Thanks, Margaret.

I know this isn't nearly as bad as it was in Texas last year, I remember they lost so many trees, big old trees. I just can't imagine.

What a smile I have from reading this at this hour of the morning. Crashing thunder woke me. Torrential rains out there. I so wish I could send you all this rain that need it.

It's really cooled things down too. Our heat index was 116 yesterday afternoon. Now because of this BLESSED rain, we will only be in the 90's today.

Thank you for "watering" the critters Sharon

My first daylilies were ditchlilies, a gift from my neighbor down the road. They grow next to the house, are always the first to bloom, and need no special care. They hide the ugly drain pipe from the sump pump in our basement so effectively that I only notice it when the daylily foliage is dead.

Sharon, I can just see you out there under your trees with the hose squirting water straight up, adding moisture to the leaves and branches for the squirrels and birds. And of course, enjoying that cool shower yourself. I hope the little critters all live. Can you get a picture of the baby cardinals?

Many years ago when I was in NY, I saw some pretty orange lilies in the middle of a swamp near my mom's house. Knowing that she loves lilies, I went & pulled some up (soaking my shoes) and brought them home. She looked at them and said "Couldn't you find a prettier weed to drag home?" I was crushed, but I planted it on her berm anyways. She bought all these expensive plants (this is before I knew a lot about plants.. which means now! I *still* don't know squat!) and planted them not 5 feet from where I put her orange lily.

The following year, the only thing to come back was the lily. All her expensive plants croaked over the winter. I saw them blooming the following summer & asked her about all her peonies & dahlias & whatnot. She didn't say anything, but she did appreciate the lily a little more!

I have a few daylilies, but not a single "ditchlily" (no orange ones). And my birds (blue jays, robins, house finches, goldfinches, & mourning doves.. I haven't seen the kites drinking) outside aren't suffering from the lack of water as I have been watering for at least 2-3 hours every day. The robins love it 'cuz the worms all come to the top, plus it's hilarious watching them dance around in the sprinkler. Plus I have a waterfall pond that I know that the birds, squirrels, feral cats, etc all get their water from.

Wonderful article, Sharon. Love those ditchlilies! Don't have any close by, but maybe I'll have to scout some up and try eating them! They sound yummy! Can visualize you doing your rain dance under the trees.

Here in AR we have had no rain in June. July is usually the month we dread as the temperatures soar and there is little or no rain. We've already had that in June! We live in the woods and trees are losing their leaves. I noticed yesterday our burning bush is starting to turn. With all of that, we are under a watering ban so things are looking pretty grim.

I'm watching the cottonwood leaves fall and cover the already brown yard. There will be no need for mowing in this town any time soon. There's nothing to mow but the dead leaves.

So glad you're getting rain, Vic. That means somewhere flowers will be blooming.

I'll try getting a picture, Mary. They are a little skittish and hide beneath fallen leaves. Maybe today they'll be flying a little better.

Glad you've kept the water flowing for the critters, Toni, and even though she might not have admitted it, maybe you gave your mom a lesson she long remembered about strong flowers. You know, they don't seem to ever get a disease nor are they affected by pests; one more good quality. They are the only blooms I have at the moment.

Jean!! You world traveler you! I'll be wishing you rain.

Thanks Ladies, it's always good to hear from you.

So when I get ready for them what name should I look for them under? I will no doubt have to order them & I want to know what they are called so I can get it right.

Ditchlilies.

But you really don't have to order them. Just say when you are ready. I'll even include some Kwanzos. (Now look that up.)

You have friends.

Oh COOL! Kwansos are doubles!

Awwww Sharon You're so sweeeeet. I know, ATP is so awesome; we really ARE a family here. I still shake my head sometimes over it. How in a world so grasping that this place can exist where we all seem to be of one mind & work together with no squabbling & no ulterior motives.

It's the best place to be, for sure.

And the clue here might be R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Remember that old ♪ song ♫ , wasn't it Aretha?

We each bring something to the table, neither more nor less important than what anybody else brings. Makes us strong, but also dependent on each other to a certain extent.

Whatever, it all works well.

Here are some other photos. Ditch Lily (Hemerocallis fulva)
What is not to love about this plant.

Same link that's in the article, Lynn, I love it too.
And I speak the truth when I say that's all that's blooming in my gardens right now. The extreme temps and severe drought haven't done a thing to the ditchlilies.
Resilient and tough, like most of us!

I give two thumbs up for resilient & tough pretty plants. And fragrant & you can eat them? Well! And for what I'm going to use them for I HOPE they're invasive --- or at least spread a lot.

Oh they'll spread; that's the problem for most people. And they don't ever change, they just stand there every single year looking like beautiful orange drops of sunshine. They never change but they do multiply rather obviously and rapidly.

Works for me.