Sorry I failed to bump this down, Ken. Too busy after the session. RyseRyse, I too was originally a huge daylily fan (hey, that could be a joke). I still have all of mine, but seldom buy more. I got into true lilies because my garden was really stuffed, and lilies have such a small footprint. I can always shoehorn another lily in. I really like the vertical element. I hear people complain about the (mostly) bare stems, but heck, I have other stuff growing lower down to camouflage that. They are just so majestic, and each flower lasts a long time. If you are into scent, there are many with a wonderful perfume. They are divided into a number of classes. Simply (and leaving stuff out), Asiatics, Orientals, Species (both early and late bloomers) and Trumpets. Blooming times vary between the divisions. There are also crosses between divisions. The easiest to start with are Asiatics. Orientals (which have the richest perfume) are harder to grow unless you have perfect drainage. In clay soil of the Chicago area, those donâÂÂt flourish. I grow a lot of Orienpets, which are a cross between Orientals and Trumpets. Unlike either of their parent divisions, orienpets are not fussy. Tall, huge flowers, very dramatic.

Oh...thank you, thank you everyone. I have more, but figured that was enough over-kill. DAYLILY COLORS The colors are indeed spectacular, aren't they? I just love them. It is especially amazing to realize that the original daylilies were all yellow to yellow-orange in color, and now, in a relatively short period of time, breeders have created all these amazing colors and color combinations, in doubles and with lacy edges or ruffles and some with starburst stripes in their centers, and the re-bloomer daylilies! Some have petals that fold out, some fold back and some look trumpet-shaped. Some are bizarre looking, kind of like spiders, and some look kind of like mums. Wow! And to think that they bloomed like that for ME...HERE...in Oklahoma, and especially during a severe drought and summers with non-stop extreme heat! Amazing! DO YOU WATER? Yes, I water. Boy, do I - every day from sun-up to late at night, all summer long! But the daylilies don't need to be watered as often or as much as say, my roses or more tender, delicate flowers, and probably not as much as you might think. They reserve a lot of moisture in their swollen roots. But you do need to make sure that when you DO water, water them DEEPLY and thoroughly. Sprinkling them or spraying them in the heat will not be sufficient. Their soil should remain slightly damp down at the roots depth, but never water-logged. (dig down into the soil between plants with a little hand spade from time to time to check it during drought and high temps). Pile on lots of mulch to keep their roots cool and soil moist. THE MAINEST THING: I do think that the "mainest thing" is to have good soil. That is most important for any garden. I work hard to continuously build up the soil on this hot, barren hill, especially in the flower gardens. Good soil = good plants. Good soil = good water retention and availability of nutrients. Good soil = cool roots in summer and warm roots in the winter. So, yes...Good soil = good plants. ----------------------------------------------------- MY DAYLILIES: A dear friend who posts on this forum ((I won't say who without permission)) sent me several boxes of daylilies through the mail last year...I was flabbergasted and so grateful! I went from having just 6 daylilies, to the proud owner of a sure 'nuff Daylily Garden! And then, shortly after that, I received one large box filled with daylilies in the mail from Robin Calderon, owner of 'Earlybird Daylilies' in Kansas. I have AWESOME friends!!! --------------------------------- Seriously, if you want to buy some great daylilies, please contact Robin. Her plants are big, healthy and clean. Way bigger than any others I've seen sold anywhere else and her prices are fantastic. They come packed neatly, securely and fresh. ------------------------------- Here is her contact info: Earlybird Daylilies 1313 Hattie Garden City, Kansas 67846 Phone 620-640-7788 email: rcalderon@cox.net I plan on driving up to visit her this spring. It's only a couple hours away. I need to poke back some money so I will have some to spend when I get there. I KNOW I will probably go crazy over all her daylilies!

Boy have I been a non-existent hostess this month! Work has been really crazy. Corporate keeps coming up with these extra team building type projects for everyone that are really cutting into actual work time! I'm not sure when they expect us to get our actual work done... Thanks to everyone for the Birthday wishes! It was a good day. Went to the Orchid Show at the Botanical Garden, then out for pizza at a delicious brick oven pizza place. Happy Belated Birthday and thank you to Dee/Faintheart! My B-day Sis sent me a cute little garden tile for my birthday. Hope you had a good day also. I was dreading my b-day a little this year also....I'm watching the years tick away and I'm not liking it too much! Deb/Debbya thanks again for the wonderful box you sent this month! I love the windsock, it's going to look so cute blowing in the wind! And the Candy was of course a big hit, always is. Did you make the soaps? They smell divine! Thanks also for the birthday packets of seeds. I'm going to be busy, busy, busy planting them this weekend. It's a great selection. Jeanne/Sandlapper, thank you for the birthday seeds also! It was really good to hear from you. I'm starting a lot from seed this year so that was perfect timing. :-) ------------------------------------- Now for Garden Circle news.... We've unfortunately had someone have to leave the circle this month due to personal reasons. The people affected will receive an e-mail from me tonight with the information for your new pal. And as a reminder, if you did not hear from your pal in some way, shape, or form this month please let me know as soon as possible!

Wow....what an amazing list of people.... too many of them no longer with us or active here. It is nice to remember some of their names and their struggles that we shared. Thanks for the memories.