My goodness, I can’t believe it’s been 5 days since I posted! Fortunately, I’ve had time to take photos. But, on top of school starting amidst a pandemic, I’m also having a Grave’s flair.
I have had nice bloomers, several with finale blooms this week. It hot, dry, and wildfires rage nearby. I don’t anticipate reblooms outside of maybe my yellow trumpets. I’ll start my improved buried pot project this weekend.
A spellbinding magic show that brings you delight and pleasure . . . that is what it means to be enchanted. New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment. I am perhaps less enchanted with New Mexico than I am Arizona because Western Colorado has areas that resemble New Mexico.
That said, I am enchanted by my roadtrips through New Mexico. The badlands are beautiful, and the cultural flavor is richer than Colorado – if you are into the Southwest.
Last year, we saw different side of New Mexico at White Sands National Monument. It is a landscape so boring that it is enchanting. Non-colored sand with a few resilient plants poking their heads through.
The hikes are like marching through a very hilly sand box. My cats would likely like it better than my dogs, who considered it way too hot at 85 degrees. I had never seen dunes quite like these ones . . . enchanting.
So, my vicarious roadtrip daylily of the day is Land of Enchantment – another Ned Roberts spider. Last year was her first year to bloom in my yard and by golly, she does look a bit like the New Mexico State flag.
She was one of my early bloomers last year. She doesn’t have scapes yet – but I do have 15 cultivators with their weird claw hands being raised to the heavens in prep for a bloom.
I am nervous because drought years tend to bring early blooming but poor bloom rates. I try to keep up with watering, but I am not the same as a good monsoon. And, the monsoons are too late – it is really the March-May water that matters.
I did put in a new drip system out in the walkway garden and the plants are bigger. So, I guess we will wait to see how enchanting this summer is in the garden. 2020 has brought my 65th birthday, a dead furnace, a broken sewer mainline and COVID-19. I could use a little enchantment.
Skinwalker adorned my yard with its last bloom for 2016. My Ned Roberts and Southwestern named daylily garden is off to a good start. I had 10 blooms out of that garden this year. There are 50 or so cultivators out there. More on that in a minute.
Other late bloomers were Apache Uprising. I think I have one more bud to go.
And, Yella Stella. She has a brand new scape, so I am still hopeful to make it to freeze. Plus, Red Hot Returns (sounds like a political statement to me) and Heirloom Heaven have still not bloomed. Heirloom Heaven is a ways off, too, from the scape size. September?
OK, so back to my Ned Roberts garden. I carefully built it over spring break, moving buckets of rocks and pebbles that had been there for decades. Then, I dug down deeper, a few inches down into the clay soil. And, I added the brick border. I then filled it with good soil and water crystals. Then, I planted the daylilies.
Now, the earth has settled and the roots are too close to the clay for best production, me thinks. Tomorrow, I gently lift each cultivator up, hopefully without totally dislodging roots, and I fill in with compost, manure, peat, and more good dirt. Back up to the top of the bricks. And, then re-mulch it. Optimistically, that boosts the year two bloom. I think garden spaces take a while to be fertile. It took my garlic patch a few seasons. Good dirt rocks!
Yesterday was my first no bloom day since early June. Today brought several blooms, including my very first Tiger Kitten.
Tiger Kitten – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, after a few weeks of deformed Skinwalkers, today comes a picture perfect bloom. I think the early blooms were premature. What a great Ned Roberts bloom!
Skinwalker – Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Apache Uprising made a huge show with three blooms.
Apache Uprising – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, how awesome it is to see my last two Royal Palace Princes in full bloom.
Royal Palace Prince – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Stella also showed up to meet this crowd in the garden – both my golden and yella Stella.
Yella Stella – Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Golden Stella – Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, calm little Orange Flurry was present in the background.
Orange Stella – Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
That leaves only two unbloomed cultivators . . . Heirloom Heaven and Red Hot Returns. However, that is not bad for mid-August. And, nine total have unbloomed buds. Will I make it until freeze?
This weekend, I start the work of fall mulching. I’m learning more about promoting my rebloomers. And, so more improvements in store for the future.
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.
No, it’s really 88 degrees. It would be warmer if the monsoon clouds weren’t providing some shade. No real rain yet, but cooler than the last few weeks. In fact, cool enough for frost. Well, Lime Frost.
When I arranged daylilies last summer, I put plant labels and entered each location in my software. However, it doesn’t really sink in what is where until they bloom and then you remember to color. So, when I was checking for buds last night, I was surprised that Lime Frost looked full-term. This is booked as a very late season bloomer, but it is still mid-July. Oh, well, we had Desert Icicles so welcome to our delusion of cold weather.
Lime Frost – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Another brand new face is Autumn Jewel. This was a gift plant – this spring. A later gift plant, even. I love the bloom. It is a relative of El Desperado. It’s slated as another late bloomer. But, here it is anyway.
Autumn Jewel – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Fine Time Lucille is another brand new face today. I ordered her last summer when I was first learning the online order thing. The name sold this one . . . I have been humming the song all day.
Fine Time Lucille (with Primal Scream) – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, Skinwalker showed up in my Southwestern garden today . . . these first blooms are sometimes a little rough looking. Hoping for more soon from this one!
Skinwalker – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Of mention is that Electric Lizard, having been fertilized, put in another pale bloom. I now wonder if it has too much sun. I am getting some more fans at a summer sale, as I think it would look better a little fuller.
Electric Lizard – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
So, here is the collage with all 26 blooms. I tried for rainbow order, as I had both a near-blue and a green in bloom today.
From L to R: Top Row – Baja, Indian Love Call, Ruby Spider, Thin Man, Soco Gap. Second Row – Orange Vols, Primal Scream, Aztec Firebird, South Seas. Third Row – Mini Pearl, Mayan Poppy, Pick of the Litter. Fourth Row – Skinwalker, Electric Lizard, Dream Catcher, Lullaby Baby. Fifth Row – Lime Frost. Sixth Row – Blue Beat. Seventh Row – Stephanie Returns, Prairie Blue Eyes, Return A Smile, Fine Time Lucille. Eighth Row – Blackthorne, Zuni Thunderbird, Purple de Oro, Autumn Jewel.
As peak lingers, I begin to think of next year. I want to do more work with the Southwest garden. Maybe some compost or manure around each plant. Loosen the soil around the roots and add the amendments. That area has been sterile of plants so long, it probably could use some bio additives. Pots, yes, some need to be relocated. Others need pebbles in the bottoms. It will be fun moving them inside the porch this winter – the evergreens. I have had 57 different cultivators bloom so far this year. Next year, 100 by this time! Let’s do it!
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!
Today, all three of my near blues (with scapes) were in bloom; Blue Beat, Mildred Mitchell, and The Colorado Kid. (Sounds like a rock band.) They have all bloomed before this year, so I highlighted them in todays garden collage. I did want to share a large view of Blue Beat before the first rays of sun hit her. Very blue-looking!
Blue Beat – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
The other photo I really like from today is Jungle Queen. I caught the first rays of light on her pedals.
Jungle Queen – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
I had two new blooms and neither looked as healthy as I would like. Bugs, heat, water issues, etc. Who knows? They are pretty flowers and hopefully they will have their true colors shining through very soon.
Zuni Thunderbird – a neat Ned Roberts spider that I put in the new garden last fall.
Zuni Thunderbird – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And, Inwood – a beautiful flower with a frompy first bloom.
Inwood – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Below are the bloomers for today.
Left to Right: Top row – South Seas, The Colorado Kid, Blue Beat, Mildred Mitchell, Soco Gap. Second Row: Inwood, Jungle Queen, Mini Pearl, Purple de Oro, Early Bird Cardinal. Bottom: Zuni Thunderbird.
Before I sign off, let me just say that I am writing this blog to share my experiences being a daylily hobbiest in the desert of Western Colorado. The soil is clay, so I have learned to amend it with good soil and water crystals. They help hold the moisture in – and I had my best garlic harvest ever after adding them to the mix. However, there can always be too much of a good thing and the crystals can harbor root rot is the drainage isn’t good, The last week, Colorado Kid has been fading. Today, I threw out the rotten dirt and cleaned up the roots. Hopefully, I didn’t over correct. It’s hard for humans to get the right balance of moisture in a place where mother nature falls short. And, that is the adventure. (RIP Navajo Rodeo – I am not sure what got you but something did 😦 )
I sit in a hotel so that I can attend a clinical conference the next few days. It’s going to be good, I think. Still, I hate missing daylily blooms.
Today’s featured bloom is Soco Gap. It was sent as a gift plant last fall. I had no clue what the name meant so I Googled it and found out that it does link to Native Americans. Soco Gap was a place in North Carolina where the Shawnee were defeated by the Cherokee. Therefore, it is in my Southwestern (mostly) Ned Roberts garden. It is a pretty bloom amongst the yucca plants. I like the red-orange color.
Soco Gap – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
The other new face today is Mildred Mitchell. The name reminds me a bit of Watergate, but it is really named for the hybridizers family member. It is a near blue, which was clear to my eye. It was too bright by the time I got out and it does not look blue to the camera under the sun. It is a pretty flower, just the same.
Mildred Mitchell – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
The other bloom that I will mention in the text is Return A Smile. She had blooms in her container on the porch and in the front garden. It is a division of the same plant. I am amazed by the difference that the sun exposure makes to color. It makes identification much more interesting because these guys are not color stable in bright sun.
And, my collage for today. Best day yet – that is nine blooms if you count both Return a Smile blooms. (Flowers moving clockwise from top left – Mesa Verde, Early Bird Cardinal, Primal Scream, Ruby Spider, and Lady Fingers (center).
Mesa Verde, Early Bird Cardinal, Primal Scream, Ruby Spider, and Lady Fingers – Photos by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Can’t wait to see what is up next when I return home! I am considering finding high country flowers as I walk around this area and blogging a bit about those. I am at 9,000+ feet above sea level. And, I have empty nest for my own garden already. 🙂
It’s July, and it is cool and rainy. My hosta may appreciate that more than my daylilies. I remember years of drought and fires tearing through my state. Instead, today seems like a good day for a nap with my puppies.
So, given the unusual rain, I went a bit overboard on the photos. I did two rounds. And, I had to go through all of them to edit. I don’t edit much. I go up a little with contrast and saturation, but not much. Mostly cropping. Still, takes time.
The two that caught my eye the most today were The Colorado Kid and Mesa Verde. I have a story about The Colorado Kid in my yard. It seems that its colors are more vibrant than a lot of growers (down south) can produce. How do I know? I posted a picture to the American Hemerocallis Facebook page. What is it? Lack of humidity, altitude, sprinkler water every two days, partial shade, temperature? I don’t know, but this blog’s mascot is eye catching. I hope my other near blues turn out this awesome!
The Colorado Kid – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Mesa Verde is one of those flowers that could use a midwife to help its buds to open. It is so ruffled that it is obviously working very hard the day before a new bloom. I love the ruffles in the rain.
Mesa Verde – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Other visitors today are a soggy Kokopelli.
Kokopelli – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
And his Ned Roberts “sibling,” Winds of Love.
Winds of Love – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Hopi Jewel is back and, I love the colors in the rain.
Hopi Jewel – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
Last, but not least, Early Bird Cardinal – who rates the most photos to date. (Proficient bloomer)
Early Bird Cardinal – Photo by Colorado Kid Daylilies – C. Hartt
I’m not sure what the next blooms will be. It’s interesting that Lady Fingers is not blooming . . . definitely behind previous years. Maybe it is the cooler summer? Who knows? Being postdates is not the worst fate in the world.
Colorado Kid Daylilies 