Daylily Blog

Since I've last written, I have enjoyed a much-needed vacation to beautiful Panama City Beach Florida. Considering the daylilies have virtually consumed me for most of the spring and summer, it was good to get away for a few days so I could have some time to digest my gardening efforts and accomplishments, and to contemplate next year's activities.

Upon my return to Knoxville, the change in the weather was dramatic! Adjusting from Florida's upper 90's to Knoxville's 60's during the daytime was quite a shock!  Scattered frost has even been predicted in some areas here. I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet and wouldn't mind a few more weeks of mild sunny weather.

Still, it was exciting to see the change in the daylillies when I came home. Several more have sent up new shoots and most plants have grown about a foot, which is filling in the new bed nicely. I still have a few plants in 2 gallon pots that I need to get in the ground. Thankfully, I have some empty spaces around the gardens, though I like to take into consideration flower color and size before permanently placing the daylilies. I'll mull these details over during the next few weeks.  Hopefully I'll get most, if not all, the potted plants in their new home before the really cold weather hits.

I have a sloped area curving around the edge of the front lawn which I think would be a great spot for some of the darker colored daylillies, due to the partial shade, which tends to keep the darker flowers from washing out in the hot sun. I'll add some splashes of color as well. Because of the large trees, (and roots,) in the sloped area, I'll have to give some thought as to how and where to put what. Sinking some 4 gallon pots directly in the ground may offer a solution to the tree root issue, keeping the roots from invading the daylily growing spaces.

I'm looking forward to the change of the season, and the winter rest from gardening.  It's been a busy and productive year and looking back, I've managed to get more done than I had envisioned. I am quite pleased!

I will add here that the pine straw mulch continues to work well. The few weeds able to make their way through are easily pulled out, and the pine straw seems to be holding in moisure, thus cutting down on the need for watering.

The bloom season next year should be an explosion of color! I look forward to seeing some old "friends" along with the excitement of new introductions blooming for the first time. Daylillies are constantly evolving thanks to the hybridizers, and each season brings more must have's to my list!  For me, this is what keeps the hobby so addictive - the fantastic new plants introduced each year, and like the new flowers, I also find my tastes changing. 

Until next time, have fun gardening.

Daylily Blog

 

Since the last time I wrote, I continue to get excited looking at my new daylily bed, however,  I've been having a great deal of trouble with invasive weeds.  Hindsight, being 20/20, I should have built a raised bed, which I think my future beds will probably end up being.  I like the look of no borders, which in my opinion appear more natural, and blend in better with the landscape.  But, this doesn't solve the present problem.  I considered adding another layer of mulch,  but wind-blown seeds eagerly take root so quickly, and honestly, I don't think I can physically handle spreading a couple truckloads of heavy mulch.

 

After much thought, I decided to put down a layer of newspapers, and topped it off with several inches of pine straw.  I have found pine straw available in bales at my local Home Depot, at an affordable price compared to the cost of mulch.   Two to three sheets of newspapers, so far, seem to be doing the trick.  In addition, I encircled the plants leaving what I hope will be enough growing space for potential new fans.  In fact, the newspapers do not seem to hamper the growth of new shoots.  I am also pleased with how well the newspaper is keeping the weeds down!

 

Thankfully, after nearly eight hours the job was accomplished.  I have to tell you - the bending, squatting, and stooping painfully wrecked havoc with my back and legs.  Of course, for days afterwards, my sore muscles were not so forgiving! 

 

I recovered, and you can only imagine my excitement over seeing new fans coming up in the following days!  So far,  I have been extremely pleased with the look of the pine straw.  As I mentioned, it also seems to be doing a good job of deterring weeds. 

 

There is nothing like a cup of coffee in the morning while I stare at my daylily beds!  The plants are growing very well, and I particularly enjoy how nicely they show up against the pine straw, which incidentally, turns a nice shade of red at this time of day. 

 

...Sore legs and all, I'm obviously hooked!!!  What can I say?

 

Until next time, have fun gardening.

John

Daylily Blog September 2, 2011

Hey friends,

I thought it would be interesting to create a blog, as a way of tracking my progress growing Daylilies.  I have a friend who grows daylilies as well, and we enjoy sharing our passion for these beautiful perennials.

This year, I decided to expand my growing area and created a new bed on the other side of the walkway.  This effort turned into a big chore, but the bulk of it was accomplished in a single weekend!

I tilled the area and added forty bags of soil conditioner because the soil in my yard is heavy clay.  After another trip to Home Depot to buy 50 scalloped edging bricks, I outlined my new bed. These interlocking bricks work wonderfully and look good as well.  Several curved bricks were needed, as I expanded the bed further.  Talk about backbreaking work!!

The real fun began when I started planting over forty daylilies in the new bed. I dug holes and added more soil conditioner to make sure each plant would flourish.   

During the summer, my friend and I added quite a few more daylilies to our collections.  Someone should have warned us about the addiction this hobby brings!  Not being able to control ourselves, we ordered even more plants from several well-known growers, both locally and online. 

Daylilies are shipped bare root and each plant is considered a “fan.”  Most of our plants consisted of several fans, so we were able to divide and share them immediately.  My friend and I also dug all of his daylilies and divided and potted them, resulting in over 850 potted daylily plants.  He is currently re-working his daylily beds and hopes to accomplish this before the cold weather kicks in.

Between us, we now have nearly 200 varieties!  It has been a monumental undertaking so far, and we are both still planting.  I ended up putting 85 varieties in my new front bed, and have no choice but to make another. At this point I am mulling over ideas while the plants continue to grow in their pots.  They are doing quite well, and most have sent up new fans!

Like many gardeners, I experience great joy seeing the plants growing in my beds, and I can’t wait until next year to see the new varieties bloom.  I look forward to sharing more of my progress with you in the near future…

Until next time, have fun gardening,

John