The drain system work is complete here and … the front ninebark remains. I was prepared for the possibility it would be removed, but the work was done around it.
And as a bonus, I think a few non-producing tulip bulbs may have been removed 🙂
When you “contract” with the baby bunnies to start doing garden cleanup.
“Will work for food”
They are “trimming” the stalks left from the Asian lilies. The Asian lilies finished blooming a month ago. I deadhead (most) and leave the stems to build strength for next year and then die back. Hopefully the bunnies didn’t get at them too soon. Time will tell.
VERY busy day today, that started with rain in the garden this morning until noon, but …
It looks like the last two crosses from Marque Moon to Persian Market took. The doubles. Now whether it was the crosses or if the pollinators made it there first, I cannot say. But it is promising. If it holds. I have already seen a pod fall off that lily 😦 So fingers crossed. 2 for 30 something attempts.
What do the Marque Moon and the Persian Market have in common? The both have sparkles you can see in the sun.
Note, the Marque Moons are representative. I don’t remember/can’t tell which ones I took pollen from that day. But these were from that day.
If they hold, it will be extra special because this is the daylily where I stood and watched the landscape guy blow on the buds until the most mature one flew off.
Fingers crossed.
Of the early deliberate crosses we did with daylilies over the past few weeks, all but one failed. That cross is questionable in my mind because I cannot for certain tell if the seed pod is on the bloom I crossed.
I was also thinking another cross was successful, but then I looked at the pictures and realized the seed pod that appeared is next to the one I crossed.
Next year we need a much better method.
I did another cross, just for fun. But that one did not take either. I did enjoy the bloom tremendously. And that daylily – South Seas – has two pollinator created seed pods already.
Then I gave in and did two more crosses – from Marque Moon to Pink China Doll, and two separate days of one each – from Marque Moon to Purple D’Oro (which I didn’t even want as a combo, but hey! Who knows! Maybe!) Of those four, three are tbd. And I also did two more crosses – from Marque Moon to Persian Market. Those two are still tbd. If they all fail, I will figure Marque Moon is not a good candidate because I surely tried!
On the pollinator crosses side, there are a lot of seed pods this year. A lot! Like “plant them up north en masse next spring if even half of them are viable and germinate” a lot! They clearly did way better than us. Maybe my roll is simply to be a pollinator encourager! I do enjoy watching them move from bloom to bloom. Very peaceful!
Here is just one plant with pods.
I might need another seed starting planter. And next spring WAY better dirt.
Oh, those glorious Marque Moon daylilies! When the other daylilies are winding down, they are starting up!
Something simple, and nevertheless amazing, and wonderful, and also well loved by the bees.
I am growing quite fond of taking all the pictures and then sitting out with no way to take any more pictures – just walking the garden, enjoying the blooms, and then sitting and relaxing on the patio and looking some more. It is a good discipline – to enjoy the moments, to take it all in, and consider the wonderful gifts.
This hosta, Rainforest Sunrise, is also a favorite. The colors are fantastic, and the scapes, when they arrive, are also beautiful.
It also seems baby bunny is hiding under there, and maybe trying out his bunny teeth. Do you see the evidence? Happens every year. A popular hangout and eatery 🙂
Saturday – what a glorious day!
Wake up, check the gardens, make coffee, head outside. Wake up some more, look around some more. Think a little. Form a “day of” plan. An ambitious version. A minimal version. Avoid any longer term planning. Drink my coffee. Sit with the dog.
Take some pictures.
Get all the tools ready – clipper, gloves, bucket, maybe shovel.
Do some trimming. Do some weeding. Have some coffee. Sit with the dog. Chat with my husband – who is now awake.
Rinse. Repeat.
Saturdays are THE BEST!!! In any of the gardens. March- October.
Saturdays in the woods are pretty awesome too.
Here’s to Saturdays!
This year the only red daylilies that bloomed were rooted offspring from an established daylily clump.
Time to get out the shovel this fall. Hoping to not repeat.
Susan's Daily Garden 