Lily of the Day

Inherited (NOID)

This beauty took my breath away this morning.  I was on my way to work, but had just enough time to snap this photo.  This daylily is inherited and I don't know its name, but it's here to stay.  I love the luscious colors on this one, and think the edging on the petals is quite snazzy.  Hope you enjoy!

:-)

Weeding! Argh!

Maintenance/Weeding ARGH!

This MONSTER tub of weeds (brimming over) was one of five that I, the only gardener living here, pulled this morning.  It's times like this that the diva gardener in me starts to come out.  I know, I know maintenance comes with the territory, but WEEDING is not my favorite aspect of gardening.  I prefer to design beds, create beds, rearrange beds and marvel over beautiful plant/flower combinations and beautiful blooms.  I love to fertilize ... I'm like the mad scientist when it comes to fertilizer.  However, being a perfectionist at heart, I can't stand weeds in the garden, so a weeding I will go. 

At some point during this "Argh!" ordeal, I went inside (took the dirty boots off) and was only going to be inside for a minute.  I was told I was too dirty to be inside!  He was right.  Your should have seen my yellow shirt!  Maybe I'll just sit out here, drink Kool Aid and play in the dirt. LOL

Sometimes Life is a Bowl of Cherries!

After pulling weeds for approximately three hours, purging the garden of non performers and rearranging a few residents for another hour, I staggered inside.  Now that I've had a chance to compose myself, I can barely move.  As I ate this bowl of cherries, I thought about my "Argh!" weeding attitude, and how lucky I am to have a garden to weed because along with the weeding comes:

Coneflower

this ...

Canna

and this ...

Daylily (Inherited)

and this!

Disclaimer:  I may (probably will) still have the "Argh!" attitude while weeding, but I vow to quickly get over it, and focus on the beauty of the garden and the many, many joys that go along with it.  Weeds be gone!

:-)

'Stargazer' to the rescue!

Just in time ...

Stargazer Lily

As most of you are just beginning your daylily bloom season, mine is coming to an end.  There are still a few late bloomers putting on a small show.  I can't believe this!  I think the last daylily to bloom is going to be one of the first two that started off the show.  Stay tuned for a daylily end of show post coming up soon ... sigh.  Look who's come to the rescue to save me from lily withdrawal!  Last year, I purchased a bag of 'Stargazer' bulbs (one of my impulse buys).  The bag was supposed to contain a mixture of pink and yellow 'Stargazers.'  This is the first one to bloom and I just love it.  Hm mm, I may start paying more attention to stargazers and other oriental lilies.  These beauties would fill the gap from the end of daylily season to fall.  Now, there's an idea!  I know what you're thinking ... "here she goes with another flower addiction."  I'll pRaCtiCe rEsTraint ... you'll see. ;-)  Just curious, do any of you have any oriental lily recommendations?  I'd love to hear about your favorites.

I'm off to look for spots to plant oriental lilies ...

Hope you're having a great weekend! 

:-)

Wordless Wednesday - Orchid Status

White Orchid - Still Alive & Well

Cream Orchid - Still Alive & Well

Cream Orchid

:-)

Pearilous!

This pear tree has been on a "pearilous" slippery slope for the past couple of years.  It has been on strike until lately.  Just look at it now;  weighed down with pears galore!  It redeemed itself just in the nic of time for I'd already decided on its replacement.  Once again, patience and threats have paid off.  Do you have anything on strike in your garden?

I just noticed the hose posing in the background again!  I am starting to think it slithers around when I'm not looking. LOL

Pear Tree - Permanent Resident

Enchanting Photo

Just thought I'd share this with you.  I was on my way up the back steps earlier right before dusk when I turned around for some reason, and looked over the fence to my mother and father-in-law's former home.  There stood this birdhouse in the perfect setting beckoning me to take a photo.  I took a shot from the deck, but that didn't seem like it was quite close enough.  I don't know;  something just wasn't right.  I walked next door to get a closer shot.  By now, dusk was in its final stage;  I put the camera on a special low-light setting, and this is what I got.  My father-in-law built this lovely birdhouse.  When I snapped the photo, I thought about painting the scene with watercolors in the future.  To my surprise, the photo turned out like a watercolor.  I'm not sure how I did it.  It may have been the low-light setting, or my hands may have been a little shaky.  Personally, I think something special was going on out there tonight.  Has anyone had a similar experience in the world of photography?

Enchanting Birdhouse

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."

:-)