Breath In - Breath Out

A beautiful day with low humidity, sunny skies and 80 degrees.  

It started out a bit uneven when I woke at 3:30 AM and couldn't go back to sleep.  Amazing what you can get done at that time in the morning.  Because it was the perfect weather, I was out at daybreak ready to finally kill weeds.  I've put it off because of the weather and I hate the exposure to chemicals.  It was today or my previous week of intensive weed pulling labor would be for naught since the weeds were growing fast.  

I did get the invasives and weeds coated in herbicide.  At the same time, I sprayed myself THREE times with Deep Woods because the mosquitoes were attacking; especially back by the woods.  Then the icing on the cake - or the chemical on the corpse - the fields around us started to be sprayed by a crop duster.  Cough Cough and I'm inside but wow what a less than desirable health situation all the way around.  At one point, I thought maybe we should just move to a place with no yard.

On the plus side, here are a few new blooms:

Hemerocallis "Dublin Elaine"

"Dublin Elaine" is in the family bed for granddaughter, Kaydence Elaina.  Sometimes the name association is a stretch but it still works for me.  A 5 1/2 inch light pink double with cream.  Has a small yellow center.  32 inch scapes.  Mid season plus rebloom.  Dormant.  Excellent grower with masses of blooms.  Award of Merit and All American Daylily Selection.  

This double is stunning because of the way the color lays on it much like it's been painted with watercolors.  I pick one every day it's open to sit on my desk.  

Hemerocallis "Dorothy Lambert"

"Dorothy Lambert" is another stunning flower.  6 inch glowing orange crush with mauve eye and gold throat.  32 inch scapes.  Mid season bloomer but comes up late here.  Dormant.  Received the Award of Merit.  

DL has done poorly in recent years because a shrub overgrew it's site.  I removed the shrub and it's already looking better.   

Hemerocallis "Crimson Shadows"

"Crimson Shadows" is a 5 inch deep rich crimson red with darker halo and yellow eye.  25 inch scapes.  Mid to late season bloomer.  Dormant.  A nice bright addition to the July/August garden.  Unlike some reds, CS stays looking good throughout the day. 

Hemerocallis Unknown "Flat Pink-Peach"

This unknown variety "Flat Pink-Peach" was given to me by my daughter when she moved and downsized yard space.  It's been an odd little lily and took awhile to establish.  This year an exact duplicate came up about 20 feet away for the first time.  Hummmm.

I think it's time to move some under performers.  Under performers because they're in the wrong place and in wrong conditions.  I have now killed vegetation (hopefully) a large area in full sun that had this invasive ground cover.  Late fall or early spring is move time!

The Late Bloomers

The late bloomers are finally beginning to pop:

Hemerocallis "Hyperion"

"Hyperion" is a Heirloom introduced by Mead in 1924.  It has 5 inch (larger this year) pale lemon yellow blooms with ruffling.  It lays somewhat flat.  Considered a mid to late season bloomer.  Vigorous.  Dormant.  Drought tolerant.  Received Award of Merit.

Hemerocallis "Chicago Apache"

"Chicago Apache" was the first hybrid daylily I bought for this yard.  I've divided and gifted to others many times.  It's a 5 inch deep ruby red velvet with small golden throat.  Sometimes has a darker red halo and light midribs.  Edges are crimped.  30 inch scapes.  Blooms late in season plus rebloom.  Dormant.  Tetraploid. Received Honorable Mention.  

Lilium "Stargazer"

I have no shame when I admit I buy "Stargazer" bulbs at almost any place - nursery, on line, big box, flea markets and thrift stores.  There is no down side to Stargazer lilies.  The flowers are six inch flat pink/red/white blooms, freckled and highly fragrant.  Blooms late in the summer.  Often outlined in white and has a lime green star center.  Up facing but usually needs to be staked since the flowers get so heavy.  Plant next to a fence or railing and you can weave a soft ribbon or string around the stem and brace it up. 

They are toxic to cats but I've never had a cat even remotely interested.  When I bring them in the house, I put where they can't reach.  AND I ALWAYS bring them in the house because they perfume an entire room.  

Hemerocallis "Lifting Belle"

If I had to choose one daylily as my favorite, it would probably be "Lilting Belle".  An 8 inch pink/lavender blend with large creamy yellow throat and white midrib.  Considered a spider variant.  36 inch scapes.  Mid to late season bloomer.  Evergreen.  Vigorous.  The blooms withstand the weather better than any of my big spiders and better than most all the others.  The other night/morning with high winds and beating rain, Lilting Belle's blooms were perfect.  It didn't send up any scapes the summer after our crazy cold 2013 winter but it's making up for it this year.  

Evergreen - Semi evergreen - Dormant

The above is a description of daylily foliage habit and not hardiness.

Although there is no hard rule for which category is best in our Zone 5 (or colder) climate, I've found evergreens are usually the first to be lost during years when it's minus 30 degrees for a long winter.

I try to never buy a daylily that isn't field grown in my climate.  That seems to be a better indicator of whether it will survive our winters.  I love the evergreen daylilies because they are the most wild, innovative and cutting edge.  Many are grown in the south and I just won't take the chance no matter how crazy beautiful.  

I haven't lost many daylilies and I think it's because I stick to buying field stock grown in cold climates.  I've also learned to stick with nursery gown stock and not big box store daylilies.  BBS lilies are seldom true to AHS's description and often weak.

The reason I suggest "field grown" instead of greenhouse grown, is they're hardened off before they sell them.  If they live in their fields, they should live in my yard.  Many hybridizers only grow their seedlings in the field for just this reason.

I also buy (almost exclusively) from nurseries that specialize in daylilies.  They may have other things but they have the crazy daylily gene and I know they try really hard to make sure they only offer healthy strong plants. 

Brief foliage description for the newbies:

Dormant:  Shown with a big "D" in the catalogs, it refers to daylilies that lose their foliage completely before or shortly after the first frost.  They over-winter with pointed foliage buds, usually just beneath the soil surface and will resume growth in the spring.  They REQUIRE a cold period in the winter when their foliage will go dormant and don't do well in zones 9-10.

Semi-evergreen:  Shown with a big "SEV" in catalogs.  The foliage is somewhere between an evergreen and dormant.  Depending on the winter climate, they may try to have some winter foliage but not as much as a true evergreen.  I find they typically perform much like a dormant here in Zone 5.

Evergreen:  Shown with a big "EV" in catalogs.  They retain their foliage throughout the year but in Zone 5 or colder they pretty much go to mush as the freeze settles in for months.  You will find them a frozen pale green mound of foliage.  They may resume growth during a midwinter thaw or in milder climates. 

The whole climate things is one reason gifting a gardening friend a daylily is so successful.  That and I believe the whole "I'm giving you something I love because I love you, too" always makes a plant grow better!        

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07-16-2015 tornado outside Monmouth IL

Extremely thankful last night's tornadoes didn't kill anyone.  It certainly had the potential and strength.  Grateful for early warnings and the great job our local news people perform.  And of course all the people who respond and help in the aftermath of all that damage.  

If You Knew

If you knew Katisue, my Katie, my Katisue! 

Hemerocallis "Katisue"

 "Katisue" is a 2 3/4 inch yellow/gold bloom with cinnamon brushing and curled petals with a green eye.  26 inch scapes.  Dormant.  Late bloomer.  Diploid.  Hardy with high bud count.  In my family bed for granddaughter, Katherine Sue.  This is a sweet little flower that reminds me of a donut.  

Hemerocallis "Hoosier Hopes"

"Hoosier Hopes" is in my family bed because I'm from Indiana.  A 5 inch matt purple/wine blend with darker halo and green/yellow eye.  34 inch scapes.  Dormant.  Mid to late season plus rebloom. 

Hemerocallis "Siloam Betty Woods"

"Siloam Betty Woods" is in the family garden for my mother, Betty.  A 5 1/2 inch double light peach self with green throat and ruffling.  Mid and extended blooms.  Diurnal.  Dormant.  Diploid.  18-24 inch scapes.  VERY fragrant.  Won Honorable Mention and Junior Citation.  It sometimes has so many petals it fails to open all the way and is always late morning to open but stays open into evening.  Bring it into the house and it will scent an entire room.  

Hemerocallis "Susan Weber"

New to my garden this summer, "Susan Weber" is a 5 3/4 inch soft cream pink with a light rose pink border and soft ruffling.  Late and extended bloom.  Semi evergreen on 26 inch scapes.  Diploid.  Winter hardy and good increased clump size.  Received Award of Merit, Stout Silver Medal Runner-up, Honorable Mention and the Eugene S. Foster Award. 

Lilium lancifolium "Splendens"

"Splendens" aka Orange Tiger Lily is a sentimental addition to my gardens.  It is in the old pioneer Hopewell Cemetery, Howard County, Indiana where I have family buried.  

The orange recurved pendent flowers are speckled with dark dots and hang down from 30-36 inch stems.  Late blooming.  This is considered a Heirloom dating from 1804.  It's as sturdy as it is beautiful and will outlast this home if left to it's own devices. 

Have I mentioned rain lately?  Another inch today and about three inches to our south.     

To Trim or Not to Trim?

Bitsy the cat peaking under the Boxwood bush.

Seldom do I see a boxwood hedge outside public gardens.  I suspect it's for two reasons:

1. They're more formal than most gardens now days.
2. They're a lot of work to keep them trimmed.  

Boxwood hedge trimmed to perfection

Large commercial or public gardens typically have garden staff to keep the many rows of clipped boxwood or individual boxwood sculptures always perfect.  And, a boxwood MUST be perfectly trimmed all the time to achieve the desired look.

I've ratcheted my boxwood expectations down a whole lot.  I have one boxwood bush.  Since my gardens are what I've often termed a "willy nilly" planting style - or - when I want to pretend I have a little savvy "English garden" style.  Either description means plants are not in any way formally arranged.  My husband will testify as he has to turn and dodge when mowing.

And then - - - I bought a boxwood and planted in my willy nilly fashion in a large informal area filled with daylilies, ornamental grasses, roses, other perennials, some small trees and bushes.  

That round ball on the left is the Boxwood under
the 2013 mega snow.

Fortunately I realized the potential to have one very formal bush within this garden and I like the contrast.  The round orb is a perfect contrast to the wild array of other plants.

Boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, is an evergreen.  It hold it leaves and color all winter.  In the spring, it sends up new lime green growth which is kept trimmed all summer.  Once it's in the shape you desire, it cannot be sheared heavily because it won't sprout from the heavy stems.   

Boxwood is an old ornamental garden plant traced to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.  It's deer resistant.  The tiny spring flowers are petal free and attract bees with it's sweet fragrance.  

It has shallow surface roots and doesn't like other plants interfering with that growth.  It may send up suckers from these roots but they can be cut off when it's trimmed.  

Boxwood bush in the near center right of the birdbath.

Plant in full sun.  I've only had winter kill one time; a few years back when we had that horribly cold windy winter.  The kill was only on the top.  I left it alone until it had again sent up new shoots that eventually filled in the space.  

It's emerald green leaves look beautiful in the winter, sharply contrasting with the snow.  I've enjoyed this bush for seventeen years in my garden and it's been stunning every year.  

Boxwood divider hedge trimmed like elephants.

If the idea of having 2,000 feet of hedge to trim or a large elephant shaped topiary is daunting, try one small Boxwood and keep it trimmed in an orb or other simple shape.  It's a fun addition and lasting addition.   
  

A boxwood sculpture that must represent the person
who has to trim this baby all summer.

Slogging for Beauty

Slogging through a very wet yard and a mosquito count too high to have numbers as I deadhead, photograph and admire my flowers.

Hemerocallis "Ice Carnival"

"Ice Carnival" is a 6 inch near white (light yellow) with green throat, diamond dusted and ruffled.  Very fragrant.  Dormant.  Diploid.  Mid season and rebloomer.  Extremely hardy and increases quickly.  High bud count.  Was awarded the Award of Merit, Honorable Mention and Junior Citation.

Hemerocallis "Klehm's Red Ribbon"

"Klehm's Red Ribbon" is one of several I have hybridized by  Roy Klehm.  It's 5 1/2 inch and has wide rich red blooms with a small green throat.  Often the petals are ruffled with a thin white outline.  28 inch scapes.  Mid season.  Semi evergreen and very hardy in my garden.  Husky tetraploid.  High bud count.  The glowing chartreuse eye makes this red stand out.

Hemerocallis "Miss Amelia"

"Miss Amelia" was abused from the day she was planted in my yard.  First (I was new. OK?) I planted at the corner of two driveways where it had been compacted to the consistency of cement.  When I finally moved all daylilies out of that area, the "gutter contractor" thought he knew better than me and rigged up this fancy system that flows directly on this flower.  I then rigged up a diverter which pretty much shaded it.  After many years of pouting/near dying, it blooms in spite of all that's been thrown its way.  

A 3 1/2 inch near white/very pale yellow with green throat and some ruffling.  30 inch scapes.  Early season and reblooms.  Semi evergreen.  Diploid.  Fragrant.  Substantial flowers bloom over an extended period.  

Some experts call this flower "MayMay" and debate credits and facts (yes, even daylily people have their share of organizational posturing.)  Firm fact:  it's one hardy little lily.
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A garden oddity.  Here in our area, last evening was the coldest July 8th in history.  In addition, it had rained most of the day.  This morning many daylilies hadn't died from yesterday.  They will get there as the day moves on but the plants had both today and yesterday's flowers.  Some went through the process as always but most did the odd thing.  I'm thinking/guessing, it was the cold night that slowed the process.  

"Siloam Double Classic" is an example of the odd behavior last evening.  Four of the seven flowers are from yesterday.

 

Joining the Crowd

Took two of our granddaughters to Discovery Depot in Galesburg IL.  (Started with three but one didn't last a mile out of town.) Goodness they were busy; both are social children.  They assume other children are gathered because they want to play with them.  Love that attitude.  They're sweet, thoughtful, mannerly and love life.   But then, I'm a little biased.

I suppose I'm a little biased about the beauty of my daylilies, too.  Today's first bloom goes to "Green Flutter".  

Hemerocallis "Green Flutter"

A 3 1/2 inch very bright yellow self with slightly ruffled edges and vibrant green throat.  Held on 18 inch scapes.  Diurnal.  Late bloomer with extended bloom.  Semi evergreen.  Diploid.  Winner of the Strout Silver Medal, Lenington All American Award, Annie T. Giles Award, Award of Merit, Honorable Mention and Junior Citation.

I've divided this lily four times.  Even though it's an older introduction (1964) the hybridizers are currently bringing in more and more chartreuse into their new registrations.  This little beauty was at the forefront of glowing green.

I sometimes mention the date a daylily was introduced and the cost because those new to gardening with daylilies don't need to spend a fortune on some of the new introductions.  Don't get me wrong, I drool over some of the new ones.  I also can wait for the price of new bells and whistles (or new colors, forms and fancies) to go down as another new something is introduced.  

Many of my top award winning daylilies - the most hardy, substantial and vigorous - were under $10 a plant.  Considering they will last longer than most of us, it's a pretty good investment.  

In this area, Hornbaker Nursery, Princeton IL has the best and largest selection on hand.  Being able to see them growing in the field, in our climate and up close is unbeatable.  They carry many newer varieties at reasonable costs.  

I occasionally find a nursery that specializes in daylilies; Klehm's Song Sparrow in Wisconsin was an example.  Klehm's has some of their own introductions and they are also reasonably priced.   

Other nurseries have several varieties but seldom anything "a crazy daylily person" doesn't already have planted.  

I also use Oakes Daylilies, an on-line/mail order source.  Their plants and customer service are always perfect and they aim to give you more than you expect.  They have a variety of prices to choose from and try to keep their costs down by not offering the most recent introductions but certainly enough beauty to let you find something you love within your budget.

I think we all started this obsession with a few pretty daylilies that are popular at all nurseries.  For some of us, it's like tasting chocolate Halloween candy and then one day, someone offers you Swiss dark chocolate and you can never go back.  Pretty soon you're ordering direct from the chocolatier and sneaking them into the house.  Yes, an obsession always seems so innocent at first.          

July Beauty

Three beauties looking lovely in spite of another inch of rain last night.

Hemerocallis "Megan's Love"

"Megan's Love" is a 6 inch bright yellow self with textured petals, heavy midrib and ruffled edges.  Light green eye.  34 inch scapes.  Diploid.  Semi evergreen.  Mid season and repeat bloomer.  Very substantial and hardy.  Sometimes the petals recurve.  In our family bed for daughter, Megan.

Hemerocallis "Star Struck"

"Star Struck" was a bonus free lily from Oakes Daylilies.  A 5 inch golden melon wide petal self with ruffled edges.  26 inch scapes.  Blooms mid to late season and rebloom.  Dormant.  High bud count.  Fragrant.  All American Daylily Selection award.  Good every time, every day and pops across the gardens.  Or in this case, across the fields since it's out by the shed.

Lilium "Anastasia"

Lilium "Anastasia"

"Anastasia" is a Trumpet-Oriental lily from the Netherlands.  The near white 6-8 inch recurved flowers have rose color radiating from the center and rose brush marks and dots.  Green star eye.  VERY spicy sweet strong fragrance.  The flowers face downward on 6 foot scapes.  It helps to stake them in case wind or rain hits while there are many heavy blooms.  If staking, tie with something soft (like old panty hose) to avoid cutting and breaking stems.

These bulbs do not last forever but are worth planting every few years to make sure they are in abundance in the garden.  They are stunning and scent all the surrounding area.  Mine were planted sixteen years ago and are still lovely.  

Don't plant where the bulbs will sit in water or they'll rot.  Plant exactly per directions in lots of sun. They don't mind shorter perennials around them but they do need plenty of sun from the time they start to put up shoots.  If they are shaded during this period, they will have weak scapes, flop and may not bloom.  

They are a perfect cut flower and last for days while scenting the room.