© irene waters 2014
After a stimulating talk at our garden club in Gloucester we headed westward following the Curricabark Creek on a narrow dirt road in convoy. The first car was the lucky one – the rest of us ate the dust of the cars in front for the hour or so that it took us to arrive at our destination – the day lily mail order nursery.
wikipedia commons
wikipedia commons
We were deep in cattle country so it came as both a shock and a delight, after driving along the rough track from the front gate up the hill to the house, to see a vista of day lilies open out in front of us. Acres of them set among the gums on what looked to be totally inhospitable soil.
© irene waters 2014
That of course is the beauty of the day lily. They will grow anywhere. Their roots are designed to store water and nutrients so they can survive the very hot, the very cold and drought. They also don’t require much in the way of good soil. With literally thousands of varieties (a couple of hundred plants varieties on the paper price list we were supplied) the choice of colour, double or single, frilly edge or plain edge is endless.
© irene waters 2014
We wandered, posed for photos, delighted in the plants, sweltered in the heat and made our choices. Day lily, as the name intimates, has blooms which only last a day. However, as the clump enlarges the number of blooms per plant is massive and day after day, a new bud will open, each bringing joy to the garden rambler.
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
I returned home having placed an order for twenty-five plants, plans to save up and buy more, and day lily my favourite plant for the next few years.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Really got room for ’em all, have yer ? – hope so: they’ll make a fabulous spread !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to have a 5 acre garden and I had them everywhere. I loved them. Now I have no garden apart from a few pots and no day lilies. I don’t miss the work but I do miss the flowers, the smells and the beasties my garden attracted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then you’re off again, it seems. Enjoy, as they say ! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful place. Love your photos. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Raewyn. You would have had good fun amongst these flowers.
LikeLike
Over the December holidays, I found a gardening group in town. I hope to get some day lillies this spring!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charli they will be the perfect plant for you. Little work with a great deal of satisfaction at the result. Lots of time for writing with the garden flourishing.
LikeLike
Very beautiful Irene 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Irene. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How lovely! I tried to divide my lilies last spring. Nothing came up last year, but I’m hoping for some plants this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keeping the fingers crossed for you Sarah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They will spread. We had a field full of them on one of the terraces in front of the house where I grew up – gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. I used to dream of the field of tulips, then poppies, then day lillies. I came closest with the canna lillies. I just love colour in the garden.
LikeLike