First Daylilies

It seems outrageous that I am finally seeing my first daylilies, since the rest of Canada has been posting about them for weeks now. Actually, I think I must have later-blooming varieties, since I've seen other daylilies in town blooming well over a month ago. From what I read, double-bloom daylilies are generally not favoured by many daylily enthusiasts because of their soggy-toilet-paper-like appearance when the blooms are finished. This yellow daylily was my first one ever, so I had to have something more interesting, which in my mind, was a double bloom.

Daylily "Double River Wye": I finally caught this daylily in nice morning sun thanks to an early morning small dog scuffle in the backyard, where the sisters where NOT getting along. While checking the dogs, I noted this excellent garden lighting!


LA Hybrid lilies "Courier", a towering plant with cream-colored flowers that look great in this 7:00 am light.


LA Hybrid daylily "Auckland", a white lily with a unique bloom shape:


A regular red annual poppy (Papaver rhoeas). The crinkled-paper appearance never ceases to amaze me. I moved the orange lily next to the reddish-orange poppies, and it looks much more at home.


Lavatera "Silver Cup", an impressive annual that covers itself in beautiful hibiscus-like blooms. This is the first year I've grown this annual from seed.


Mystery plant from the compost has buds on it yet all of them seem reluctant to open. What are they waiting for?


The large raised bed is in need of some deadheading. I was out there gardening last night when some children passing by commented favourably on my work. I think they thought I was the hired help (which we have none of).

I Love New Plants

There is something about seeing a new plant bloom that really thrills me. I anticipate blooms like a child wringing their hands before Christmas gift-opening. I stalk the plant frequently, carefully checking for signs of imminent blooms. It need not be an exotic or fancy plant either. This year, I even got excited about some annuals (poppies, phacelia, and candytuft) which I direct seeded in a neglected area rather than throw away the odd assortment of free "bonus" packages of seeds I'd amassed.
Tradescantia "Little Doll", a new plant purchased for me last year by resident-lawnmower-man.

This gorgeous annual is the 24-inch tall Lavatera "Silver Cup".

I planted a few Lavatera in my yard and one over at my sister-in-law's place. She has been so gracious in letting me have full access to her yard's dirt, a very positive personal characteristic. I plan to keep on taking advantage of this trait by planting even more exciting new annuals over there next year. In contrast, my mother likes to stick with the "tried and true". Geraniums or bust, her motto could be (though this year I may have convinced her to try a few new ones). I'm addicted to new plants and this will keep my nose in the seed catalogs all winter.
Lilies are in full bloom in the perennial beds:

Look at this, my Okanagan relatives. I grew cherries! We planted these three years ago and this is their first fruiting year. They are tart cherries called "SK Carmine Jewel". They apparently have just as much sugar in them as sweet cherries, but more citric acid, which makes them a bit tart compared to the sweet ones. I bought the young trees from DNA gardens in Alberta, which has a really great selection of novelty fruiting trees and shrubs. The tree itself is darling, a perfect little ball of dark glossy leaves on a short single trunk.

A group of lilies, including the hideous orange one that mysteriously trespassed on my garden this year. I have tied a string around its stem to identify the offender, which must be dug out and given away.

The Rest of the Lilies

July is rapidly coming to a close and there are only a few more blooms waiting to show their stuff: a couple of new daylilies, purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea), some Asters, Liatris spicata, and the blanketflowers (Gaillardia grandiflora).

Pictured: LA Hybrid Lily "Courier" - a cream colored lily that towers above the rest in this raised bed.

All of the lilies are now open, and I am considering which ones will need division next spring. If no one volunteers, I will foist some lilies upon my co-workers in the spring and beg them to take them home, like abandoned puppies.

The deep pink lily is LA Hybrid Lily "Fangio". I favour this lily over my darker red-wine colored Asiatics. The LA Hybrids have wider petals/sepals with more cup-shaped flowers than the Asiatics.

The clear yellow flower is LA Hybrid Lily "Yellow Tycoon". It is different from many lilies because of the lack of dark spots in the center of the flower.

It's a pity that the lily season is relatively short. They are so bold and beautiful with their large, bright blooms and they make such amazing cut flowers!

Regal Lily Blooms in the Garden

I have some lovely lilies blooming right now. I am now pretty sure that this wine red lily is an Asiatic Lily "America". All the other lilies in that bed are LA hybrids, which I prefer.
The LA hybrids are taller and have larger flowers. They are actually a cross between longiflorum and asiatic lilies, having the upright-facing flowers of the asiatics and trumpet shape of the longiflorums. The Texas A&M university horticulture website says that these are hardy to USDA zone 5, but my lilies are living in a raised bed in a zone 3-ish yard (we are in zone 1b with a good microclimate). Obviously, these lilies are very hardy.

LA hybrid Lily "Courier" -first bloom

"Courier" Lily among pink Malva moschata. These perennials, along with a columbine, potentilla, and catmint are planted over and around tulips, effectively disguising the dead foliage.

"Lemon Pixie" is another shorter lily, or "pot lily" variety. A friend's dog ate all the blooms off this one couple of years ago. His act was obvious from the telltale pollen all over his nose. He was fine, demonstrating that this lily must not be toxic to dogs! I also have this lily in a barrel planter, where it has overwintered two winters and seems to thrive. This defies all hardiness rules!

Asiatic Lily "Lemon Pixie"