See the Beauty in the Ordinary: daylily

Showing posts with label daylily. Show all posts

A Companion is a Fine Thing

Stella D'Oro daylily and Walker's Low Catmint make fine companions.

A companion is a fine thing. Everyone needs a good companion. Even your garden plants!

A contrast in daylilies with the tall single orange towering over the Stella De Oro with cheerful Shasta daisies in the foreground.

A Kansas Country Garden

May 2015

I am pleased that these lilies have multiplied over the years.

There is both a sameness and a newness as summer begins in our country garden. Many plants have been in our garden for years breeding familiarity but never contempt. Perhaps that is because their visit is short and never quite the same. Each year is unique. Even in the best years, there are plants that fail to thrive. Even in the worst years, there are pockets of loveliness.

The highlight of my summer garden has to be the daylilies (whose botanical name is Hemerocallis). Vivid splashes of color alternating with soft billows of pastels give beauty and substance to the garden. There are lots of reasons to love daylilies. Here are four reasons that I love daylilies.

Each flower lasts only a day.

If I could only have one daylily, it would probably be orange.

Yes, that is something to love about this flower. That simple fact compels me to stroll through the garden each day and see, really see and cherish what is here today. It will not be the same tomorrow. Such beauty! So short a time! "Consider the lilies," said Jesus (Luke 12:27) and though the flowers he was referring to might not be quite the same as what grows in my garden, his advice is always worth following. True, there will be more blooms as each stalk has multiple buds, but tomorrow today's blooms will be faded and shriveling. Daylilies are mini-prophets whispering to us, "Embrace today. See it! Appreciate it! Tomorrow cannot be known, but this moment can."

A welcome visitor on the Verbena bonariensis

The weather is balmy and pleasant. The garden is thriving, but so are the weeds. I'm on summer break with the luxury of a little extra time. There's plenty to do in the garden (and you know I love working in the garden), but I'm not spending much time there. The curse of the hungry mosquitoes is holding me hostage.