Skip to main content

Featured

The Garden Awakens

Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
4 comments
Read more
Labels

Visiting Rosedale Gardens

Daylily "Long Stocking"

Mary at Rosedale Gardens blog opened her garden today for visitors to come see her extensive collection of over 400 varieties of daylilies as well as a large collection of Japanese iris and Oriental lilies. Mary visited our garden a few weeks ago. She lives in Tuscumbia, which is just about 10 or 15 minutes away. She is delightful, welcoming and generous (delicious blueberry cake and daffodil bulbs!), and obviously caring (she rescued 3 border collies who you can see and read about on her blog).

After breakfast, Michael and I headed over her way. After a perfect day yesterday with a pleasant cool bite in the air and temperatures around 70, reality set in today as temperatures climbed toward 90. We are in for a hot week ahead with 90s all week. The heat didn't stop me from gawking at Mary's beautiful daylilies and iris. I did not take notes so I don't know the names of the daylilies but here are just a few from her huge collection.


You can see that Mary is an Auburn fan! She has an Auburn garden (orange and blue), a UNA section (gold and purple) and other color coordinated gardens. The daylilies are "Long Stocking"
"Ruffles and Son"

Iris 'Ruffled Dimitry' (Iris ensata)


Daylily "Sticky Fingers"

Daylily "Earl of Warwick"

Daylily "Chin Whiskers"

Daylily "Cameroon Night"

Japanese Iris "Crystal Halo"

Daylily "Chicago Picotee Memories"

Daylily "Quiet Whisper"

Daylily "Chicago Scintillation"

Daylily "Kindly Light"
And not just daylilies and iris. This is a beautiful dogwood called "First Lady". Isn't it gorgeous? I want one!






Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Email Post
Labels:

Comments

  1. KelseyMay 28, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    Beautiful daylilly photos! I love the idea of color gardens for your favorite teams! Cute! Glad you survivied the heat!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lisa at GreenbowMay 29, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    I just love this time of year. Not only do our own gardens look good but it is great fun going to see other gardens. Thanks for taking us along.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 29, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Phillip I just wanted to thank you for the very nice post. Maybe next year Michael and you will skip breakfast and have brunch with the rest of the group. I had a few who were strangers when they came, but were friends when they left. Hopefully next year I won’t have any accidents and land up on crutches. I’m still hoping to avoid knee surgery which will have to wait until the winter if needed.
    The pictures are Long Stocking a spider daylily in first 2, Ruffles and Sun, Ruffled dimity Japanese iris, Sticky Fingers, Earl of Warwick, Chin Whiskers, Cameroon Night, Crystal Halo Japanese iris, Chicago Picotee Memories, Quiet Whisper. Chicago Scintillation, and Kindly Light. As you can probably guess, I’m into the spider forms a lot. I put a real nice orange daylily called Alabama Jubilee by the mailbox close to my Auburn sign after everyone left. It should be blooming in a day or so. Next maybe I can work on my Deshler High School and ebony & ivory sections. Did you notice the small variegated dogwood down by the large hackberry called Cherokee Daybreak? I think it will be a nice dogwood when it gets older.
    Again thanks for your visit and ignoring all of the weedy beds I had. Mary

    ReplyDelete
  4. ShoalandaMay 29, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    Ah, Auburn and UNA, it just doesn't get any better than that. Next time publish some pics of the hooligans (Mary's two and one-half border collies).

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMay 30, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    Hello:

    Really beautiful photos of daylilies -- and so much more. I'm on Long Island, so our season is just beginning. Still waiting for daylily and hydrangea color.

    Nice blog!

    Best,
    Kevin

    ReplyDelete
  6. TerriMay 30, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    Gorgeous flowers! Stupendous photography! I do not have a green thumb but greatly appreciate those who do. Had no idea there were so many varieties of day lilies! We had orange ones that were devoured by the abundant deer in our area north of NYC. Thanks for a glimpse of heaven-Terri in Chappaqua, NY

    ReplyDelete
  7. scottweberpdxMay 31, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    What an impressive collection! I'm especially fond of the one with the very thing patals, 'Kindly Light', I think you said...very elegant.

    ReplyDelete
  8. aquablueroseJune 2, 2011 at 1:03 AM

    I am an avid doll collector but I Love roses and enjoy books, shows, and exhibitons about flowers.

    Michael led me to your Blog and Website where I have already bookmarked several links including one to David Austin Roses!

    Both your Blog and Website are beautiful, informative and a pleasure to read. Love your photography!

    I plan to check in often and thank you again, Phillip.

    gerri
    aquabluerose

    ReplyDelete
  9. sweetbayJune 2, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    Oh wow, she has a lot of beautiful daylilies!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts