If we remove the question about what dates each season begins, or how far from peak season, is it possible to answer whether there is any consistent blooming order for individual gardens, or does it change year to year based only on what might be called "cultivar variance"? So, I don't mean start and end FFO dates, as that is dependent on winter/spring conditions, etc. What I do mean is, do people's same cultivars bloom in generally the same order year to year, or is it unrealistic to get a progressive order on bloom times in your own garden on a consistent basis?
Also, a search of the daylily database seems to show that most DLs are registered as being within the peak bloom times (EE to L) with thousands to choose from in each category, but it is relatively hard to find VLs. Even more intriguing is that there are far more dormants listed as VL (246) than semi-evergreen (160) or evergreen (38). I would have thought that cultivars that bloom significantly after peak season would be those hybridized for warmer climates, but the reverse seems to be the case?
I've searched the forum archives and don't find a thread for "latest blooming daylilies in your garden" so I think I might start one. There are threads for month-by-month blooms, but that seems to include a lot of re-bloomers, and may be mostly warm-zone garden pictures, which may not really be the same thing as just "latest-bloomers" in individual gardens. If people would put up latest blooms (not just registered as "late", but late in their own gardens), we could see from their growing zones what might work later in similar areas? No guarantees, of course, but at least people might see what has been "late" for others with similar temps and growing conditions based on their growing zones ...
I can live with the possibility that there is no consistency in individual-garden blooming order as long as I hear that it is not considered a realistic possibility. Certainly, registered blooming seasons may be, at best, a hybridizer-locality guide only, as last year my FFO's were all over the place (below is an edited-down list, just to show the variance). I guess I will find out this summer if there is any consistency for the order in which they bloomed, which is what I am really after...:
Cultivar -- Bloom Date -- Registered Season
Uninhibited -- 5/16 -- E
Party popper -- 5/20 -- M
Happy hooligan -- 5/22 -- Em
Bobbie gerold -- 5/25 -- E
Fanciful finery -- 5/27 -- Ee
All about eve -- 5/30 -- Em
Tropical centerpiece -- 5/30 -- E
Frankly scarlet -- 6/2 -- M
Baby betsy -- 6/2 -- Em
Seductor -- 6/3 -- Ee
Monica mead -- 6/5 -- E
Morrie Otte -- 6/5 -- M
Dixie land band -- 6/12 -- E
Spotted fever -- 6/12 -- M
Whooperee -- 6/25 -- Em
Sings the blues -- 6/30 -- Ml
Rose Emily -- 7/1 -- M
Lullaby baby -- 7/2 -- Em
Tooth -- 7/5 -- E
