Prickly Sensation seems to be a real bloom machine for you! It's especially pretty in that clump shot. Blue Jay Tapestry is looking really good! I've never seen that many rings of color on mine. Lady Dragon and Journey of Magic are my kind of lilies, and I've always liked your Cheddar Cheese.

You seem to have several "new" beds, so you must be adding lots of new daylilies. I have two new small beds this year, and I sort of regret adding them, since I never got around to weeding several of my old daylily beds. I find the overwhelming amount of weeding and watering is adversely affecting me now both physically and mentally. Of course, it doesn't help that I have seven seedling beds. But the seedlings are what most interest me, so it's registered ones I will be moving out in a big way after bloom is done. I really would love to get down to a hundred or less registered daylilies. I can't possibly NEED the 600 or so that I have. I have been weeding everyday since the first week in March, except for rainy days. And most of those days I get pain in my knees, back and shoulder. The pain says most of the daylilies must go.

Debra

Near to peak? Wow! We had our first named flower open today and we are still several days away from the next one blooming.

I really like Blue Jay Tapestry. I find the rings of color on that near white petal very appealing. It's too bad that Lambertson's things don't do well here.

Debra, we are in the same boat here. We are trying to downsize named varieties so that we have room for the seedlings. We just can't get all of the beds weeded. As we use more and more of our own intros/seedlings in hybridizing, we need fewer and fewer from other hybridizers. Right now our plans aren't quite as ambitious as yours--we hope to get down to 600-700 (we have almost 1100 now).

Nancy

Nan - Blue Jay Tapestry is actually a Pierce, but I bet his things don't do well for you either. I've already downsized by nearly 300 daylilies, but the problem is I keep adding more. Last year I bought 20 more, and kept several of the bonuses that came with them.

Debra

There's that Maryott form on Prickly Sensation. Just lovely. I like the color too, but so often those cantaloupe/peach colors fade out to blah in our heat. I keep hoping to find one that doesn't....Look at all that room for daylilies. What fun you must have in daylily season when you first go out in the AM.................Maryl

Wow, Kate…..so many daylilies…..just glorious! I cant imagine taking care of all of that. I have a much smaller space than Debra and Nancy but sure understand the desire to downsize…….getting old is literally a pain at times both physically and mentally. I am glad my space is mostly manageable.

Sherry

Maryl, Prickly Sensation is the most prolific Maryott I have. Surprisingly it holds up very well in the heat and is a rebloomer.

Debra, Nan, Sherry-I do have a large area!! And yes, I have bought several new ones but my mantra is ”one in, one out!” I made the new beds to help with overcrowding in other beds.

I tried something new with these beds-after fall bed prep, I covered the area with cardboard and leaves. I then planted and transplanted in the spring again using cardboard under my mulch. Any time weeds/grass pops up, more cardboard more mulch. Can I say I love these beds? They are so easy to maintain and I can enjoy the flowers without trying to find time to weed!!

It is interesting how you use leaves as mulch. I see now that cardboard is also part of the process.

Mantis I used the lasagna method for many years on my smaller beds but I have learned I can use this method with the same results. Worms absolutely adore cardboard! I purchased a leaf shredder so can keep a somewhat ”suitable“ looking cover on the beds. It has been a win win with practically no grass/weeds in those beds and literally maintenance free-the cardboard goes down in fall and again in spring. The lilies apparently love it as some of my two year old plants already need dividing.

Kate, I really like the bed shots. They do look so nice. That is a great idea with the cardboard. I might try that with my pine needles. The pine needles work very well, but another barrier can't hurt!

Reddy Freddy is my favorite of these.

Brad

Kate: I love the garden shots. Cheddar Cheese has a good blend of the yellow/orange color so it stands out. Prickly Sensation is another one I keep looking at. Lots of buds and blooms for you.

Nice group.

Julia

Beautiful! I don't even have a scape showing. :o(

Been a cold wet spring for us.

Spring? What's that?

Beautiful photos, Kate. Love the garden shots. Of course, Lady Dragon and Journey of Magic are my favorites, but Cheddar is a real attention draw, and Blue Jay Tapestry is lovely too. Nice post Kate.

kay