(Don't) stop the madness!
Sure, day lillies bloom through june, july, august and september. They come in all sorts of colors. They are delicate and fragile and gaudy and bright. The foliage is rich. They are almost impossible to kill. And they grow incredibly well in Ohio. But what the heck am I doing?
When I bought the house, it had a stand of stella d'oros that don't bloom due to lack of sun, and a few scattered here and there that do bloom. I added a couple varieties to my rock garden, and have enjoyed them. Then last year, I bought some lemony Hyperion Supreme for along the fence, and some Ruby Spider for by the mailbox.
As I've planned out my new front garden, I decided to anchor the sunny end with day lillies - creamy Happy Returns and lavender Little Wart, which is also known as King Arthur. But somehow I ended up buying a couple darker purple Merlot Triangle. And there was a really tall intense pink that blooms late in the season called Fashionably Late, and I picked up a couple of them.
I found the Little Warts on sale, so I didn't buy them at the same place as the Happy Returns. But they had a clearance sale. A day lily clearance sale. $4, even $2! I struggled. I fought. I sighed. I gave in.
I bought 2 Ocean Rain, a ruffled lavender. And 2 Apricot Cordial, a tall early peach. And a Louis Mercer, which is pink and white striped. They threw in an Imperial Rome as a gift. It's deep dark purple with a chartreuse throat.
So, I'm going to be having a day lily garden along the drive way. I have the Ocean Rain, Apricot Cordial, Louis Mercer, and Imperial Rome for it. This is not enough to line the entire driveway. (Do you hear temptation calling me?) That's only about enough for a 6 foot strip, and I have at least another 10-15 feet I could fill. I didn't plan to dig up that rocky ground, and it's going to suck. But oh, how beautiful they will be blooming in the sun, and what a wonderful, cheerful "welcome home!" it will be when I come in from a run.
Now, I have to figure out the planting. Tall and short, early or late or mid bloom. What should go next to what?
I guess I'll be gardening this weekend in between work.