. . . And Washed the Spiders Out

July 14, 20214 Comments

Today, the rain came. And, our predicted high is only 77 today. What a shift after 90 something degrees every day. It will stairstep back up by Saturday, but next week (when we are camping) it looks like it only gets above 90 a couple of times.

The walk through the garden was in drizzle. I didn’t use my cellphone at all for fear of getting water in the charging port. My camera is more resilient to moisture. Some flowers were like the cellphone – sort of weighed down by the rain. Thin man was on the ground, passed out. I had to tie him up. Other cultivators seemed to come to life with brighter colors – doing a rain dance.

Dream Catcher 7.14 – premier bloom today in the rain. But, not such an itsy bitsy spider!

And, there were only 54 cultivators in bloom today. Only 1 premier – Dream Catcher. A nice Ned Roberts spider that was one of my 3 pilot daylilies in the Southwest Garden, along with Kokopelli and Aztec Firebird. Interestingly, those are three that grew pretty well in the ground with the tree roots, and all. Not sure if they like the pots as well yet.

Soksabai, my 16 YO calico kitty, has to come help me inspect daylilies every morning. Even in the rain.

Speaking of Ned Roberts, I have had the chance to chat with his wife and daughter via Facebook recently. They live about 5 hours away from me. I need to meet them sometime – they want to come see my garden.

Art and Nature From the Hartt – Succulent Painting Coaster Tile

Today is a good day for a short blog. I think I will try painting a begonia today. Yesterday, I finished my succulent. I will get back to daylilies – just trying to challenge myself a little. Remember to watch for the announcement when our Etsy store opens. I plan to have daylily fans available in limited number this fall . . . plus the artwork!

True Colors Shining Through

June 11, 2021Leave a comment

Too much going on in life to focus on anything too long. I get the watering done daily, though. Blogging comes second, but I made time today because . . . (drum roll) – I have my first Ned Roberts Spiders in bloom today. The yellow trumpets have company – true colors shining through! Dream Keeper is a reliable early bloomer. I am a little surprised that Purple Grasshopper is one of the first in the Southwest Garden. It didn’t bloom at all last summer but seems to have profited from being put in a put with new soil and no tree roots.

BTW – My plants are noticeably bigger this year after they were moved last year. I am hoping that results in more blooms this year. Here are the blooms of the day:

Premiers for Today

Former Premiers (this year):

Saratoga Springtime – Premier Bloom 6.3.11 (this photo was taken 2 days ago)

Follow our NEW! Art and Nature from the Hartt blog page, where I will be selling plants and nature/Southwest artwork. There will be daylilies and daylily art for sale!

Just A Flower I Can Help Along

August 14, 2017Leave a comment

Today was the day I finally got the Southwestern Garden mostly redone. What a lot of work . . . seriously, my back is DONE digging for a bit. I thought it might be fun to show a couple photos. So, this side is the one I have been working on. All but a handful of daylilies now rests within a nursery pot that is buried under ground. These ones have been trimmed so that they can focus on some new roots before freeze.

And, this is the other side, where the daylilies are blooming size. Much happier than the other side. There used to be a pine tree out there, then a new sewer where I think they used a sandier fill dirt on the side with the happier daylilies. Perhaps water, too. Today, I got my soak hose system in. I am pretty jazzed. I think it will prove to be the best system I have ever had. It is amazing how the clay soil is always hard and dry, no matter what.

So, today I had some great blooms. I barely had time to notice them, but they did remind me that the backbreaking work will pay off in blooms (I hope). (In order – Featured photo is Heirloom Heaven; Pictured first below is Passionate Returns, then Western Sandstone, Pink and Cream and Pardon Me.

I also divided daylilies for friends. That was kind of fun, actually. Beats digging holes in adobe clay soil with roots. I could make a good mud house with that stuff, though. I went through 8 big bags of soil this weekend. Crazy!

Free Lily!

July 23, 2017July 23, 2017Leave a comment

Remember the movie “Free Willy” about the orcha whale who was trapped in a theme park? Well, today I played the part of the person who had a plan to free Willy. I freed another 8 daylilies from the fray of my garden soil. “Be above it,” I tell them. And, hopefully having an individual ecosystem will help them to thrive with a soil line a couple inches above the garden. It is amazing just how much stuff is growing out of their roots underneath.

You won’t believe this, but I had a new bloom today. Adios Albuquerque had its first bloom ever here, out in my Southwestern Garden. It does not have a high bud count this year, but the plant is huge. I live is some fear that I may be doing the container trick in that garden next year if it works. Sigh.

Oh, and I think I figured out the little, unnamed flower from yesterday is Pardon Me. I recall buying one by that name for one of the little gardens a few years back. And, this one looks like it could be a match. Check out yesterday’s bloom (first) and the bloom from the internet.

It feels like the work of preparing for fall has already started. But, next weekend I hope to be camping. Really, want to do most the transplanting at least 6 weeks before freeze. Plus, I have to divide up some of the existing pots, as the most common reason for no bloom is crowding by new daylily fans. I guess some of my friends will be getting free lilies 🙂 PS, I sincerely hope that next year is not as much work once the pots are in . . .

Honey, I Planted My Family

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017Leave a comment

Today, Stephanie Returned to my yard. Stephanie Returns, that is. She is a sweet light pink girl who bears the same name as my daughter. And, she was added the year my daughter returned to Colorado. Hard to get good lighting today. She was unbloomed, and then the sun hit full force. She looks a little dry and I upped her water. (I have daylilies that bear the names of my grandmother, mom, and both grandkids. I want to get a Santa Clause for in memory of my dad).

The other first-timer for the year was Inwood. I love the contrast on the blooms.

I believe my back porch has now reached peak bloom with this addition. Sadly, Electric Lizard is still not looking like it will produce much despite the addition of some more fans last fall. Maybe it needs a larger pot. Nosferatu, Cheddar Cheese, and Canyon Colors all have big fans but no scapes. Guessing not enough sun, too much fertilizer or some other imbalance. I am still hoping . . . but would have expected scapes by now. Generally, my pots grow bigger, healthier blooms than this basic clay soil. But, sometimes the mix is off. (Below is Jungle Queen, quite happy in the same pot for 2 years).

As for the Southwest garden – it looks like I’ll have some new blooms tomorrow. Soco Gap is about to give birth. I think I’ll see my first Pink Enchilada tomorrow. Papa Long Legs and Kokopelli, perhaps. Maybe Indian Love Call. I was hoping for 50% bloom out there, but I am guessing it may be 30% now. I am erring on the side of fertilizer this year to get the plants big. I think I need to do more soil amendments in the fall, too. Most the plants are blooming size. A few have died back. I have to remember that some of mine had spring in the South last year, so may not bloom this year. Bare root daylilies are not instant gratification.

The flowers are so pretty, they are worth the amazing time and energy to make them thrive. Tomorrow also holds the promise of our first The Colorado Kid (our mascot) of the year. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

The Wild Horses of Mesa Verde are in My Garden

June 27, 2017Leave a comment

Today, three newcomers!!! The two mentioned in the title of this post are two of my all-time favorites. And, believe it or not, neither resides in my Southwest garden. But they sound like they should.

Wild Horses is a breath-taking bloom because of the striking pattern. I see the horse in it. Do you?

And, Mesa Verde is striking for her ruffles. This daylily is amazing to watch bloom. It takes until nearly noon . . . like waiting for a baby to be born. Also, notice how the color turns from pink to bright orange. (4 photos, below)

Lastly, an old friend, Early Bird Cardinal. It is a sweet red ruffled bloom.

And, for tomorrow . . . I think Stephanie Returns, Pink Enchilada, Inwood. A couple of my near blues are getting close . . . Bluegrass Music. Now, there is a story to tell about that one!

The Longest Day

June 22, 2017June 22, 2017Leave a comment

I love solstice because I like long days. And, today was long with paid work and yard work. My split shift was spent in my Southwestern garden. I have two in bloom today, Papa Long Legs and Kokopelli. (Kokopelli is immediately below and Papa Long Legs is the second photo on this page). A spider and an Anasazi pipe player. Funny names.

The strugglers got some attention. In fact, turning hard adobe earth into a garden requires more attention than photographs of the fruits of the labors. I have two brand new ones that have shrunken into small fans. Like seedlings. I think sometimes Southern daylilies go into shock with the soil, lack of rain, and dry air. I lost a couple last year, and I have 4 currently in ICU, one in critical condition.

My new ICU approach is to cut the bottom out of a cheap plastic pot and use it as a buried container . . . bottomless. Sort of a hybrid situation. I am hoping it aids soil retention and keeps the soil more acidic, at least until they get started. I also installed a sprinkler hose on the side that gets less water. Boy, do I loose a lot of water with the regular sprinkler, and there are so many barriers between the sprinkler and some parts of the garden. There is clearly one side where the plants are more anemic, and I think it is a water difference. I guess we will see.

As for tomorrow, I think Jungle Queen will make a debut. She came in the same order as Kokopelli – practice bidding on the auction. It is interesting to look back and see what was in bloom this day last year. Lots the same. But, some of the Southern daylilies that I put in last spring bloomed pretty early due to being from another zone. Not sure if they will bloom this year. And, old timers like Early Bird Cardinal were putting on a show last year, but this year the scapes are still developing. At the same time, I think I have more scapes total this year. Bigger plants (mostly). Lots of time and effort in making the ground more fertile in the past 12 months.

Prepping the Daylily Beds is a Bunch of BS!

August 15, 2016August 15, 2016Leave a comment

So, first there are the first fans of spring. Actually, other than my garlic and spring bulbs, one of the very first signs of spring in my yard. Then, there come the scapes followed by peak bloom season. And, then the lovely late bloomers signal time to start preparing for another cycle. I think of the Native Americans and their focus on the changing seasons.

I did have bloomers this weekend. So, I will show those first, followed by the tale of BS in my garden.

Tiger Kitten only produced two buds. This was a one fan root last summer. It’s making progress. Can’t wait for next year!

Tiger Kitten – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Stella, of course, was here with me all weekend, in both yellow and gold.

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

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

And, Orange Flurry lit up my smaller zeriscape garden in the rocks.

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

So, here is my Ned Roberts Southwest spider garden that I put in this spring. The first two pictures are before. It is of note on the second photo that the earth no longer comes up to the top of the bricks. PS – I would have done a higher raised bed, but the yuccas won.

Ned Roberts Southwest spider patch (before) – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt

Note the level of the soil and mulch within the bricks.

Here is the after picture. Probably no different to most people. The difference is that the earth is now back up to the top of the brick. Because daylilies are funny about planting depth, this meant raising the grade of the garden by first loosening up each daylily, putting the growing medium underneath, and then surrounding each cultivator with the medium. It reminds me of the tale of raising Galveston Island several feet after the 1900 Great Storm. They did it one structure at a time, too. It took all afternoon yesterday.

Southwest lily patch (after) – a lot of work for something that looks pretty much the same. Just ask the daylilies, though, it has been a weekend of prep for a new season.

Today, I filled the gaps with the remaining medium because the daylilies were all in mounds after being raised. Sounds easy enough, except I was mixing up a concoction of steer manure, compost, peat moss, water crystals, soil acidifier, and time release fertilizer. Oh, and given that I tromp around pretty hard with my camera, I also added some little stepping stones so the soil could stay fluffy. I think my motivation is not only the anticipation of the blooms (a type of savoring), but also the number of little gardens that I see on my dog walks that have gone untended. I think how cool the initial intention was . . . . but it is long gone. This Colorado Plateau is a different ecosystem than the South.

I read yesterday that with plenty of water, amendments, and the right amount of fertilizer you can get 2-3 x as many blooms. Might as well give it a shot. For tomorrow, we will talk about grass weeds vs daylily sprouts. Maybe someone out there can help me with that issue!!!

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.

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.

Colorado Kid Daylilies

A Blog About My Western Colorado Daylily Adventure

Tag: Southwestern Garden