Seven Come Eleven

Eleven daylily varieties bloomed for the first time yesterday.  I was able to enjoy them more because I was weeding some more.  This is my ruthless weeding year; everything that doesn't enhance the beautiful is going.  I've been much too lenient with these invaders because they do have beauty themselves but many of them have become thugs.  The self seeding phlox is a wonderful fall flower and pollen seeking insects use them.  This year, because of the heavy rains, they are mildew covered and ugly.  I've left a few stands but mostly they're gone.  I'm killing that one ground cover that has lovely flowers in the spring because it shades everything under two foot the rest of the summer.  And pulling and pulling this one thing that looks like tree starts, gets about 3 ft and does nothing but invade.  It's been a banner year for that baby.  On to my lilies:

Hemerocallis "Royal Butterfly"

"Royal Butterfly" deserves it's name:  7 inch rose pink with darker halo, large yellow/green throat, ruffled edges and light midrib.  Blooms mid season.  Dormant.  30 inch scapes.  Received the Honorable Mention Award.  And it surface sparkles.  Yummy.

Hemerocallis "Little Judy"

"Little Judy" is a 5 inch light mahogany spider that shimmers and has vein markings and gold midribs.  A darker shade watermark that fades to a large yellow eye.  30 inch scapes and high bud count makes it perfect for the back of the border.  Mid to late season bloomer.  Dormant and pretty much perfect in every way.  I have it in my family bed for my good friend Judy Elwell.  She's also my son's mother-in-law and a favorite of everyone.

Hemerocallis "Chicago Star"

If you're new to daylilies, the Marsh series of Chicago introductions are sure to be winners.  "Chicago Star" is an 8 inch bright yellow self on 24 inch scapes.  Lays flat with slight ruffling AND opens as soon as dawn breaks; perfect for next to your breakfast area.  Mid season bloomer with high bud count.  Does best in full sun but will tolerate (with lower bud count) some shade.  Semi evergreen.  Tetraploid.  Diurnal.  Increases clump size.  Honorable Mention award.  

Hemerocallis fulva "Kwanso"

"Kwanso" is rejected by many gardeners because of the close resemblance to "Orange Tawny" aka ditch lily.  This has more beauty and less aggressiveness. 5 inch double orange with light midribs and red halo with gold eye.  36-40 inch scapes and blooms early.  It is considered an "Heirloom Lily" first discovered in 1860.  A must have for anyone wanting old varieties and it doesn't spread like OT.

Hemerocallis "Oriental Rudy"

Here's the thing about "Oriental Ruby":  It's the only red I have with orange undertones.  6 inch deep ruby red, darker halo, lighter midribs and told throat on 34 inch scapes.   Mid to late season bloomer.  Dormant.  Good grower all around the country.  Lenington All-American Award.  The orange undertones lets it pair with oranges (obviously), yellows, browns and peaches.   Not purples.  It's very distinct and draws attention from across the yard.

Hemerocallis "Red Volunteer"

"Red Volunteer" has won the "All American Daylily Selection", "Lenington All American Award", "2005 Exhibition Winner", the "All American Selection", A.H.S. Award of Merit.  Plus, it's been consistently selected a favorite of A.H.S. members for years.  An Oakes introduction and a favorite for good reason.  7 inch true red with yellow/gold star throat, light midribs and slight ruffling.  Midseason bloomer on 30 inch scapes.  Semi evergreen but very hardy.  Proliferates.  Looking for a nice reliable red:  Red Volunteer volunteers.

Hemerocallis "Brutus"

"Brutus" is a 7 inch flat yellow bloom often with a bronze overlay.  Round petals with slightly ruffled edges and a light vein.  Bright green eye.  24 inch scapes.  Hardy - good bud count - mid to late season bloomer (because of high bud count) and semi-evergreen.  Honorable Mention.  Nice dependable producer.
 

Hemerocallis "Nicholas"

"Nicholas" is a 7 inch yellow self with tiny green throat, slight ruffled edges and raised midribs.  The flat petals consistently form a triangle and sepals are recurved making it an unusual and beautiful variety.  Dormant. Fragrant.  Blooms mid-season.  Honorable Mention award.  In my family bed for grandson, Nick. 

Hemerocallis "Chicago Ruby"

I used a landscape shot with "Chicago Ruby" to show how well a nice clear red blends with other lilies and the rest of the garden.  5 inch clear ruby red with gold throat on 30 inch scapes.   

Two other lilies (Unknown Pink/Peach and Cherry Cheeks) aren't pictured because I need to do some work.  UPP came up for the first time and who knows why or how or what.  I'm suspecting CC has been misidentified.  

And finally a "Red Admiral" decided to pose while I was taking pictures of daylilies.  Quite an artistic little butterfly!