Tag: The Lily Auction

Bluegrass Blues

Leave a comment

Today, at long last, I get to tell the story of Bluegrass Music because she bloomed!  When I first started getting savvy about buying bare root daylilies, I learned that there were no true blue ones.  This made me want blue ones!!!  We always want what we can’t have.  So, I found this one on a website and tried to order . . . it was a weird process, but I finally called them.  They had one small fan of this one left, but it would be $50.  Well, I had to have my addiction fix, so I bought the one small fan as the first of a handful of near blue daylilies.  PS – I have not ordered from that place since – you can get these on the Lily Auction for $25 for 2 fans.

Bluegrass1.7.2.jpg

Other newcomers – This one is Heron’s Cove.  It has a story of being a wanna be near blue.  I lost a near blue and this one was an economical one.  BTW a much more ethical grower told me to expect it not to look blue except in exceptional circumstances.  I want to get out to see it before the sun hits it next time.

HeronsCove4.7.2.jpg

Prairie Blue Eyes (I am pretty sure) showed up in my yard today . . . in an unexpected place.  It is in one of my driveway pots, but it did not put up scapes this year.  Interestingly, I had some daylilies in my back garden, but it was too shady and the daylilies there were slowly dying back.  So, two years ago, I fixed it so they had more sun, water and better soil.  This one, I moved to the front garden last year not having a clue what it was.  (I did not always know names or label them).  So, it was stunning to see this little one open in the front garden.  Makes me think I need to move the others to a sunnier spot.

PrairieBlueEyes3.7.1.jpg

Zuni Thunderbird is one of my favorites, but the thrips like it and the first blooms are always a little beat up.  Need to spray it today.  Think I will take a nap first, though.

ZuniThunderbird1.7.2.jpg

Sweet Dreams!

Leave a comment

I am one of those daylily addicts who tore up part of my old rock garden to put in a themed daylily garden.  Most of the residents are Ned Roberts daylilies with southwestern names.  But, thanks to the daylily farmers who send bonuses (many with the southwestern theme, too), I have a few others in that area.

Anytime you rip up rocks and plant something there (after 50+ years), it is a bit of an experiment.  The sun exposure is best there, that is why I picked that spot.  The tree that used to be there was taken down for a new sewer system a decade ago.  I made a little garden with yucca and a lilac, and so that is the history.  Last year, I put three Roberts daylilies out in that small area.  They came back (fall planting) looking great.  Now there is a whole list of Roberts blooms “to be” out there.  And I hold my breath that a few inches of good soil, water crystals, a permanent sprinkler, and mulch will make that habitable.

Today, it happened – the first bloom.  Dream Keeper.  I got up early to take photos and went back to bed (as I was up til after 2 AM doing homework).   I love these spiders, so delicate.  I love how the peddles twist and turn.  And, hey, this one looks like its photo.  Here is Dream Keeper from my yard. I purchased this one from Blueridge Daylilies.  They send healthy big plants!

COKidDreamKeeper6.12.16

And, here is the one from the web. Mine actually looks a little more vibrant!

Dream Keeper

So, I take a deep breath that my new babies are happy out there.  I don’t think I’ll have another bloom for a few days.  But, in someways it is nice because I can savor each one.

For anyone looking for Ned Roberts southwestern cultivators, here is a list of growers who I purchased from the last couple of years (in no particular order):