Post a reply

Image
Mar 18, 2012 5:34 AM CST
Name: Cynthia (Cindy)
Melvindale, Mi (Zone 5b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Irises Butterflies Charter ATP Member Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Birds Region: Michigan Vegetable Grower Hummingbirder Heucheras Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Welcome Lila!!!
Lighthouse Gardens
Image
Mar 19, 2012 11:30 AM CST
Name: Laura Eiras
Huntsville, AL (Zone 7b)
Cat Lover I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Daylilies Ferns Hostas Lilies
Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Once upon a time a woman moved into a house right after Easter. It had an empty back yard that was mostly grass with a few trees and a bed along one fence. The only plants in the bed were some crepe myrtles, a red leafed bush with thorns and a large clump of a long leafed plant that was not very pretty. She didn’t care, she was busy getting the inside of the house in order, enrolling her almost 5 year old in preschool for the summer and keeping track of a very energetic 10 month old toddler. The backyard was ignored.
The next year, as May and June rolled around, she did not really notice the green sticks growing out of the grassy plants in the back yard. And then July came….Orange double flowers were blooming on the sticks! They were kind of pretty, but they didn’t last very long, here and gone in a day. But there sure were lots of buds. The actual show lasted for several weeks. It happened again the next year and then the next.
Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/de9185

She liked the flowers and found out that they were called daylilies. The local Home Depot had some in pots with colorful flowers on the labels with names like Frankly Scarlett and Siloam Double Classic, so she bought a few and planted them. She had to wait until the next year to see anything though, no blooms from the new plants. It was worth the wait however, as she did get beautiful scarlet and pastel pink blooms on her new plants the next spring.
Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/726ef9 Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/14eada

While waiting for her new acquisitions to bloom she also noticed some orange daylilies growing along the side of the road. “Hmmmm, free plants? Yes!” She dug a few up and gleefully planted them behind the others. She also planted a few in the front yard by the mailbox to keep the small yellow daylilies that grew there company.
Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/6cad31 Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/797d34

Then she discovered on-line daylilies. A few months later she was the proud owner of a box of bare-root plants. She followed the instructions included in the box and planted her new acquisitions in the fall. Unfortunately she did not label them. This oversight was remedied the next year. In the spring she added a few more from the same source. The daylily bug had well and truly bitten. NOW she was sorry that nothing was labeled. Thank God for being a packrat. All the labels were collected in a packet in the garage and the two packing slips from the on-line orders. An intensive on-line search looking for photos of all her plants (need to be able to identify them after all) led her to Dave’s Garden Plant files. Joining seemed like a good idea. New friends were made and much was learned.

Then the bane and joy of her daylily existence was discovered: the Lily Auction! An exhausting round of seed buying was followed by the discovery that plants could be bought in the fall and winter for spring delivery. She was well and truly lost. Spring of 2009 rolled around and she was the proud (terrified) owner of 400+ new bare root daylilies. Two new beds were made and the rest is history.
Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/324a28
Before and After
Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/cbaa87
A month after
Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/21461c
Last Year

That was three years ago. Boy has life changed. It is almost Easter again. Hi folks, this is Laura Eiras, known to many as Ditchlily206, I dropped the 206 part when I joined here to just be Ditchlily. I live in Huntsville AL and am a member of the North Alabama Daylily Society (NADS), our local club that meets here in Huntsville at the Botanical Gardens. Thanks Fred for reminding me to come back. My kids are now 9 and 13. My 13 year old daughter is somewhat interested in daylilies, enough to go to the Region 14 meeting that was here in Huntsville last year. Lots of fun. I have over 900 different daylilies at this point. In the spring of 2010 I added to one of the beds I made the year before. Last year I added one more bed. This year I am taking a break. It feels nice to just have to worry about getting the existing ones ready for spring and not have gobs of new plants that need to be planted.

I am still a member of Dave’s Garden, but plan to be more active here as well. I see many names I have missed, as well as many new ones that I hope will become cherished friends.
Image
Mar 19, 2012 11:46 AM CST
Name: Margaret
Near Kamloops, BC, Canada (Zone 3a)
Region: Canadian Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tip Photographer Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Morning Glories Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants Butterflies Garden Photography
Hi Laura, good to see you posting here, Thumbs up I hope we see a lot more of you. Smiling
Image
Mar 19, 2012 11:57 AM CST
Name: Laura Eiras
Huntsville, AL (Zone 7b)
Cat Lover I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Daylilies Ferns Hostas Lilies
Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers
I hope so too, it is partially a matter of establishing new habits and remembering to check.

Autumn Wood 6-26-11
Image
Mar 19, 2012 12:04 PM CST
Name: stephanie king
cut bank, MT z 3a-4b
Life is what you make it, so make i
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Roses
Peonies Irises Echinacea Daylilies Clematis Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Laura so good to see you here. Have missed your posts. You will love it here. Welcome!
Image
Mar 19, 2012 12:34 PM CST
Name: Margaret
Near Kamloops, BC, Canada (Zone 3a)
Region: Canadian Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tip Photographer Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Morning Glories Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants Butterflies Garden Photography
Autumn Wood is very pretty, I really like the color! Laura I hope you add your plant photos to the database. Green Grin!
Image
Mar 19, 2012 2:03 PM CST
Name: Doris&David Bishop
Cartersville, Ga. (Zone 7b)
Cat Lover Clematis Daylilies Garden Art Region: Georgia
Welcome to ATP, Laura. It will be good to read your posts here, too. One thing that Laura did not tell us about putting in her very large new flower bed is that she rented a tiller and hauled it in her car to her house. She did all the tilling, amending, edging, and planting herself!
I tip my hat to you.

Also, we drove over to Huntsville to one of her daylily meetings a couple of years ago to see Fred Manning (Spunky) who was the guest speaker and met Laura.

Doris
"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing"~~~David Bishop
http://daylilyfans.com/bishop/
Image
Mar 19, 2012 2:26 PM CST
Name: bb
north of boston on the coast
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Level 1
Loved your unique introduction! You are a creative writer and we can so relate.

Autumn Wood is such a pretty thing, isn't it. I used to have it. Wonder where it is now. Must be without a tag (does that sound familiar? - ha ha)!

Bobbie
Image
Mar 19, 2012 2:56 PM CST
Name: Laura Eiras
Huntsville, AL (Zone 7b)
Cat Lover I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Daylilies Ferns Hostas Lilies
Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Tags? Who needs stinkin' tags? We all remember what and where we planted them right? Confused LOL. Hilarious!

Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/5107e2 Thumb of 2012-03-19/Ditchlily/a0d3bc
Answering Angels x The Band Played On FFO 6-2-11
A seedling whose flower I love, just wish the bud count was higher (all 5 buds were right at the top! Sad )
Image
Mar 19, 2012 3:09 PM CST
Name: bb
north of boston on the coast
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Level 1
The theory is...

the more we pay for them, the more we will remember them!!!

Ha! That doesn't even work once you get to 500!

Blinking
Image
Mar 19, 2012 3:34 PM CST
Name: Margaret
Near Kamloops, BC, Canada (Zone 3a)
Region: Canadian Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tip Photographer Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Morning Glories Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants Butterflies Garden Photography
Love that seedling, such a pretty color combination!! Lovey dubby
Image
Mar 19, 2012 4:42 PM CST
Name: Jan
Hustisford, WI
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cat Lover Daylilies Dog Lover Irises Region: United States of America
Region: Wisconsin
Hiya Laura! Glad to see you over here! ~Jan
Image
Mar 19, 2012 5:28 PM CST
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Master Level
We do have another introduce yourself thread, here...
The thread "Introduce yourself #2" in Daylilies forum

Laura, good to see you here.
Image
Mar 19, 2012 7:05 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Hi Lila & Laura both! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Sitting here with a pulled muscle in my back so will be brief before I get back to the bed.

Oh my Laura! Lovely writing & lovely beds! Seedling is soooooo pretty. If you don't like it because it has small bud count I will be happy to adopt it. Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing

Lila, if you love unusual forms & white then you really need to check out Fred Mannings (Spunky 1) dl's. Can some one provide her with the link please. I can't remember the name of those last 2 he did but they were to die for!

Goodnight all. Back to bed.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Image
Mar 19, 2012 7:33 PM CST
Name: Margaret
Near Kamloops, BC, Canada (Zone 3a)
Region: Canadian Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tip Photographer Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Morning Glories Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants Butterflies Garden Photography
Ann, sorry that you hurt your back, get well soon!! Group hug Group hug
Image
Mar 19, 2012 8:09 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michele
Cantonment, FL zone 8b
Seller of Garden Stuff Region: United States of America I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dragonflies Pollen collector Garden Ideas: Level 2
Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Hummingbirder Region: Florida Daylilies Container Gardener Butterflies
Ann: I feel for you. I think most of us know how you feel. I hope you feel better soon.

Here's Fred website http://www.daylilyplace.net/

The 2 you mentioned is
Lillian's Vapor Trail
Lillian's White Lies
www.pensacoladaylilyclub.com
Image
Mar 19, 2012 9:43 PM CST
Name: Mona
Guntown, Ms (Zone 7b)
I love nature & everything outdoors
Daylilies Dog Lover
Ann, if your back doesn't get better soon, like real soon, you should see a Doctor. I had a pulled muscle, from reaching to get a pencil on the table, of all things!! I waited nearly a week, a terrible week before I went. I got a shot and was better before the day ended. I'll not wait that long ever again.

Good luck and maybe you'll wake pain free! Mona
Last edited by daylily Mar 19, 2012 10:36 PM Icon for preview
Image
Mar 20, 2012 8:16 AM CST
Name: Kim W
Md (Zone 6a)
More daylilies!!!!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Pollen collector Cat Lover Daylilies Plant and/or Seed Trader
Hostas Echinacea Garden Art Region: Northeast US Region: United States of America
Hi Laura Welcome!
Ann feel better soon Group hug
It's my cats world, I'm just here to open the cans.
Image
Mar 20, 2012 10:51 AM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
I woke up this morning & the name Lillian's Vapor Trails popped into my mind. I'm glad you put the info. out there Michele! Thumbs up

I don't want to hijack this thread so I'll thank y'all & speak more on my back in the porch swing thread.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Image
Mar 31, 2012 9:45 PM CST
Name: Teresa Felty Barrow
South central KY (Zone 6b)
SONGBIRD GARDENS
Birds Hummingbirder Hybridizer Irises Lilies Peonies
Sempervivums Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America Vegetable Grower Hostas Heucheras
Hi, my name is Teresa, I live in southcentral KY just west of Bowling Green. Married to a non gardener with 4 grown children. I started collecting daylilies about 7 yrs ago. The twins were starting middle school and I had extra time on my hands. We also had a new computer and I found out so much online about all the colors and sizes that dls come in. Not just ditchlily orange or Stella. Amazing! I read that they were quite hardy. Excellent that was just what I needed to hear lol. I was raised on a angus/grain farm so I knew the basics of gardening. I had already began a collection of iris and other perennials. The rest is history. Daylilies are great plants!
Bee Kind, make the world a better place.
Last edited by bluegrassmom Mar 31, 2012 9:47 PM Icon for preview

You must first create a username and login before you can reply to this thread.
  • Started by: tink3472
  • Replies: 68, views: 6,025
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )