Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Road Trip!

What's better than spending a day with good friends? A day spent with good friends at a daylily nursery! You just knew I was going to say that, didn't you? So...with li'l me behind the wheels of the Expedition....we headed west to Pennsylvania. To visit http://www.oakmeadowfarm.com/. What a cool operation..the Chiltons reside right there in their beautiful display gardens of hostas and daylilies.

A warm welcome then we were each handed a pad/pencil and list of over 600 cultivars! A week or two shy of peak bloom but what we saw were great! Enjoy with me some of this beauty...

For the first hour we just 'oohed' and 'ahhed' up and down rows, marking our favorites.
The second hour was spent narrowing down our choices.






























This is Siam..she was sweet and followed us about. You know I tend to fall for the brightly colored ones with bold, contrasting eyes.
This is it. This is the one I must have! It's drop dead gorgeous!

'Til I see this one..
Then WHAM! This one hits me! This was on Renee's favorite list.


None of the above are the whites and pastels I was supposed to be looking for...knowing my collection at home is mostly these hot colors, I want them anyway! There's somewhat a lack of self-discipline when I go daylily shopping. Ask my friends...they know!
This peach one was a beauty, but not for sale today.

Notes made on what to order come dig time (Fall) and we were done. Just in time for lunch!

Back on the road..but, wait, that looks like a good nursery. We HAVE to stop. Hey, I'm driving! More daylilies to ogle over. They had a ton of echinaceas, too. This yellow one was different. Val in her happiest surrounding :)
So thanks, girlfriends, for a wonderful day! When's our next road trip?

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Red, White and Bloo....ms!

Hi! You can all guess the theme of today's post. Not many true blue flowers out there so shades of purple will have to do...And not that I purposely plant flowers for this combination, it's amazing how many areas popped up with it when I went looking. What's the saying...."Seek and you shall find"! Yes, my fence plays a major role, but hey, it works!
'Scarlet Orbit' daylily...nonstop blooms for a solid month.

Sweet peas finally in bud and the first two opened just happened to be this deep purple and red! Could have sworn I planted the pastel variety mix! Every year I grow this vine as nothing beats their romantic and sweet fragrance...hmmm...
Hummingbirds have been visiting 'Lucifer' crocosmia, but they're too quick for me to capture...





Okay, I'm pushing it a bit here...no blooms..but I see the combo...look up!



Happy 4th of July everyone! Enjoy your weekend and stay safe!