Garden Heroes



Heavenly Velociraptor

I've been gone, missing in action.  The truth is that early spring quickly morphed from lovely to hot and dry last year and I just gave up.  Retreated inside and whimpered pathetically.  Well, this is another year and I was optimistic again all spring.  But busy, so I took photos and composed paragraphs in my head and did nothing with them.  Nothing. 

It's hot and dry again, but the garden is holding its own so far this year.  As usual, the real mid summer heroes are the daylilies.  They're big, bold, multiply like rabbits, and don't mind the heat and humidity or the lack of rain.  They may be gaudy, but I love them.

Another Velociraptor

My new all time favorite is the Heavenly Velociraptor.  It's big, bold, brash, and slightly intimidating, just like it's name.  I mean, with a name like that, what's not to like!  And it has teeth.  Yes, lots of teeth on the edges of the petals.  Apparently, teeth and diamond dusting are two of the current trends among daylily breeders. 

Catherine Woodbury

Even my old favorites like Siloam Double Classic look just perfect on a mid July afternoon. Developed by Pauline Henry of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, it won the prestigious Stout Medal. This beauty has a five inch salmon pink bloom with a ruffly pie crust edge.  And it's wonderfully fragrant and a repeat bloomer.  A true summer garden hero. 

With its pale shell pink petals and chartreuse throat, Catherine Woodbury, another old standard introduced in 1967, is especially pretty in early morning and late afternoon light.  It just glows.

Siloam Double Classic

Today's high temperature was above 90 degrees, but the daylilies stood tall and proud, even though I haven't watered them or spent much time whispering sweet nothings in their ears just before sunset.  I wonder how they would have performed if I had been more attentive?