunderbird 7.18
Raspberry Propeller 7.20
Red Hot Returns 7.17
Red Riddle 7.18
Return a Smile 7.16
Rosie’s Red 7.20
Route 66 7.18
Royal Palace Prince 7.20
Ruby Spider 7.17
Ruby Stella 7.22
Skinwalker 7.19
Soco Gap 7.16
South Seas 7.22
Stephanie Returns 7.17
Strutter’s Ball 7.18
Taco Twister 7.19
Colorado Kid 7.22
Tiger Kitten 7.20
Treasure of the Southwest 7.20
Twirling Pinata 7.20
Wineberry Candy 7.16
Yellow Punch 7.22
Something different tonight before our normal rounds – I am starting off with a poem about flowers that was sent out by the Father of Positive Psychology to a listserve I am on earlier this week. I love the flower reference and the need to reteach us of our inner loveliness so we bloom, again. Boy, I identify with that this year.
Saint Francis and the Sow
The bud stands for all things,
even for those things that don’t flower,
for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;
though sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness,
to put a hand on its brow of the flower
and retell it in words and in touch it is lovely
until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing;
as Saint Francis put his hand on the creased forehead
of the sow, and told her in words and in touch
blessings of earth on the sow, and the sow
began remembering all down her thick length,
from the earthen snout all the way
through the fodder and slops to the spiritual curl of the tail,
from the hard spininess spiked out from the spine
down through the great broken heart
to the sheer blue milken dreaminess spurting and shuddering
from the fourteen teats into the fourteen mouths sucking and blowing beneath them:
the long, perfect loveliness of sow.
Ok – Here we go – new blooms. I am in love with Purple Thunderbird. Another Ned Roberts spider that is in bloom for the first time in my yard. I didn’t realize it until I took off photos tonight . . . but I went back for photos like 5 different times.
Other newbies that opened for the first time this year – Tiger Kitten. She is a petite little tiger.
And, Royal Palace Prince – whose first bloom was messed up by bugs a little. Always feel sorry for the ones whose first buds make them look a little goofy.
We are fast running out of scapes from unbloomed daylilies for 2018. Still hoping for a few late scapes and rebloomers. I had 40 in bloom today. We are at 119 total cultivators for 2018 out of 175 or so. I know of 4 or 5 that have not yet bloomed. So, let’s call it 123. We will hit 70% if all those bloom. I am happy with that, given we only got 48% or something last year. Big improvement for a drought year.
Finales:
Return a Smile 7.19
Red Hot Returns 7.19
And, yesterday (forgotten):
Strutter’s Ball 7.18
It is time for Sunday roll call. But first, a couple cool new Roberts Spiders. Meet Mount Echo Sunrise – She is a big spider that reminds me of Dream Catcher. This is her first-ever bloom in my yard – I put her in a couple years ago.
Then there is Sante Fe Christmas – And she looks like a Christmas bow. Red, green with curly petals. I really love her – too bad she lost her other buds. Despite the improved bloom rate, the drought has taken a toll.
Next up – Finales. Of course, Santa Fe Christmas is a finale today 😦
Primal Scream is another finale.
Primal Scream 7.10
Jungle Queen had finale blooms on both pots I have of her.
Jungle Queen 7.12
Iktomi is another finale. I have enjoyed seeing the patterns in her offspring.
Iktomi 7.9
Happy Hopi gave a finale bloom today. I really enjoyed her big, bold, blonde blooms.
Happy Hopi 7.12
Now, on to our roll call. These are the blooms from 7/9 through today. But, first, we have about 12 with unbloomed scapes remaining and mid-50s with no bloom/no scape. We are at 107 cultivators (+/-). Add 12, and we get close to 120. I am still hoping for 130 total this year.
Adios Albuquerque 7.10
Alabama Jubilee 7.11
Anasazi 7.13
Aztec Firebird 7.14
Baja 7.14
Bela Lugosi 7.9
Black Arrowhead 7.10
Black Eyed Susan 7.14
Black Ice 7.10
Blue Beat 7.11
Bluegrass Music 7.11
Canyon Colors 7.15
Catherine Irene 7.15
Chaco Canyon 7.12
Cheddar Cheese 7.12
Cheyenne Eyes 7.8
Chorus Line 7.13
Classy Lady 7.14
Comanche Princess 7.11
Dark Mystery 7.12
Desert Icicle 7.15
Dream Catcher 7.15
Early Bird Cardinal 7.10
El Desperado 7.13
Fairytale Pink 7.14
Funny Valentine 7.10
Heavenly Curls 7.12
Heron’s Cove 7.13
Hesperus 7.15
Holy Sombrero 7.10
Indian Sky 7.15
Inwood 7.12
Isaac 7.12
Just Plum Happy 7.10
Kachina Firecracker 7.12
Lacy Doily 7.10
Lady Fingers 7.12
Laughing Feather 7.9
Lime Frost 7.15
Longlesson Showoff 7.13
Lullabye Baby 7.14
Mama Cuna 7.13
Marque Moon 7.15
Mellon Balls 7.11
Mesa Verde 7.13
Mildred Mitchell 7.15
Mini Pearl 7.15
Navajo Rodeo 7.13
Nosferatu 7.15
Nurse’s Stethoscope 7.11
Papa Longlegs 7.15
Passionate Returns 7.10
Petite Petticoats 7.10
Pick of the Litter 7.14
Pink and Cream 7.11
Pink Rain Dance 7.11
Prairie Blue Eyes 7.10
Prairie Wildfire 7.11
Prelude to Love 7.15
Purple de Oro 7.14
Purple Grasshopper 7.11
Purple Mystic 7.11
Raspberry Propeller 7.14
Red Hot Returns 7.15
Red Riddle 7.10
Return a Smile 7.10
Route 66 7.13
Ruby Spider 7.14
Ruby Stella 7.15
Shape Shifter 7.13
Skinwalker 7.10
Soco Gap 7.14
South Seas 7.14
Stella de Oro 7.13
Stephanie Returns 7.14
Strutter’s Ball 7.11
Taco Twister 7.11
Talon 7.11
The Colorado Kid 7.10
Thin Man 7.15
Treasure of the Southwest 7.13
Wild Horses 7.11
Wineberry Candy 7.12
Yellow Punch 7.13
Zuni Thunderbird 7.13
Well, I tried to post on Friday night, but no internet. Saturday, some internet, but my phone is crashing all of the apps since the last android update. Yes, right in the middle of peak season.
So, here are the new faces from Friday
Skinwalker 7.6.18
Echo Canyon 7.6
Iktomi 7.6
Chorus Line
Blue Beat 7.6
Bella Lugosi 7.6
And here are Sunday’s additions:
Lacy Doily 7.8
Nosferatu 7.8
Red Hot Returns 7.8
South Seas 7.8
So, that is 10 new additions since my last post – and I missed a couple of new faces while camping yesterday, but they will have another chance. For now, let me finish roll call. All daylilies that bloomed between 7/2 and today – here we go. Which is your favorite?
Alabama Jubilee 7.3
Aztec Firebird 7.8
Black Arrowhead 7.2
Black Eyed Susan 7.6
Black Ice 7.5
Bluegrass Music 7.3
Canyon Colors 7.5
Catherine Irene 7.6
Chaco Canyon 7.5
Cheyenne Eyes 7.6
Chokecherry Mountain 7.3
Comanche Princess 7.6
Dark Mystery 7.5
Dream Catcher 7.5
Early Bird Cardinal 7.3
Electric Lizard 7.6
Funny Valentine 7.8
Happy Hopi 7.6
Happy Returns 7.3
Heron’s Cove 7.5
Holy Sombrero 7.5
Hopi Jewel 7.3
Indian Giver 7.3
Inwood 7.6
Isaac 7.5
Jungle Queen 7.8
Just Plum Happy 7.3
Lady Fingers 7.5
Laughing Feather 7.2
Longlesson Show-off 7.6
Lullaby Baby 7.8
Mellon Balls 7.5
Mesa Verde 7.4
Mildred Mitchell 7.5
Mini Pearl 7.5
Navajo Rodeo 7.8
Nurse’s Stethoscope 7.8
PaPa Longlegs 7.6
Passionate Returns 7.6
Petite Petticoats 7.3
Pick of the Litter 7.5
Pink and Cream 7.6
Pink Raindance 7.4
Prairie Blue Eyes 7.5
Prairie Wildfire 7.6
Prelude to Love 7.5
Primal Scream 7.4
Purple de Oro 7.6
Purple Grasshopper 7.4
Purple Many Faces 7.5
Purple Mystique 7.5
Raven Woodsong 7.4
Red Riddle 7.5
Return a Smile 7.6
Route 66 7.4
Ruby Spider 7.8
Ruby Stella 7.5
Shape Shifter 7.6
Soco Gap 7.5
Stella 7.5
Stephanie Returns 7.5
Strutter’s Ball 7.5
Taco Twister 7.6
Talon 7.8
The Colorado Kid 7.6
Thin Man 7.5
Treasure of the Southwest 7.4
Wild Horses 7.5
Wild Rose Fandango 7.4
Wineberry Candy 7.4
Yellow Punch 7.6
Zuni Thunderbird 7.4
Colorado Kid Daylilies 