Monday, June 30, 2008

Daylilies Dazzle Booms & Blooms

Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are once again the star of the flower show at Powell Gardens! Their annual extravaganza is right on schedule though a bit behind recent early years. Senior Gardener Jay Priddy said they have never been looked so lush, robust and floriferous -- certainly one advantage to a benevolent spring and copious rainfall so far this season. Enjoy the images taken this afternoon in bright sunlight.

Gentle Shepherd Daylily: certainly one of the better white-flowering cultivars.

Lady Emily Daylily is a good pink with yellow center.


Beyond the Blue Daylily has lavender tones but there is NO blue daylily.


Mauna Loa Daylily glows like the lava flowing from its namesake volcano in Hawaii. I couldn't resist this glowing back lit flower.


Siloam Joy Daylily is a soft yellow bloomer with good substance.


Cat's Cradle Daylily is a huge spider-flowering daylily (flowers at least 9 inches across) in bright yellow.


Be Still Daylily with its dark eye contrasting with yellow petals (and sepals).


Daring Deception Daylily is a stunner with peach and burgundy eyed and picotee flowers.


Cuban Nancy Daylily like most, must be seen in person to show of the "gold dust sparkle" to the frilled edges.


This is but a teaser of the 450 cultivars of daylilies on display in the Perennial Garden at Powell Gardens. We have old, classic and new cultivars as well as many species daylilies.


We are pleased that Bob and Sue McConnell of McConnell's Plantland outside Columbia, Mo., will be on hand this Saturday and Sunday to sell you some of the finest daylilies for our region. Bob is a daylily expert extraordinaire and offers the best cultivars that hold up in our intense sun and heat. Bob is always ready to share his extensive knowledge and experience growing daylilies in the lower Midwest.

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