July is THE MONTH when my daylilies are at their best, otherwise known as 'peak bloom'. Every morning I eagerly bounce out of bed, quickly brew my first cuppa, and rush out the back door.
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| Wineberry Candy (Stamile, 1990) |
So with mug in one hand, bucket in other, and camera 'round my neck, I begin the fun chore of 'mush-mummy'-ing! If you grow daylilies, you know what I'm talking about!
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| Siloam June Bug (Henry-P, 1978) |
Of course, if you also hybridize, then deadheading is done with extra care, if at all. I tend to wait for the last week of blooms to cross pollinate as I like to keep the scapes looking clean.
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| Kanai Sensei (Huben, 2006) |
If you're new to daylilies, do a little homework when nursery hopping. Most tags will NOT tell you if the daylily you're ogling will bloom Early, Mid, or Late...so do a quick search (thank goodness for smart phones)! The place to go is:http://www.daylilies.org/DaylilyDB/ Just plug in the cultivar name, hit 'search' and the database will do the rest. I pay attention to bloom period, it's height, as well as bud count, if listed.
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| Mardi Gras Parade (Kroll, 1992) |
Keep all that information in mind when
incorporating them into your garden. It would not do to plant a 12" plant behind a 4ft. clump, would it? Daylilies are very forgiving though and can be transplanted anytime during the growing season.
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| Dominic (Williams-J, 1984) |
When it comes to companion plants (be it perennials or annuals), try to highlight your special daylily with complimentary colors. But if you garden like I do..."ooh, there's a blank spot, start digging"...it all works out in the end...lol.
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| Pure and Simple (Salter, 1993) |
These are just a few of my 'Early' blooming cultivars so please visit again to see more daylilies!
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| Let It Rip (Joiner-J, 1997) |
Have a great SUNday!
