I think I have a fever ...

 It all began with a trip to The Fresh Market a couple of weeks ago.  Greeting me at the door was this stand of beckoning orchids which I was immediately agog over.  I oohed and ahhhhed over each one of them, but somehow I managed to leave the store without adopting one.

Yes, they had this magical glow with heavenly light shining down on them from above ...

  The story isn't over ...

Land of the 'Lady Slippers'

 So, last weekend, I went to visit my son.  Somehow (I have no idea how this happened and had nothing to do with it), we ended up at a garden center where I just had to browse the orchid selection.  It would be against my religion to leave the garden center without at least looking at the orchids!  There was quite a group of 'Lady Slippers' there.

I do believe he is smiling at me ...

Just look at the face on this one!  By now, I'm repeating to myself "you will be strong, you will be strong ..."  I was doing this silently, of course, because people would stare otherwise.

"Are we almost there yet?" she says ...

Well, as soon as I got into the Sequoia to leave, look who jumped into the back seat.  Orchids are sneaky!  They'll just follow you out of the garden center and jump into the back seat.

Right at home ...

Now I have found myself looking at orchid pots online to repot the currently dormant orchids I have.  I've also been looking at potting medium, fertilizer and a lovely stand that will hold several orchids!

I think I have a fever ...

Just when I thought it was over ...

Just when I announced the close of daylily season in The Daylily Soup Garden, look who crept underneath the closed curtain and ran out on the stage!  Needless to say, I was totally amazed and delighted when I noticed this lady in red out in the garden on Saturday morning.  Sadly, she only made one appearance even though there were plenty of buds.  The nights are just a little too cool now to suit the daylilies.  Without further adieu, I present the last performer of the season (I'm sure this time ... positive, really).

Smile for the camera ...

Posing ...

Until next time ...

:-)

Fairy Dust Moments

If I could blog shortly after awakening, Daylily Soup would be amazingly different.  I have the best ideas either in the middle of the night or upon awakening in the morning; in those fairy dust moments while crossing the bridge between sleep and consciousness.

Fairy Dust Moments

From now on, I plan to capture those thoughts on paper at the moment of their first appearance as if butterflies in a net.  Let me clarify, a "net" will only be used for my fairy dust thoughts.  No nets are ever used on butterflies in The Daylily Soup Garden.  So, get ready friends, for snippets from fairy dust moments.  New material is needed while the daylilies are on hiatus anyway.  I know you're wondering about all of my "fairy dust moment" business, so here's my disclaimer:  I only drink the occasional glass of wine (no recreational drugs).  This is just me.

When do you have your best ideas?   

When do you do your best writing?  

I'd love to know ...

Thanks for stopping by. :-)

October's Party

I’d like to share one of my favorite poems, “October’s Party,” written by George Cooper with you.  Please do take a look if you have a moment.  Click here (a lovely blog I stumbled across) to attend “October’s Party.”

Honey Crisp Apples - October Party Refreshments :-)

Well, October is throwing quite the festive party here, which I’ve decided to attend "with bells on."  I used to boycott October's party each year.  I was too busy sulking over the departure of most flowers to attend, but over time, I’ve learned to love autumn.  I now realize our gardens and us gardeners need time to recharge.  Autumn and spring are actually now tied for first place as my favorite season.  I don’t know why it took me so long to embrace autumn.  I’m a September Libra so my celestial composition is certainly most in sync with autumn.  Also in sync with autumn, is my love of boots, cozy sweaters, pumpkin pie and a nip in the air.  This year, I’ll be joining "The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples" on the dance floor.  Ohhh, what shall I wear?

Until next time, I'll leave you with one last daylily bloom from The Daylily Soup Garden.  Daylily bloom season officially ceased here two days ago.  What a season it’s been!

Inherited Beauty

What’s your favorite season?  What do you love about it?  I'd like to know.

Hope you’re having a great week! :-)

Local Art

Just a quick post to share some local art with you, friends.  As we know, great art doesn't always have to be in a gallery. I hope you enjoy!

A different version of a "Painted Lady"

These were taken in a small town about 45 minutes from our home.  There's a very talented artist running around this area.

"Painted Lady" Again

This one takes the cake!

This one is my favorite.  I want to go to THAT beach!  The royal blue "painted pony" better be there too!  I know what you're thinking.  No, I am not on any sort of pain medication from my back surgery (by the way, I've been released to normal life again ... YIPPEE! :-)

Van Gogh-Like

This work has a different style than the previous two.  I don't think it was painted by the same artist.  There are quite a few miles between the first works and this one as well.

Here's their close up!  Looks like a Van Gogh to me.

Hope you all have a great week 

with a big sprinkling of fabulous, fall weather! :-)

Garden Chitchat II

Hi Friends,

I know Daylily Soup has been a little "dormant" lately, but I just wanted to let you know I haven't abandoned the blogosphere.  Also, I've enjoyed visiting your blogs lately even though I may not have commented.  I'm quickly on the mend from unexpected, unavoidable back surgery.  I injured my back at some time in my life, but was able to play quite a good game of hide and seek from surgery for the past four years with the aid of a great chiropractor until lately.  Anyway, I should be back to normal (as normal as a daylily addict can be) in the near future. :-)

Shortly after my last post, I took these photos of more re-bloomers in the garden, so I just wanted to share them with you before they become historical news ... lol.  By the way, 'Spacecoast Ojo Rojo' that was featured in my previous post is still blooming today!  This morning, the garden was whirling with feuding hummingbirds, and yesterday the yellow swallowtails that ate my parsley to the ground as caterpillars were all aflutter (the parsley loss was totally worth it).  There seems to be a new garden theme each day lately.  Anyway, here are my recent daylily images if you have time for a little stroll:

'Rocket Booster'

I added 'Rocket Booster' to my collection due to its intense red color.  Martha, my late mother-in-law and gardening buddy, used to refer to this color red as "candle red." Please excuse the weeds in the background.  Jane at Tidy Gardens by Jane, please shield your eyes from the weeds. 

'Webster's Pink Wonder'

I tried unsuccessfully earlier in the season to capture this one's beauty, and I do believe this photograph is a better representation of 'Webster's Pink Wonder.'  This daylily is a perfect example of one that needs time to settle.  'Webster's Pink Wonder' slightly bloomed last year, but has been one of my most prolific bloomers this year.  I just enjoyed the last giant, stunning bloom yesterday. 

Lemon Spider (Inherited)

Lemon Spider (as I have named it) is one of my inherited wonder daylilies.  It re-bloomed twice this summer.

I'm off to sit in my perch by the window with a view of the hummingbird feeder.

  

 Hope you have a great week! :-)

Overachievers

What can I say?  These daylilies give new meaning to the word "overachiever."  I am still in amazement each morning.  This continues to be a daylily season to remember in my patch.  Magical, bud covered scapes with the promise of blooms until at least the end of September continue to appear (I've never had one bloom past July before).  This is the first summer I haven't had to water like crazy.  In fact, I've only watered once the whole summer (maybe I did do a daylily dance or two ... shhhh ... it will be our little secret).  If only every summer could be like this one.  One can wish ... and wish ... sigh.  Anyway, I'd like to share some images with you of a few stellar performers currently taking center stage.

 Hope you enjoy! :-)

'Spacecoast Ojo Rojo'

'Coach's Laughing Eye'

'Texas Big Bend'