An Interloper

We have been establishing a list of our various Daylilies in the order of their bloom and trying to clear up any mislabeling.  Some years ago the Asiatic and Oriental lilies really captured our imagination.  Despite their catalog climate zone listings, we saw them killed by frost year after year.  Efforts to protect them from late frost were only marginally successful and now we have basically given them up.  This stunning Golden Stargazer is growing near the house and that location has allowed this incredible plant to survive on its own.  Its flowers last for several days with this one's scent filling a large area.  One does not have to place the nose into the blossom to savor this treat.  Walking by at some distance is the best way to enjoy this fragrance.

Wineberry Candy is another delight likely coming from the same breeder as our other candies.  All of them are medium sized in both plant height and flower size.  The sharp change in color from white to purple is a real eye catcher.  Their scent is subdued as is appropriate for a classy beauty.

Becky Lynne was likely chosen for its first name.  The Becky that lives here shares many traits evident in this plant.  Understated light color gives this flower a softly stunning appearance.  Despite its light appearance this is one hardy plant that strongly holds its own space.

Here we have an improperly labeled plant.  Its stone says Royal Palace Prince but that is incorrect.  When our daytime temperatures moderate, I will search around the base of this plant to see if a correct name can be found.  When we were actively buying new plants, a clear bright yellow coloration was what we were searching for.  This blossom meets that requirement better than any of the other yellows that grow here.  Now we just need to find its correct name.

A small amount of time spent reading this blog revealed that this plant is not mislabeled.  It was sold to us as Royal Palace Prince but it clearly is not that variety.  We will never know the proper name of this variety but does that really matter?

Big Bird is aptly named.  Too big to be graceful, it simply flops over everything close by.  Its scent is pleasant and the yellow is close to what we were searching for.  Hardy and large, this variety has been successfully divided several times.

Big Bird Is Under Attack

This is not about violence on children's television.  It is about what went on in our garden last evening or early this morning.  We have many daylilies growing next to our stone chip paths.  Last year some deer damage occurred but that was the first time that the daylilies had any trouble there.  Being able to walk right next to these beautiful scented flowers is a high point in our gardening year.  In the past human urine sprinkled on the ground appeared to keep the deer away.  Last evening the path next to the Big Bird plants was treated.  No rain fell but the deer were not deterred.  Several stalks bearing nearly open buds were nipped off and eaten.

Two years ago divisions were taken from the chewed upon plant and placed in the garden near the road.  For some reason the deer have so far left these plants alone.  Despite our loss near the house we can still enjoy the sight and scent of these plants if we simply walk to the road.  Our loss was not total but it was still disappointing.

We have placed unused wire cages to block the deer from walking near the remains of the original plant.  That obstruction also closes off our usual path from the garden.  The cages can be set aside while we work in the garden but that is a nuisance.  Long term we will have to reset our daylilies so that they can be protected by circular cages.  Open ground will be needed to protect the other plants from damage inflicted by the wire cages.  Extra bark mulch will have to be placed to cover bare unused soil.  For now we will simply check to see if our newly placed obstacles have provided protection.