daylily – Fine for Friday

What a Beautiful Spring

Spring is such a wonderful time of year. The grass turns green. The leaves return and the plants emerge and grow. At first it is a slow process, then it quickens pace. Now, it is marvelously and rapidly changing.

We continue to get regular rainfall which is aiding the process. I am seeing more and more butterflies and the bird activity is frenetic.

Great!

I am using my new iPhone 16 camera today. I am learning and I am very pleased with the results.

I will join the SOS group tomorrow. Come see what this group is up to and join us if you wish. Just follow the directions at this website https://gardenruminations.co.uk

The spiderwort and the rose campion are welcome visitors. The spiderwort is Tradescantia sp and self seeding. The rose campion is listed as invasive but it is quite manageable in my garden. Both of these have beautiful color as you can see.

The purple coneflower is another beautiful native and is self-seeding. It has such a distinctive bloom.

I have shown this rose before. Today I noticed a small shoot with this bloom on it, near another mature plant. It may be a branch which was covered by mulch but I had to show it. This rose is ‘Katy Road’ renamed ‘Carefree Beauty’ some years ago.

The Itea virginica has been covered in blooms this year. The panicles are almost too numerous to count. This native was a gift to me.

The daylily is an old reliable. I took the picture in bright daylight and using some of the camera’s features, I was able to get this non “blown out” image which really pleased me.

Happy Gardening!

Middle of May

The garden continues to progress. The spring flowers like the daffodils and pansies are now wilted as the temperatures rise. The summer bloomers like hydrangeas, daylilies and sunflowers are beginning their reign.

The days continue to lengthen and the nights are definitely warmer. As the soil warms, more shoots are emerging. I have planted my caladium bulbs and they are out of the ground. As they emerge, the two varieties Candide and Spring Fling are unfurling.

I am submitting my blog to the Six on Saturday crowd tomorrow. Come have a look and enjoy gardens from around the world. Follow the rules and share 6 of your own photos. The weblink is https://gardenruminations.co.uk. Jim Stephens is the host.

Here is my 6 for this week.

The Calla lilies are just beginning to emerge. This is the second year for them and they are handsome.

The daylily is an old favorite. It is at the edge of a small woodland and receives afternoon sun.

The pink woodsorrell is a visitor to my yard and I do not discourage it. It is dainty and seems to mind its manners.

The hydrangea is blooming this year after several years of absence. It blooms on “old wood” so any cold snaps during the winter may ruin the blooming. We had favorable conditions this past winter.

The sunflower is a dwarf that inhabits a new small bed that I built this spring. It has a nice collection of “mates” to share the space. It receives afternoon sun and seems quite “sunny”.

The glad is unnamed but it is a royal looking color. It is standing straight up with a dozen of its regal companions.

I wish you pleasant weather and Happy Gardening!

Heat Wave 17 June 2022

Greetings from the sweltering Southeast USA. We have been in a heat advisory for the past few days. It is expected to continue for another week. Highs are in the upper 90’s and heat index is topping 100 every day. My plan is to limit outdoor work to early morning and just before dusk. Plenty of liquids are also in order.

The plants are flourishing regardless. They have an ample supply of water after the heavy rain of a few days ago. I am watering the newest plants from this spring.

I did do some volunteer work in the native plant area of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens so I am including a shot or two from there.

The first shot is this beautiful tall Tiger Lily. The plant identifier is calling it an iris.

This next is a Prairie Coneflower. Ratibida sp. I started these from seed a few years ago. They had a tendency to sag when in bloom but this year they are strong enough to stand tall.

The hybrid daylilies are beautiful. So many vibrant bright colors. This one stood out.

This garden cherub is shaded in the fern garden amongst the Natchez crepe myrtles. The fern is a Southern shield (Thelypteris kunthii). This stately fern is slowly covering the shaded area but it is deciduous and allows the daffodils to come through in the late winter and spring.

The blephilia is blooming again.

Thought you might enjoy this native hydrangea (Hydrangea aborescens)

Another native hydrangeas showing off is this oakleaf with the red tinted flowers of the pannicle. Hydrangea quercifolia.

It is hot this week but these floral displays are grand. Hope you are able to get out and do some gardening. Mine will be limited the next two weeks.

Don’t forget the the propagator

Shade and sun

We have been through a few rainy days brought on by a tropical depression coming off the Gulf of Mexico. The sun has returned today and the garden will now burst forth. The trees and shrubs are fully arrayed in their leafy glory so there is plenty of shade. The shade will protect the more tender of plants from the intense summer sun which is coming.

This is a beautiful time in the American South. Here are my photos for the day.

This is a mock orange planted 3 years ago. It has had a slow start but lots of beautiful blooms now. It is a glorious sun lover.

This is a Rudbeckia (Indian Summer) that I started from seed. They are planted in a mixed bed with some dahlias that I also started from seed. They are doing well in this sunny location.

This daylily is one of a group that is thriving in afternoon sun.

The oak leaf hydrangea is in morning sun and some afternoon sun. It has been in this location for many years. It is particulary glorious this year. It is an Alabama native.

This hosta thrives on the shady side of the house protected by a lorapetalum. It used to suffer from slug damage but a little diatomaceous earth has stopped that this year.

The majestic caladium Candide proudly sits in this planter at the entrance to the Mens Garden.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of the sun and shade.

Be sure to check out the Propagator