Catching Up....

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.

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Pure and Simple (Salter, 1993)

These are just a few of my 'Early' blooming cultivars so please visit again to see more daylilies!

Let It Rip (Joiner-J, 1997)

Have a great SUNday!