I've weeded in mud for days and it's like walking in cement blocks. Whine! The good news, for me, is I'm taking out ground covers, invasives, sickies and the remaining plants are showcased and free.
In addition, my husband trimmed up many trees and cut down a big lilac that threatened to overwhelm a garden bed. It was so big, Corn Belt Electric offered to cut it so it wouldn't touch our service wire. Since I've had rather sad experiences with contractors destroying plants lately, we decided to do it ourselves - not one plant lost!
"Longfield's Glory" always looks pretty. 5 inch flat lavender/mauve flowers with white raised midribs, rose eye zone and chartreuse eye. The lightly ruffled edge is sometimes yellow. 18 inch scapes. Diurnal. Dormant. Diploid. Fragrant. Early bloomer. And it has a silvery sheen almost like it's mirrored.
This unknown, "Large Velvet Purple", also has a wonderful sheen. 5 inch velvet purple rolled petals, darker rose purple halo and yellow eye. Textured and prominent midrib. 24 inch scapes.
"Strawberry Candy" is a 4 1/4 inch strawberry (duh) pink/peach with deep rose red eye zone and gold eye. Ruffle edges are rose. 26 inch scapes. Early-mid bloom plus rebloom. High bud count. Semi evergreen. Fragrant. Awards won: Stout Medal - Don C. Stevens Award for best eyed daylily - Annie T. Giles Award for outstanding small flower and A.H.S. Top Best Ten.
If you'd like an example of how to do everything wrong with a daylily, "Crimson Pirate" is my example. Planted in almost all shade, it keeps on keepin' on. A 5 inch intense mahogany red spider with gold throat, darker red halo and some gold midribs. 30 inch scapes. Dormant. Diploid. Mid-late season bloomer. Vigorous.
The good news in this example: Daylilies are not bothered by black walnut trees.
Do I show a single flower because it's so unusual or do I show a clump because it is covered in flowers? Since the 5 inch recurved "Frans Hals" gold sepals and brushed mahogany orange petals with gold midribs and gold eye is so dramatic, you needed an up close and personal. 24 inch scapes. Mid to late bloomer (I would call it continuous for at least a month.) Dormant. Diploid. Hardy. Takes a few years to get established and then "Katie bar the door"! Honorable Mention award. The colors vary.
Why do I mention the awards? It takes years for a daylily to go through the many steps, after introduction/registration, to earn awards. It must pass a rigorous criteria for each. It pretty much tells the buyer what to expect. It's not a 100% perfect prediction in every garden but it will up your odds. That being said (again) many daylilies with no awards are worth having in your garden. With any plant, you play the odds with genetics, your garden and mother nature.
In addition, my husband trimmed up many trees and cut down a big lilac that threatened to overwhelm a garden bed. It was so big, Corn Belt Electric offered to cut it so it wouldn't touch our service wire. Since I've had rather sad experiences with contractors destroying plants lately, we decided to do it ourselves - not one plant lost!
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| A couple of Pearly Cresentspots |
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| Hemerocallis "Longfield's Glory" |
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| Hemerocallis "Unknown Large Velvet Purple" |
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| Hemerocallis "Strawberry Candy" |
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| Hemerocallis "Crimson Pirate" |
The good news in this example: Daylilies are not bothered by black walnut trees.
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| Hemerocallis "Lake Norman Spider" |
Why do I mention the awards? It takes years for a daylily to go through the many steps, after introduction/registration, to earn awards. It must pass a rigorous criteria for each. It pretty much tells the buyer what to expect. It's not a 100% perfect prediction in every garden but it will up your odds. That being said (again) many daylilies with no awards are worth having in your garden. With any plant, you play the odds with genetics, your garden and mother nature.
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