Picked up some more soil and cedar mulch, and 4 mums (red and white). Got the camellia, azalea, abelia, irises and mums planted, as well as dividing the Hyperion daylily and transplanting a white salvia greggii to the salvia wall. I even repotted some ornamental peppers, and transplanted a nandina. All in all, a busy yet productive day. Next time, I have a 50 count flat of Matrix pansies to plant.
The honey and I have been designing our flowerbeds prior to filling them in. I’ve put in an order for some shade-loving daylilies to add color to the beds. Dallas Star, a pale pink semi-evergreen spider, at Oakes Daylilies and Orangeman, an orange spider known to go dormant, at Bloomingfields Farm are both known to thrive in part to full shade. (Edit: I’ve put in the Dallas Star order, but holding off on Orangeman due to high shipping charges.)
I’ve also submitted an order for some astilbe, Fanal and Amerika, at American Meadows. While I was browsing the site, perennial Japanese Forest Grass, such as Hakonechloa macra Aureola and Nicolas caught my eye. I am aware that this type of grass is known to thrive in shade, and I’ve been thinking of adding one or two to the front fence bed. Big Dipper Farm has a nice selection of Hakonechloa to peruse.
Finally I’ve found several YouTube videos on DIY grow light kits and stands. I’m not opposed to making my own cart, after seeing some of the steep asking prices in this season’s gardening catalogs.
My first order from Brent & Becky’s has arrived, and I can’t wait to get home to inspect them. Despite last minute changes to my order, they managed to get it to me within a week of initial ordering. I’ve always been pleased with their online store and I plan to make future orders with them.
Dearest Spot,
Thank you for the lilies, my dearest. You do not know how glad I am to see such beauty. This past Sunday I paid a visit to ChopperJim‘s house and he showed me a side yard which lay barren. He once told me I could plant anything I wanted in that garden when he first installed sprinklers. It was a tempting offer at the time, but I knew it would not truly be my own. I await the day when we will find that little patch of heaven-on-earth we call home and plant/grow our own garden. When I first gazed upon the photos you sent me, I grew nostalgic for my own lilies that grew tall and bloomed brilliantly about this time of year. The daylilies would follow suit immediately after and bloom nearly all summer long. I think I favor the red lilies best of all…they drew the bees, birds and butterflies from all over with their bright colors, so I am quite fond of the short red border lilies you have pictured.
We must visit the Arboretum again…you made sure to capture very pleasant memories of our trip there, and of course, I got my lily fix as well. Very soon, my love, this distance will not be such an obstacle to our plans for happy gardening and fantastic dining adventures.
I love you.
Like clockwork, the spring lilies wound down their show to make way for the daylilies of summer.
The late May/early June daylilies debuting in the garden are:
Rhode Island Red: height 26″, season E, bloom 5.75″, Rebloom, foliage ev., Tetraploid, deep cardinal red with orange red gold edge above green throat
Dragon King: height 22″, season E, bloom 5.5″, Rebloom, foliage ev., Tetraploid, mandarin red self with vivid green throat (large yellow/green throat area)
Midnight Raider: height 30″, season M, bloom 6.5″, Rebloom, foliage ev., Tetraploid, dark purple self with green throat
Spacecoast White Out: height 24″, season E, bloom 6.5″, Rebloom, foliage sev., Tetraploid, near white self above yellow green throat
Indochine: height 34″, season E, bloom 5.5″, Rebloom, foliage dor., Tetraploid, yellow blend with green throat
Crimson Pirate: height 30″, season M, foliage dor., Diploid , Spider Ratio 5.20:1
What’s interesting to note is that the Crimson Pirates, listed as mid-season bloomers, are blooming in full force in early June. The front yard beds have very robust bloomers at this time, and they love to arch toward the sun. Of all the daylilies so far, the Pirates have the smallest bloom sizes, but the most flowers per scape.
I suspect Out Back Red has already made a showing, but none of the blooms I’ve seen have measured 7″ across yet.
I am not particularly impressed with Midnight Raider’s colors, not as intense as I would like, but it does pair well with the neighboring Vermeer calla lily.