well most of the violets are done blooming maybe in the last photo and they are hard to see, but there are tons of them all over under this tree. I like them because they grow in this loose powdery soil. I have hosta there but I have to water them like crazy and they don't get as large as they should. Am going to try cow manure tea on them when I get to it. The tree is hemlock.

So wondering how many of you don't allow more in the garden without getting rid of something first. I got to where I wouldn't allow myself to add another dl unless I got rid of one. That is such a toughie, deciding which ones come and go. I prefer of course those with a high bud count-more blooms- but theres always those few that I love the bloom even if they don't bloom that much. I love doubles but I don't think they bloom as heavy as the others for me. But I love them so I keep them anyway. eeenie meeenie miney moe

The daylilies I am letting go of are ones that I don't think will do well in zone 4 if we move there next year. That makes it a bit easier to decide but there are some that are still hard to give up.

Frillylily said:I have tons of violets in my yard, this spring I had solid white violets and I actually dug them up and moved them to where I wanted them. I hope they will come back white. I have dark purple, light purple, and striped ones. I love violets. If they come up where I don't want it, I just wack them out.

I have allowed the violets to have a slope under some rose bushes. I have all the various colours, too, but not yellow ones. My mother had wild yellow ones under her lilacs. I would like to find those. I don't allow them in other areas of the garden, and when they spread out of bounds they get removed.

Violets don't bother me in my flower beds. I don't mind the foliage or the cute little flowers. Now the other weeds, they bug me! I need to get out there with the Preen. I have had good luck with it helping to get my flower beds under control. Wish the rain would go away for just a day or two when I am off work.

Right now I own about 100 daylilies varieties if you include my NOID's. Probably more like 120 if you count the multiples of many that have been divided.

Hmmm... would violets serve as ground cover in beds with mostly daylilies without stealing the big guys nutrients?? Might be a way to smother other weeds??

The problem with the violets is that they would spread so much and actually entwine themselves into the daylily clumps. I don't think that is too good for the daylily as I am sure they would take nutrients away from the daylily. I had to actually dig several clumps up in order to get the violets away from the crown of the daylily and it wasn't an easy task.

they are really tough, but my violets don't root very deep at all and they return from seed (don't think? the original plant lives more than a year or two?) and so they don't seem to hurt my other plants.
They pull out easily, but again this depends on the soil, more clay like soils are harder to pull weeds out of


I have never seen a yellow violet. Violas, yes, but not the wild violets. I grow violas too, love them. Pansies smell divine, but don't come back so I don't plant them.

Here is a link to the wild yellow violets:
http://ontariowildflowers.com/...

I also have a violet that is white with tiny purple spots. I bought it at Canadian Tire of all places. It has done well.

Hemlady said:The problem with the violets is that they would spread so much and actually entwine themselves into the daylily clumps. I don't think that is too good for the daylily as I am sure they would take nutrients away from the daylily. I had to actually dig several clumps up in order to get the violets away from the crown of the daylily and it wasn't an easy task.

Sounds like not a good idea for ground cover with daylilies to prevent weeds! Thanks Cindy.

Frillylily said:they are really tough, but my violets don't root very deep at all and they return from seed (don't think? the original plant lives more than a year or two?) and so they don't seem to hurt my other plants.
They pull out easily, but again this depends on the soil, more clay like soils are harder to pull weeds out of

But if they intertwine with daylilies, it wouldn't be a good idea to add them as ground cover. I have major clay soil, but it's been dug out and amended soil added...nonetheless, I guess I'll skip violets!

touchofsky said:Here is a link to the wild yellow violets:
http://ontariowildflowers.com/...

they will grow right in w the dl. But they root so shallowly that they don't hurt the plants, at least for me.

http://www.donweissphotography...

pic of yellow violet, never knew there was such a thing.

They sure are pretty, @Frillylily!

Great thread! I really enjoyed hearing everyone's viewpoint on how many they have and why. I have around 300 counting NOIDS and seedlings. My husband made a point of telling me that I already can't keep up with what I have. But I promptly told him that it was because of the long stretch of cool weather and all the rain we have been having. So there!

Anyway, what I didn't admit to him was that at 60, I am slowing down a little bit more each year. The daylily club that I just joined last year is mostly older folks like myself (over 55) and several are unable to help do what needs to be done for the sales for the club to earn money. It is worrisome that the club may not be around much longer because of this. Several are downsizing because they can't keep up with what they have. Where are all the young gardeners???

It gets easier every year to cull the ones that do not meet the standards I like to see in a daylily. So if it doesn't have enough blooms, isn't above the foliage, or takes too long to create a decent bloom, it is going out. It gets easier every year.

Sorry Frillylily , but I detest violets! I try to get as many as I can out, but alas, it is fruitless to try to stay ahead of them.

Hi, Vickie. I'm 60+ and just beginning to garden. I joined an area club, and it seems like there are only a few of us, all older. I wish I could have done this younger...the young will wish someday!

My wife and I discussed the fact that so many people who grow daylilies are older, she quickly realized that is because you almost have to be retired to have time to grow flowers. When we were younger with Kids, it was work and garden to grow food.

I guess that I am a woman ahead of my time than!!

I may be pushing 50 (in a couple of years), work full time, have 3 almost grown kids, a dog and lots of other commitments, but I love my gardening and collecting daylilies!!