Hyperion daylily...

So, this lovely, luscious Daylily is named 'Hyperion'. I first read about it in the Southern Living Garden Book when I was doing a little research on growing Daylilies. The book mentioned that it is fragrant and since I find fragrant plants very enticing, I, of course, wanted to grow 'Hyperion.'



But, as I think I've written before, wanting to grow a plant I've heard about and actually finding the plant to grow are two different things. The exact quote about the plant is, "An old selection that has maintained its popularity is 'Hyperion,' a 4-footer with exceptionally fragrant yellow blooms." Well, since it was listed as an old selection, I wasn't sure I would be able to find it with all the newer selections available.




Then one day I was looking through a seed catalog that also offered a few bare-root perennials and I found 'Hyperion!' It was a company I had not ordered from before, so I wasn't sure about its reliability and it wasn't charging very much for its bare root plants so I was a little wary about that, too. What would I be getting? Would it even live? (I think I must not have learned about Dave's Garden yet; it has both "Plant Finder" and "Garden Watchdog.")



I decided to take the gamble. The 'Hyperion' plant wasn't much, but it did grow. And then a couple of years later, it bloomed. And I love it! It has only grown bigger and better each year.



I think it looks so pretty in the Buddleia 'Nanho Blue' with the Salvia guarantica 'Argentina Skies.' The colors are perfect together. When I sniff 'Hyperion,' I get both its fragrance and the fragrance of the Buddleia. Wonderful!


Have a beautiful day!

Stella de Oro...

The first Daylily opened this morning. And, as you can see, I am not the only one interested in it! At first I thought maybe the little praying mantis would get the little sweat bee, but it didn't.




I bought this plant, Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro,' several years ago. It was in a small container, maybe a quart pot, but the plant was very healthy. I planted it out and it grew into a luxurious specimen with lots of flowers. Then I decided I didn't want it where it was and unceremoniously dug it up. It languished in its new container for over a year before I eventually decided where I did want it. I divided it and spread it out in its new location.




Shortly after I planted it the second time, I realized I would have to redo the soil that it was in so I dug it up once more and dumped it in a broken bucket, where it stayed for several months. It survived that. Finally, I got it planted, again, last fall and now it seems to have forgiven me for my harsh treatment and is sharing its blooms with the insects and me.


Have a beautiful day!

More flowers...

Beautiful things are starting to happen in my garden. Would it be o.k. to add the word “finally” here? I wouldn’t sound too impatient or exasperated, would I? I guess Winter is a good thing, right? To make sure we fully appreciate Spring?




Not only are some of my yellow crocus blooming, but now K’s purple ones are blooming, too. These flowers were open yesterday and hadn’t yet reopened for today when I took the picture. I thought the purple rolls of petals were so pretty.




My Hyperion daylilies are starting to come up. I love the new plants emerging from the soil. Each time another one of my plants starts to show growth, I heave a sigh of relief, knowing that it has made it through the Winter.




These Tête-à-tête daffodils are the first of my daffodils to bloom. Their yellow is too bright for my poor little camera, but they sure are charming in the garden bed.


Have a beautiful day!