arbo_return, I realize this isn't what you were asking. And I haven't lived in New England for many, many years, and didn't know much about daylilies when I did live or vacation there. It seems odd to me that there aren't some daylily cultivars that bloom in August (maybe even early September?) in your area. I know that in northern climates, the later-season reblooming daylilies rarely have a second bloom period. But I assume that at least the extra-early and early-season varieties rebloom most years. Have you tried any late-season and/or reblooming daylilies? Or the cultivars like Stella de Oro which bloom nearly constantly through the summer (what's known as "extended bloom")? Here are two lists of extended bloom varieties. Unfortunately there aren't many of them, and they tend to be small-flowered. (I haven't bought from either vendor, and include the links only as a list of extended bloomers.) http://www.perennials.com/hea.html http://www.bloomindesigns.com/category/dayliliesrebloomers.everblooming_daylily_/ And here's a page that's only rebloomers. I no longer haunt daylily sites, but IIRC, I saved this link because it was unusual to find such a long list of rebloomers (check with GW's Daylily forum about that). http://www.bloomindesigns.com/category/dayliliesrebloomers/ You can order bare-roots mail-order or online for a much wider selection than what you'll find at local garden centers. You might also visit daylily growers in your area to see what they have available. Here you can find regional lists of daylily growers: http://www.daylilies.org/AHSsource.html This list isn't organized regionally, but the state abbreviations are in the left-hand column. I think this list includes more small growers: http://daylilydiary.com/

You want unfair? My wife and I were fortunate (or was that unfortunate?) enough to walk Roris Iris Garden in it's last year of business. It was the peak of bloom season in the Sacramento valley (California) and they were having a "restructuring" sale. Uhhh! We came home with 25 irises, many of which you couldn't find in a catalog at the time. We were looking forward to going back the following year, only to find out that their Japanese founders had pulled the plug completely and went back to focusing on their Japanese growing grounds. Disheartening to say the least... I make a point of not roaming hybridizer's growing grounds any more. It's just to tempting! Dan

I actually like the two tone, especially because it looks like the siding is different on the top and bottom. It makes it less boxy. I think the key is sticking with the same level of contrast, just shifting colors. I know it isn’t really exciting, but a medium grey on the bottom and a light gray on the top would look really nice with a bright door. I also think the shutters were added to soften the look and without a major architectural change they’re doing their job. If you do go all one color, a darker color would look good, and a darker blue would look good with the roof. One easy way to brighten it up in a really inexpensive way, and as a pre-construction solution, is to paint the storm door and the front door the same bright color. A friend did this recently and it made the storm door sort of frame the front door in a more cohesive way.

What a cute hound! You may have gathered this, but nothing makes a dining room less current than a matched set of dark wood everything (chairs, table, buffet, etc). But as you mention those things are staying, so there are lots of other options :) Hang artwork on the walls, two pieces that complement each other, on either side of the hutch. I think you're on the right track with choosing some colorful art, and get window treatments like roman shades (in a flat style or relaxed European style with banding, please no excessive swag) with some of the same colors as the art you choose. You could have the shade banding match your art, or you could have a patterned fabric with some of the colors in your artwork. I think you probably need banding to counterbalance the dark furniture. examples of modern window treatments that would look beautiful in your space: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/448600812866388172/?nic_v2=1a3TbA2DY https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1401/7175/products/white_linen_relaxed_shades_with_gray_band_4_93e14331-b160-402e-a3b0-d70a7b4e8560.jpg?v=1598653620 https://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2015/10/13/2/CI_Smith-and-Noble-kitchen-roman-shade.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.966.725.suffix/1444778953750.jpeg Also: it looks like there is a nightstand or something that the sunflower art is resting on? That should go elsewhere - it looks cluttered and out of place in a dining room. I like the rug you have! And please don't take this the wrong way, but the candelabra is a bit 1990s - there are many others that are more updated, in many different styles :) https://www.westelm.com/products/metal-loop-candelabra-d5609/ https://www.potterybarn.com/products/glass-candelabra/ https://www.potterybarn.com/products/blown-glass-candlestick/?pkey=ccandle-holders&isx=0.1