Combo Day

Hope fathers' day at your house was good - enjoying fathers and remembering fathers.  

Daylilies blooming Sunday and today:

When "Myth and Magic" is good, she is very very good.  But when she is bad, she is horrid.  Not quite horrid but sometimes the blooms don't open all the way; they remain tube shaped.   4 inch peach flesh blend with lighter vein and with a lipstick red band and apple gold/green throat.  Very ruffled gold band around the edge.  Dormant and fragrant.  This picture was yesterday and she was very very good.

Hemerocallis "Myth and Magic"

"Chicago Knobby" is a nice all around lavender for full sun.  6 inches with petals slightly darker than sepals and a deeper purple halo and raised midribs.  Serrated edging of slightly darker purple and sometimes has a small white edge.  Pointed tips.  Semi-evergreen and blooms early to mid-season.  Received the "Award of Merit" in 1980.  

Hemerocallis "Chicago Knobby"

A beautiful 6 inch velvet purple, "Wayside King Royal" is certainly royalty in the garden.  Flowers are held on 36 inch scapes.  The 6 inch rich purple velvet blooms have a deeper purple halo around a vibrant yellow/green throat.  Slightly ruffled edge and faint midrib on petals.  It's fragrant, Dormant and blooms early to mid-season.  These rich dark purples enhance most any other color of daylily.  This is a vigorous plant.

Hemerocallis "Wayside King Royal"

"Velvet Shadows" is a 2 3/4 inch rich purple with lavender watermark and darker purple veins & ruffled edge and a yellow/green throat held on 15 inch scapes.  It blooms mid to late season.  Semi-evergreen.  Diploid.  Very hardy and pretty darn precious.  The purple glows in the front of a border.

Hemerocallis "Velvet Shadows"

I've written an entire article about "Dad's Best White" because it's that important.  Important because the 6 inch pearlized near white blooms (with a small green eye) are stunning.  Important because it lights up the green spaces.  Important because it lets the other brighter and more elaborate lilies shine.  Thin petals are self branched on 28 inch scapes (taller in my garden.)  Mid season and continuous because of the high bud count.  Diural.  Diploid.  Dormant.  VERY healthy and vigorous.

Hemerocallis "Dad's Best White"

And one of my favorite and perhaps the biggest Diva of my daylilies is an unknown variety I call "Large Peach Dramatic".  7 inch creamy peach pearl-dusted with yellow/green throat.  The tongue drapes down.  Held on 28 inch scapes.  The Diva part is because the buds sometimes need a little help opening in the morning.  As with most large daylilies, it gets ragged in heavy rain and wind.  It is soooo worth it because it's an amazing daylily.  

Hemerocallis "Large Peach Dramatic"

Right now, with our early spring and almost daily 1/2 to 2 inches of rain, daylilies are more over the top than usual:  larger flowers, earlier bloom times, clump size increases and bud counts are high.  So far a perfect daylily season.

Hold on to Your Petals

Tornado watch and 70 mph wind.  That ought to do some damage.  Meanwhile, blooming today:

Hemerocallis "Mary Reed"

I had been killing out ground cover vinca and bush dogwoods out of a little bed, when I happened upon the Nursery plastic description of this lily.  I have several small purple daylilies and most I've no idea the name.  This one is "Mary Reed" and it's big plus is it stays open in the evening.  Always a nice trait.  

Hemerocallis "Chester Cyclone"

"Chester Cyclone" is an 8 1/2 inch bright yellow with green center. It's classified as "unusual form cascade.  Dormant.  30 inch scales.  Blooms mid-season and may rebloom.  Diploid and fragrant.  Introduced by Blakely in 1972.  This spider variant is a heavy bloomer and so fun.  

Hemerocallis "Lunar Max"

"Lunar Max" was dug up and killed by a contractor and I now have a new one.  It's been in the ground less than a month so the scapes are short but I'm grateful it's taken hold.  It's in my family bed for my grandson, Max.  6 1/2 inch pale amber gold yellow thick petals with big pale plum eye and green throat.  Held flat with ruffled edge.  Evergreen.  Tetraploid.  Vigorous with high bud count.

Hemerocallis "Dallas Star"

New in the ground "Dallas Star" decided to put on a show today.  6 1/2 inch pale lavender pink spider star shaped blooms with pale yellow eye and green throat with creamy white midrib.  28 inch scapes.  Mid season.  Semi-evergreen.  Diploid.  Diurnal.  Fragrant.  It's suggested it be planted in afternoon shade to keep its color.  

Awards:  Award of Merit and Honorable Mention 1985.  It was sent free from Oakes Daylilies as a bonus gift.  

Hemerocallis "Little Grapette"

"Little Grapette" is one of the little (2 inch) purples.  It has a deep grape color with a deeper halo and yellow eye and is fragrant.  Semi-evergreen and 36 inch scapes.  Awards:  Award of Merit 1977 and Don Fischer Memorial Award for outstanding miniature 1975.  It is used extensively in landscaping.  

While writing, it looks like the worst of the storm is going south of us.  Not wishing anyone to the south a bad night but certainly glad we won't experience it here.  

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Daylilies that started blooming today (June 19, 2015):

Hemerocallis "Neferitii"

Daylily "Nefertititii" is a 5 inch creamy yellow with a deep red throat and yellow center on 26 inch scapes.  A Diploid, semi-evergreen, Tetraploid and slightly fragrant.  It's one tough plant; keeping it's color all day and has a long bloom time.  I have one in full sun and another division in light shade; both do great.  

"Nefertititii" was introduced by Munson in 1971.  It was awarded Honorable Mention and Junior Citation.  

I call this "Unknown Small Red with Gold Eye"

I don't remember where this came from, it's name, or anything else but "UK Small Red with Gold Eye" has a lot of sweet going on.  It's a 2 inch brick red with large bright gold eye and midribs, slightly ruffled and recurved petals.  One thing that makes it a standout is these little flowers are on top of 30 inch scapes.  This picture shows one floating in my copper birdbath prior to company coming.
_________

I was able to weed the back yard this week but the front is fast becoming a bindweed jungle.  Bindweed is the scourge of my yard. I needed to be someplace else today even though it was a perfect gardening day.  I'll try to hit it tomorrow even though the temps and humidity will be bad and it is suppose to storm.  I must try.  As I was trying to get to a plant in the middle of a bed this evening, I was tripped by bindweed.  I'm just sure it reached up and grabbed my leg - I'm just sure.

TMI

Doesn't everyone wear a 
gardening hat?

From the Galva News “Getting to Know” article - perhaps more than you wanted to know.  Questions are underlined.

Name:         Diane Gibson

Family:        Husband, Jerry.  We’re a blended family.  I am blessed with children and their spouses who are good people.  Children:  Trent/Julie, Susan/Paul and Ian/Marla.  Angie, Carmen/David, Faye/David, Megan/Tim and Keitra.  Grandchildren:  Twenty-two if you include spouses; another grandchild due this year.  Great grandchildren:  Two and another due this year.

Occupation:         Retired from Illinois Power Company (now Ameren) as Senior Director.

Music you've been listening to most lately:                 

I grew up listening to 1930s and 40s music because my folks always had the radio playing.  We also had a collection of Victrola records where I listened to everything from opera to comedy.  As a kid, I would have my radio tuned in on Saturday nights and listened to Chicago’s WLS and mostly Muddy Waters.   I was a youngster when rock and roll happened and danced my heart out to American Bandstand after school.  Was a young adult when folk and hard rock hit and TV had loads of variety shows.  Now, I hear my grandchildren’s favorites.  There’s some of each I enjoy.

During my "Was I really 
that skinny?" years.

Person(s) you admire:  

People who’ve decided to go through life with dignity, strength, common sense and humor.

You might be surprised:  

I’m thankful for the people I’ve known who’ve been less than pleasant because they taught me what I didn’t want to be and taught me how to forgive even when it isn’t merited or easy.

Some good advice you've learned through the years:  

So many because schools and families taught how to live and act from the Bible.

Someone you think should be recognized for who they are or what they do, and why:  I’m seriously tired of the mainstream news and social media focusing only on the very small percent of malcontents, publicity seekers, troublemakers and jerks.  That being said, I’m hopeful those quiet people who go about helping others, making the world better and being responsible are recognized more often.

Leading my 4-H calf.

Worst job you’ve had:    

Cleaning public restrooms.  Tainted my opinion of the public long before Wal-Mart people pictures surfaced.

Why I got into gardening?      

I think it’s my farm background and the joy (almost need) of nature’s beauty.  My yard, plants and the great outdoors soothe my spirit and are an avenue for creativity.  I get excited about a plant or information, some outdoor view or someone’s garden and enjoy sharing.

A good day for you would be:  

Every single person in our family gathered for a day of food, fun and loving each other.  The other would be gardening until it’s all done without anything hurting. 

Pet peeves:  

A clerk handing you your item and only saying “There ya’ go.” 

Your first car:        

Yellow Triumph TR3 convertible – wish I still had one.  But, I learned to drive farm equipment first.

How would you like to be remembered?  

I can’t write that book.

If you could do it over again:  

I’d up my common sense level earlier.

Things I enjoy?  

Being the grandparents in a big family, you learn to roll with things.  I try to enjoy those good times when they happen.   I enjoy family hugs.  I enjoy being creative – whatever that is at the moment.  I enjoy really good food.  I enjoy taking pictures.   

I'm with the huge flowers on the shoulder trying to
socialize at what appears to be "three women in black and
the fairy princess."  I'm 20 yrs. old here. 

Things you’re very bad at:    

I’m a shy introvert so socializing in crowds is difficult.  Someone once asked me why I write?  My answer was, “It’s easier than talking to people in person.”   

Things that are continually on my prayer list:       

Those with cancer and their families.  We’ve all been touched either intimately or socially by cancer.  A good friend of mine, Roger Hawk, pondered, “Is cancer the end times plague?”  I don’t know, but, with Jerry’s cancer (thank you God he’s in remission) and grandson, Nick’s, current battle with cancer, it’s always in my prayers.  I also think my teen and early adult grandchildren need prayer because of the complexity of their lives and the world.  Sometimes the best thing a grandparent can do is to fervently pray.

Being all dressed up and smiling. 

If You Knew Susie Like I know Susie.

Hemerocallis "Susie Wong"

"Susie Wong" daylily has it all going.  4 1/2 inch light yellow self on 24 inch scapes.  It is one of the earliest to bloom and with it's high bud count, it blooms a long time.  A Dormant.  Winner of the 1971 Annie T. Giles Award (for best small flower.)  It was introduced in 1962 by Kennedy.  This is one of the best all around yellow daylilies I have.  Not flashy but a bloom filled beauty.  It's in my family flowerbed for my daughter, Susan (in her youth she was called Susie.)  From Oakes Daylilies.

Hemerocallis "Song of Innocence"

All the qualities of "Susie Wong" are evident in "Song of Innocence".  This 3-4 inch light pastel blend of light creamy peach/pink with soft yellow center around a small green throat.  It's slightly ruffled.  A Semi-evergreen Tetraploid.  Early bloom time with high bud count for a long show.  24 inch scapes.  From Oakes Daylilies.   

Hemerocallis "Siloam Double Classic"

A 5 inch double pink/peach with ruffles, a yellow halo and green eye.  16 inch scapes.   It has a very sweet strong fragrance.  Blooms early to mid-season.  Dormant.  Awarded the Stout Medal (given to one daylily yearly and is the American Hemerocallis Society's highest honor) and L. Ernest Plouf Fragrance Award.   Introduced by Henry in 1985.  This one is from Hoerr Nursery, Peoria IL.  

To enjoy a fragrant daylily, simple break off the flower where it joins the scape and sit it in a small-neck container.  No need for water since they are programed to stay beautiful for an entire day.  Before going to bed, throw away.  Most begin to turn to mush when the sun is completely down.  A few, like yesterday's "Hello Sunshine" open later in the morning and stay beautiful until about midnight.

Hemerocallis "Miss Tinkerbell"

"Miss Tinkerbell" isn't bothered by weather or insects (except perhaps this early morning's very strong hard rain that nearly uglied up every flower in bloom.)  3 3/4 inch peach/pink bloom with large rose eye zone, chartreuse eye and lightly ruffled.  It sometimes has a rose edge and iridescent covering.  18 inch scapes.  Mid season and high bud count for continuous bloom plus rebloom.  Dormant.  From Oakes Daylilies.  

The lady statue was a gift from my good friends "Nancy & Dean Belcher" and brings a smile and thought of them each time I round that corner of the garden walk.

Everything's Rosie

Daylily "Rosie Meyer"

"Rosie Meyer" daylily is a 5 inch single rich red self with a large yellow star throat.  Considered an early bloomer plus may rebloom.  I use "may" because we are a tad too north for much in the way of reblooming daylilies - the season isn't long enough.  This year we may have a chance since our spring was mild and early.  She was introduced in 1957 by Alexander.

Rosie is a Diploid and has no fragrance.  Having said all that, Rosie is a bit of a disappointment in my garden.  She starts out with some deformities but soon corrects plus has a low bud count.  She is billed as a vigorous grower but I think because she is an "evergreen", it never really gets off the ground as it should in my Zone 5.  I'm guessing.  I'm told that shouldn't make a difference; I do know evergreen daylilies never perform as nicely as semi-evergreens and dormants in my garden.  

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Daylily "Eenie Allegro" 

When a daylily is called "Ennie Allegro", I can pretty much expect a little flower.   This compact plant has 1 1/2 inch gold self with slight ruffling.  Again, a big box store purchase that looks nothing like any nursery pictures.  

Even as a misfit, it's a beautiful little lily on about 14 inch scapes.  At times the foliage is taller than the scapes which will hide the flowers a bit.  It has a large bud count making for an extended bloom season.

Daylily "Hello Sunshine"

I have two-hundred-zillion pictures of "Hello Sunshine' - more or less.  All of these daylilies started blooming today and Hello Sunshine comes out of the shoot looking perfect.  A 5 1/2 inch round lemon yellow with wide ruffled petals.  Both the flower and the scapes (21 inches) are substantial.

Hello is termed mid-season plus extended plus reblooming.  Buying daylilies that claim "continuous" or  "extended" is a good thing.  

This flower is a Dormant, Diural, Tetraploid and VERY fragrant.  The point of fragrant on a bloom that lasts only one day is to pass by it on a walk, station it close to a porch/patio or pick and bring inside.  Purchased at Oakes Daylilies and introduced by Stamile in 1992.    

Happy Happy

Today's bloomer is "Happy Returns".  It's often used in landscaping because it is a 3 inch clear yellow self with ruffled edges.  It has a long bloom season and high bud count primarily because it's a decedent of "Stella de Oro".  

"Happy Returns" is somewhat dwarf but the clumps spread.  The spreading fills in nicely around other plants or allows you to divide and increase the number of plants.  It's very hardy - Diploid - Dormant and the has a most wonderful strong fragrance.  They do well in light shade and will bloom in deeper shade but not with all the qualities.

Darrell Apps registered "Happy Returns" in 1986.  It's considered inexpensive and almost every nursery carries them.

The only negative I've found is insects love to chew off the color - I wonder if it's the fragrance that attracts them?  I have to get out there mighty early to get a picture of the flowers in perfect condition. This damage doesn't show in a landscape setting but I'd suggest planting them so they can be viewed from a distance.