A Day in the Garden!

Hey Friends,

Just wanted to chitchat a bit about the lovely gardening day I had.  Being a morning person, I woke up bright and early.  This habit annoys the "night owls" in the house. :-)  During daylily season, I always take a quick look at the main daylily garden right away.  Surprises await me!  We've had very cool nights lately.  Just for the record, Southern daylilies do not like cool nights.  There they stood this morning!  The daylilies were huddled together in the main bed with petals folded tightly.  I hoped they wouldn't pout the day away!  While I was waiting on the lilies to quit huddling, I cooked a batch of hummingbird nectar, and "escorted" the crazy neighborhood cat out of the garden three times (he hasn't figured out this garden is for the birds).  I guess you're wondering what I mean by "escort."  Well, with this stubborn feline, it means chase to the back of the garden and through the thicket, and/or sprinkle/blast with the hose (yes, I said it).  He can't be reasoned with any other way.  Anyway, back to the daylilies, the sun did shine upon them, and the main daylily bed was one big, beautiful blast of color by 10:00 a.m. with daylilies dancing and waving in the breeze.  Here are a few photos from my day in the garden if you have a moment:

'Spacecoast Ojo Rojo'

'Octopus Hugs'

'Springfield Clan'

'Spacecoast Mulberry Motif''

Inherited ... I call it 'Lemon Spider'

Inherited ...

Inherited ...

Pineapple Sage

I pruned the pineapple sage that's planted in the herb garden, 

and was wearing a fab pineapple perfume with mid notes of sage after that. :-)

This is along the path to the back deck.  

I've had lots of fun with this little gardening space.  

That's lavender in the big pot (one of my impulse buys at Publix). 

 I'm delighted it's doing so well because I don't have a good history with lavender.

Me ... gardening like a rock star!  lol

Until next time, let's keep on shining! :-)

They're Back!

Hey Friends,

I know this blog has been terribly neglected lately.  It's a wonder it isn't just totally grown over with weeds!  I've turned into a traveling gypsy, and have been to Illinois, Nevada, California and Virginia since March, so life has been a bit of a whirlwind.  Hmmmm, maybe I should temporarily rename the blog to Daylily Whirlwind.  Sometimes, I just click my heels together and repeat "There's no place like home."  Anyway, I'm home for a while and what a time to be here!  Showtime has begun for the dayliles, and it's been lots of fun so far.  I'm trying to stick to my resolve to quit moving them around just for the sake of "rearranging," and that's turning out to be a good thing (I did move a few to sunnier spots though).  It's amazing how much taller they are once they've been left alone to settle in for a couple of years.  Here are a few blooms of late I'd like to share with you:

'Cameroon Night'

 This one resides near the back of the main daylily garden (referred to as The Daylily Soup Garden around here).

It shines like a beacon back there!

'All American Chief''

 Brilliant!

Super tall, re-blooming, large spider that seems to glow.  

I never can quite catch the elusive beauty of this one in a photo.

'Texas Big Bend'

This has been one of my favorites for the past two years with its beautiful color, substance and ruffled edges.  

This bloom is huge and some have compared it to a fancy squash bloom.  

What a fancy squash bloom!

'Rip City'

This tall bearded iris is a keeper.  I bought it after reading reviews that it will bloom in hot climates when others don't.  

Well, I have not been disappointed, so if you're looking for a rugged, heat tolerant bearded iris, this is the one for you!  

'Rip City' has bloomed consistently since landing in my garden even when it wasn't particularly babied.  

We all know which flowers get babied in this garden, don't we? ;-)

Clematis

'Firefly Frenzy'

This is 'Firefly Frenzy's first year anniversary in the garden, and look at all of the buds!

It doesn't quite look like it did when I bought it but it's still settling in.

 

Crazy Garden Getup

 Sometimes, one just has to get out to the garden with coffee in hand right away!  

Hence, more crazy garden getups!

Yes, that is a gown with the gardening bogs!  LOL

What's your favorite bloom of this group?  I'd love to hear.

So glad you stopped by!

All the best! :-)

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 ...

:-)

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! :-)

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'

Encore! Encore!

Friends, I have some very exciting news to share with you!  The Daylily Gods are shining down upon my garden!  A daylily encore performance to beat all others is going on.  Maybe, standing on the deck yelling “Encore,” “Encore!” helped a little bit (one of my "Lucille Ball" moments).  As I began to accept that the daylilies were slipping away for yet another year, to my surprise, scape after magical, bud laden scape began to appear.  Is there a daylily dance to correspond with the rain dance we all know of?  If so, please direct me to the nearest daylily dance studio ... I'm learning this one (no, I will not do this dance in front of the neighbors ... lol)!  Just wanted to show you the current performers, so let’s have a look:

'Orange Crush'

'Beautiful Edgings'

I don't know the name of this inherited beauty.

'Lemonberry Truffle'

I don't know the name of this inherited golden truffle.

'Jesco'

Until next time,

Happy Gardening. :-)

The Atlanta Daylily Show 2012 - Blooms, Blooms, Blooms!

Before I get started with my trip back to yesterday, I have to mention the best part of my trip.  I got to meet one of my blogging friends in person who was in Atlanta judging the show!  Yes, I met Nikki, daylilian extraordinaire, who has a fabulous, charming daylily blog named A Girl and Her Garden.  It was such a joy to meet her.  Isn't blogging wonderful? :-)

Let's revisit my FUN day at The Atlanta Daylily Show.  As I walk up to the exhibition tables laden with approximately 360 entries, I'm getting that wonderful "kid in a candy store" feeling.

Wow!

Carnival in Mexico

 On the wish list ...

Spin & Twirl

Spider Miracle

One the wish list ...

Just part of one of the exhibition tables!

Best of Show Table

 They drink only bottled water at this table, I guess. ;-)

Temptation

 I didn't buy ... only looked ... really! :-)

Spiders, Spiders, Spiders

 I do love the spiders!

Seedlings

Lemon Lime Spider

Aerial View - Atlanta Daylily Show 2012

Another Aeriel View

What a field of daylilies!

Grand Old Flag

 Definitely on the wish list!  

The photo doesn't even do it justice;  

'Grand Old Flag' is even more beautiful than the photo!

 One last view of "The Candy Store."

:-)