I must have got some bad seed this year. NONE of mine sprouted. Most everything else did. :( That is a beautiful picture!! Makes me even more determined to try again.

Thanks! I've always loved them but couldn't keep them alive when I lived back east. I did get to work with them and other cacti and succulents for the short time I worked at the NY Botanical Garden. I figured now that I have pretty much ideal conditions for them I should try again and so far have had pretty good luck. I've kept most alive for a year now, a bunch survived through dormancy and have bloomed, and others have multiplied. The best thing about them is they are so little I can grow lots of them since I only have a balcony these days.

Glad everyone enjoyed the pics. A quick note about CONNIE BURTON, since there were several comments about it - it is new for me this year. I bought it to cross with other DIPS (hoping to pass on that fancy ruffled edge). It has had about 10 blooms... the one pictured here is BY FAR the best... most were splotchy and had trouble opening. So far, I'm not pleased with it. I'm hoping it will improve with time. If it reblooms and performs better as the summer progresses, I will post another pic with a revised opinion. My personal favorite in this group would be GREEN MYSTIQUE. Every bloom has been perfect...it is completely open by 7am...and I count 4 branches on this first scape. Kathy

Awww, that is so sweet about your DH. Maybe you will convert him to a daylily person, lol. It is pretty! I don't know...I kinda like the tall ones these days. It's nice on the back to not bend over to see, photograph and live/deadhead. I found The Band Played On to be a good plant (hope for you, too). My orange clay, though, did a number on the color...if it had looked like yours, it would still have prime real estate. :) Enjoyed your pictures.