daylilies

Refreshed by Rain

| Flower Roberts

We had a line of strong storms come through last night. I was grateful for shelter. There was not much damage but a lot of rain washed everything clean.

I will feature this week’s daylily blooms. I have had a hard time remembering their names. A few years of serious stress has done a number on my hard drive. I was a bit shocked by my memory failure. I am thankful that I have kept thorough records to fall back on.

Here is the first wave of daylilies this season, refreshed by last night’s rain.

Whooperee A deer favorite because the blooms are big and juicy.
Breed Apart I appreciate this color combo and the ruffles on the petals.
Emperor’s Butterfly I love how the throat goes from green to yellow then cream.
Yabba Dabba Doo The blooms are not symmetrical but the plant looks like a party when in full swing.
Peacock Alley Simple beauty of nice symmetry.
Lavender Rainbow My two favorite colors together. The ants love this one also.
Dixie Boy Small and tight blooms but the bright colors demand attention.
Nutmeg Spice I planted this one right beside the walkway because it is a strong bloomer and I adore its colors and ruffled edge.

I want to end this post with a photo of the sky. I look at the sky a lot. It seems alive much of the time. If you do not watch the sky, you should. There is magic up there.

FLOWER

Fore Bitten Blooms

| Flower Roberts

The deer came during the night and nibbled the buds off before some daylilies bloomed.

I can tell which types are the tastiest because the entire plant is mostly decapitated stalks.

They do not just eat buds, whole arrays of open flowers are devoured.

CLICK ON EACH PICTURE TO ENLARGE. ( Lavender Rainbow, Peacock Alley, Moonlit Masquerade, Dixie Boy, Strutters Ball, Yabba Dabba Doo, Mabel Nolan, Good Shepherd, Appolodorus, Sebastian, Smoky Mountain Autumn, Purple Pinwheel and Daring Deception as feature)

At least I still have daylily photos to enjoy!

I took down my hanging fence rings for a photo shoot and failed to replace them. I also needed to purchase more green poles. No need now. I have plenty. Hi Ho

I do not mind sharing, but sometimes my wild friends are a bit greedy.

I guess this colorful smorgasbord is irresistible.

FLOW

Tidy It Up in July

| Flower Roberts

I know it is hot!

Our temperatures are in the 90’s in North Carolina.

I also know that the weeds are growing fast due to our afternoon rains.

My garden is like a sauna in the afternoons, so I must work in the mornings.

I get all my tools, bug repellent, hat , bandana scarf , gloves and bucket together.

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I make a big bottle of 1/3 Gatorade, 1/3 water and 1/3 ice.

I march myself outside and refuse to come in until I have done

my proposed section of garden.

I ride my little cart or sit on a snow disc on the hills.

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Right now is time to clean up bearded iris and daylilies.

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Bearded iris before cleaning. Keep in rows for easy access. I clean mine several times per year.

My method is to cut plants down to 8 inch fans, remove stalks and totally clean out around each plant.

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If you have any plant diseases, you need to dip your shears in a bleach solution between plants.

Here is yesterday’s pile of cuttings and weeds.

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I will put fresh mulch around the cleaned up plants in several days.

I can divide and move things around later, but it is important to clean up so as not to move problems with the plants.

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MY NEXT POST will be on dividing bearded iris. Stay tuned for that.

Follow the SWEATING FLOWER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scorned by the Trees

| Flower Roberts

If you want the whole story,  listen to the trees.

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The flowers will greet you at the driveway.

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The shrubs will show you to the door, but the trees see it all.

I went to my friends’ farm to photograph the daylilies.

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It is June.   They are beautiful.

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I felt the trees watching me.

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“More folks to see the new-comers.” they said.

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The silos sighed.

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“Pretty faces, shallow roots.” whispered the trees.

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“They know nothing. Blooming little twits.”

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“Show-offs. The weeds know more than they do.”

I felts as though I were in a museum taking pictures in the gift shop.

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“The story is up here.” they said.

“We have the history.”

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“We saw the boy grow to a man and his boy grow to a man.”

“We shaded the cows. We saw the storms and sunsets.”

“We watched the pastures change to neighborhoods.”

“We know the history, yet you are focusing on the flashy little trinkets.”

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“All they know is a rainwand and sunshine.”

“Needy and greedy.”

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“Are you shallow too.” they asked?

Follow the TREES!

 

 

 

Using Chopstix

| Flower Roberts

I went out in the garden early this morning with my chopstix.

I’d been using knives, but there were issues.

NO,  I wasn’t eating sushi for breakfast.

I was marking my daylilies.

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I use plastic knives with the names engraved on the blade.

These have been stepped on and broken by a certain blundering gardener.

If it is muddy, I  have to wipe off the knife blade to read the name.

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So my new plan is plastic chopstix with the name engraved on the top.  Then use a Sharpe marker to fill in the scratches and wipe the rest off with 91% alcohol.   Isopropyl alcohol people!

I sat down with my list and Dremel tool last night.

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I made a whole new batch of markers.

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I chose blue and green to be inconspicuous.  Maybe I should have gotten red instead.

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We will see how this works out.

I only broke one this morning.

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Now if I can just read my writing!

Follow the forgetful FLOWER.