Sprout excitement

It's not a lot to get excited about, but I am excited anyway!  I have sprouts -- lots and lots and LOTS of sprouts!  Almost everything is showing up, after this long, hard winter.  There are some more to make their appearances, but not all are on the same time schedule.   I can be patient.  Well, what choice have I got, really?  

I found a place on the internet that has many of the older, early Stout Silver Medal winners, but not sure they will do mail order.  They seem to prefer to do a more direct, visitor business.  I'll give them a call tomorrow.

I noticed a lot of grass tightly cramping a plant called, "Val."  It was pictured awhile ago, and is truly lovely.  It is on my list to be moved anyway, so I started digging the new bed where it will go, soon.  It was so nice to be digging in the fresh earth... the smell of newly turned soil is one of the BEST of springtime!  

 No old photos this time... sorry.  Had a mild domestic problem, and it's nearly time to shut down the computer.  However, I can give you a few almost current photos: one of some crocuses that are now blooming, and one of the yard, with a bit more snow than is there today.  And of course, a sample of the daylily sprouts! These were taken a few days ago, and between warm days and some April rains, the snow is nearly gone!

 A variety of crocus called, "Dorothy".  I got it to remember my Aunt Dorothy (my dad's sister).  And she has a little friend who is enjoying her company!

 The pond behind the house, with a fair bit of snow, still.  Hint: it's gone now, in only a couple of days, since.  Still pretty drab out there, though!

I'm not even sure which sprouts these are, since they almost all look alike at this stage. That broken bit of plastic might have a clue, but I can't read it.  I don't dare clear out the debris yet.  We are in danger of freezing temps and possibly snow tonight!   New England weather is famous for being fickle!  But we Yankees are quite used to it. 

A few more photos from last year.

I just compiled a list of the daylilies I have ordered, while waiting (impatiently!) for spring.  The internet is probably the flower vender's BEST friend!!!  They are in a general, not perfect, alphabetical order, but I don't dare count them.  I just wanted to avoid duplications, which I did a few times, last year.  
I wanted to send out just ONE MORE order.... just one!  I swear!  Last one!  Really!
But this last place doesn't have a shopping cart format, so I have to write it all out and mail it, along with a check.  That's OK... it'll give me more time to consider the order. (NOT to select more daylilies!  NO.   Seriously.   Yeah, right.)

Meanwhile, let's revisit a few more of last year's blooms, shall we?
Insert telephone "hold" music here, LOL.  Spring may be here at last (as of yesterday afternoon) but it will still be a long while before the snow is gone, the ground thawed, and sprouts pop up.  However, I have been greedy enough to start looking for snowdrops.  Too soon.  We are still "on hold" for actual spring weather.

 The above is:
OLALLIE GEORGE DARROW, Darrow, 1978, Dor, Tet, Mid-Late, 24" x 7".

(Dr. George Darrow, by the way, was an early, well-known hybridizer of daylilies -- and of raspberries.  The name, "Olallie" comes from a native American word from the New Jersey area he worked in, meaning "place where the berries grow".  I apologize if I have any details wrong, but that is the gist of it.  Dr. Darrow's descendants continue his passion for daylilies, breeding and selling in Vermont.)

 PIPPIN'S MAGIC, Munson, 1987, Ev, Tet, EM, 28" x 5". 
(Fairly good performer, not quick to increase.  Sort of from the school of  "Slow and steady wins the race."  It is lovely, though!)

ORCHID CORSAGE, Saxton, 1975, Dor, Dip, ML, 32" x 7.5"
(This is one of my later season faves.  Lovely and langorous... graceful lines.)

BROOKRIDGE, Wild, 1971, Dor, Dip, EM, 26" x 5"
(I got this just last year, as a bonus in an order.  Got a few blooms on it too, before summer was over.  Quite nice.)

HOPE DIAMOND, Mac Millan, 1968, Dor, Dip, EM, 14" x 4".
(Before I planted it, I handed it to my husband, telling him to "give this to me," and to tell me he was giving it to me.  He didn't understand, but knowing I was up to something, did it.  Then I told him the name of the plant, and that he could thereafter tell anyone that he had given me the Hope Diamond.  He didn't say anything, but smiled in that way that said, She's goofy, but ya gotta love 'er.)

WEDDING BAND,  Stamile, 1987, Sev, Tet, M, 26" x 5.5".

(This was the Stout Silver Medal winner for 1996!
-- And don't ask what the red one is in the background... it's still one of the mystery daylilies.  Hopefully, I'll figure it out this year, but there are no promises.)

While we wait for spring, how about some older photos of daylilies from my gardens, in seasons past?  I have made a list of photos I've already posted, so that I don't repeat myself.

 The above is BRIDAL SUITE,  Hanson, C., 1988, Ev, Tet, EE, 21"x 5".  The bell-shaped flowers in the background are Campanula, "Elizabeth".

                   SALIERI, Moldovan, 1992, Dor, Tet, Early, 26" x 5.25", ext.

                       APOLLO'S FIRE, Moldovan, 2002, Dor, Tet, EM, 32" x 5".

                           CHOSEN LOVE, Maxwell, 1971, Sev, Dip, EM, 26"x 6".

 FRIAR TUCK, Lester, 1951, Dor, Dip, EM, 36" tall (no bloom width given in database.  I'd guess it's about 3" or a bit more.)  I have a theme garden based on the King Arthur legends, and though this would be the Robin Hood legend, I've allowed a crossover with this plant.  He's quite happy in Camelot, if he can't be in Sherwood Forest!

           SABINE BAUR, Salter, 1997, Sev, Tet, EM, 25" x 6", re, nocturnal. 

                VAL, Elliot, R., 1984, Dor, Dip, M, 20" x 4.5", re, ext, fragrant


Well, that's it for tonight -- time to go to bed, and dream of spring!

And now for something completely different. Or sorta different....

Took a break from ordering daylilies -- and ordered some OTHER flowers, LOL!  I have ordered from Graceful Gardens before, but not for many years.  Good folks, good plants.  Even though daylilies are supposed to be deer-resistant, I had some deer damage last summer.  OK, to be fair, deer are only *suspected* (innocent until proven guilty?) but much of the damage was too tall for rabbits, etc.  And the dogs are off the hook, because:  a.) they don't have access to certain areas, and b.) this stuff was eaten.  Not simply knocked over or broken.  There was nothing on the ground below.  Also, we have deer here, and lots of them.  So, in case there is temptation for next year to continue the buffet,  I'm putting in a few more deer resistant plants.  They don't care for many plant fragrances, and some of these qualify on that count.  Some I got because they will grow in shade or semi-shade, which is a problem for me, and are also deer-resistant.  Cannot call anything "deer-proof", since there is nothing they won't eat if they're hungry enough.  Some plants are poisonous; I'm a little cautious about that matter (no datura) but there are a few I love anyway, such as daffodils and foxglove. 

If you love cottage gardens -- SO romantic! -- check out Graceful Gardens at :

http://www.gracefulgardens.com/

I'll probably have photos of many of them in the future, as the focus plant or neighbor to a daylily!

Winter madness

Yes, I have been naughty again, LOL -- ordering daylilies from here, from there, and from ... over there, too.  The worst of it is (or is it the best of it?) I'm not done yet!  heeheehee...

The hunt for Stout Silver Medalist daylilies continues, but I have found a fair number of them.  The local daylily (and hostas) group will have a sale in May, so I'm hoping to free up a lot of space in the areas where I want to put the SSM's.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

BAAAAAAAD Janet! (Heeheehee...)

OK, I know... I'm bad.  Yet, not bad at all, in the minds of most daylily lovers!  

I can't garden yet, since the gardens are frozen and covered with snow, sleeping peacefully.   But winter won't stop me from dreaming!  I have ordered quite a few more daylilies, and I'm preparing an order for more!  

I'm trying to collect as many of the Stout Silver Medal award winners as I can -- wouldn't it be great to have them ALL?  But the older cultivars are very difficult to find.  Most venders don't give their garden space to old cultivars, even the SSM winners.  I have found a couple of sites that have a fair number of them, and it's very hard to hold back!  

When the summer of 2014 is over, I should have over half of the SSM's in my collection, plus a fair number of replacements for some of the ones I've lost.  

Yes, much of this is out of frustration that I can't be outside digging holes in my yard.  However, it's still constructive use of my time.  I won't be needing to make all these decisions in the warmer weather, plus I can budget monies appropriately.  

That's my story, an' I'm stickin' to it!  heh heh....

Icy dreams of new plants, and photos of old ones

Ohhhhhh, BAD Janet!  I have gone and bought more daylilies, this time from the Lily Auction!  Heeheehee........  you know I don't feel the least bit guilty!

I got Sir Blackstem, an unusual one that I've wanted since I first read about it.  The upper parts of the scape are just about black, and the sepals are dark brown, so the buds seem nearly black, too.  

Also got Give Me Eight, to replace one I had ten years ago, but lost.  And got Crafted By Hobbits, for my Middle Earth themed garden... and North Wind Dancer, a Stout Silver Medal award winner (2011).  Soon, I'll have a garden just for the SSM winners, though I may never acquire them all.  These won't be sent to me until mid-to-late spring, but I can certainly blog about them, if not brag about 'em!


So ... today I went out to the yard with the camera, because I saw this and thought it lovely:

                                                            
                                                                    ......... and ..........

They are ice-covered garlic chive seeds!  I thought they had a poetic loveliness about them.  Most of the seeds/pods have dropped off, but several have lingered, on their stems.  Quite elegant, in my opinion.