Daylilies adore sunshine |
During the driest season (spring for us;some winters), once in a great while, I turn on my irrigation. Only when a dry spell twists my arm and forces me do it. Did you know your garden will adjust to less water than you think it needs. Over-watering teaches your plants to demand more.
Gardening with an abundance of sunshine is all new to me. My previous garden was mostly shady in front and back. This garden has an open area in the center; between the trees situated along the perimeter. That gaping hole allows morning sun, midday sun, and afternoon sun to stream down in hot, dry, glorious rays. Good for growing flowers and foliage I used to only dream about.
May 24, 2015 |
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So about those brightly colored burnt orange and yellow daylilies ... from my house next door I noticed them flowering each year. They especially caught my attention because I didn't have enough sunshine for daylilies to flower sufficiently. They were planted in a rather insignificant clumping fashion with no particular style, yet they were faithful to flower. It was clear to me they were an old, reliable variety whose scapes tower high above the evergreen strappy foliage.
When we bought THIS house (with the daylilies) I transplanted many of them to my sunniest spot (in the other house) and hoped for the best. THEN, when we decided to sell THAT house and live here permanently, I moved the daylilies BACK TO THIS HOUSE. Did you follow that? Whew! Bottom line is those daylilies are mine! :-)
Before and After photo. This angle is from north to south across the width of the back yard. Due east is to the left of the plantings in this photo. |
In this sunniest section of the garden I've included a mix of tough Florida natives and suitable Florida-Friendly plants. Right plant- Right place is the key to sunny gardening. It's the key to ALL successful gardening. Most of the plants I chose flower during one season or another. What fun it has been to have this new experience. A partial list of the suitable plants includes Bulbine frutescens 'Yellow Rocket', crown-of-thorns (Euphorbia milii), Louisiana irises 'Sinfonietta', African irises (Dietes vegeta), native grasses (Fakahatchee and Elliot's Love), Pentas, Agastache, Thryallis, plumbago, roses, red bottlebrush tree (Callistemon), Indian Hawthorn 'Majestic Beauty' trees, powderpuff tree (pink), dwarf powderpuff, dwarf bottlebrush (Callistemon Citrinus 'Little John'), Allamanda, maple-leaf hibiscus 'Mahogany Splendor', Calamintha, Pineland Lantana (not invasive), swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius), perennial peanut and lion's tail.
Standard bottlebrush tree I moved from my other garden. It never bloomed there. For 4 years. Why? Not enough sun. |
I didn't even realize how many different plants I had planted until I started typing. Whew! I've been busier than I thought.
May 24, 2015 |
Orange barred sulphur on salvia (not sure the variety~ salvia cutting from my neighbor.) |
White Peacock butterfly on Agastache 'Blue Fortune' |
I've had a blast learning to plant and tend my new sunny garden. I try to make sure I work there early in the morning or late in the evening. It's excessively hot once the sun comes out. Timing is everything for gardeners. If I work it at the right time the work there is just as enjoyable as tending the shadier parts of the garden.
What's blooming in your sunniest garden this late spring?
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Really good article about Florida native plants. I wish there was more articles like this. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dan ... I'm glad you liked it.
DeleteGreat post! I loved your story about the orange daylilies and about your new gardens.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to share it here.
FlowerLady
Thank you. Gardens are filled with stories and you are well aware, Lorraine. That was one of the hardest things about leaving my old garden. I felt like I was leaving all those stories behind. It turns out that I brought many of them with me by building this garden from divisions, tranpslants and cuttings from that garden. It will never be the same garden and I'm okay with that. This garden has its own beautiful stories... and there are many more to come.
DeleteOoooh, first let me properly thank you for 2 posts in one week! Whoo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteYour sunny garden agrees with you. Love the befores and afters, so rewarding to see your hard work looking so stunning!
You have wonderful design sense. Be glad in it. Not all of us are blessed with it.
Enjoy your new sunny and spectacular space.
You are too funny Daisy. You're welcome. I have so much catching up to do with before and afters. I've truly enjoyed the challenge of this new design ... more than I ever would have dreamed. I'm content where I am and look forward to each day in this garden.
DeleteI love your story about the daylilies. They are such beautiful flowers, so that's great that they survived the transplanting!
ReplyDeleteThose daylilies are tough as nails Joe! It's good to know that about any plant. If I ever want to move them again I won't second guess. :-)
DeleteI've sort of done the same thing. My old garden wasn't particularly sunny, but this house was a new build, without a tree in sight. Even 11 years later, the trees we did plant are still small, so I've learned to love sunny gardening. In particular, I've come to realize that the best part of full sun gardening has been that my butterflies much prefer it this way!
ReplyDeleteLooks lovely. Am wondering, what is a beadboard? Have not heard that term before.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and gorgeous pictures.