Thank you!, Field, Record late bloom, Foliage, Bees, Monarch, Dante warms up

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I first want to extend a big Thank You to all my customers, visitors and fans of Dante. It was a wonderful season and I appreciate all the positive feedback regarding my plants AND my newsletter.

It really warms my heart and I look froward to more dayliliy growing in 2026!

I’ll be taking a break from sending my newsletters, but once inventory is done, I’ll let eveybody know.

Thanks again

Chris Darrow

So the daylily and growing season is coming to an end. We are supposed to get a frost/freeze in the upper 20’s tonight which is pretty hard on everything except Kale and a few perennials.

As you can see, the field looks somewhat desolate. Browns, yellows and fading green predominate.

But I do take pleasure in the larger tapestry of color the field and hills provides. 

The trees are coloring up, but because of the drought the colors are more muted.

 

If you have questions, feel free to email me

 
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There are still a few daylilies in bloom. This cultivar 308-21 is a chance discovery, from my upper fields. And you can see there are blooms to come. But I expect this hard frost will damage the buds, to the detriment of the blooms.

If nothing else; bragging rights as to the latest blooming daylilies in the U.S.!

It’s amazing to think that one can achieve 4 months of bloom from daylilies (June-Oct). At least here in Vermont 
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One technique that I use for some of my larger less maintained daylily beds is to mow them down with a riding mower. These are older well established beds with a fair amount of other plants growing with them. 

These daylilies can withstand the weight of the mower quite well, but I only do it once a year.

Just something to consider if you have beds like mine and less time than you’d like.

I set the mower deck as high as possible to prevent damage to the daylily crowns.
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Daylily foliage is classified as Dormant, Semi-evergreen or Evergreen.
This picture demonstrates mostly dormant foliage surrounding a SE (semi-evergreen) cultivar.

SE type foliage is a continum rather than all or nothing, so one can have SE foliage with more or less green at the end of the season. 

In my gardens all of the SE and of course dormant cultivars, do just fine. I have a few evergreen cultivars that survive and grow pretty well, but typically don’t increase well.
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The bees are assiduously collecting nectar and pollen from the remaining flowers, as there are fewer and fewer available as we move into Autumn.
I was struck how 2 bumblebees and 1 honeybee were all sharing this small Dahlia flower.
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I’m happy to report that I saw a few Monarchs visiting the last of my Zinnias. I’m always amazed at how fragile they look and yet survive.

Hopefully they’re headed south by now.
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Dante didn’t get to go out yesterday, and so had to satisfy himself with my potted sedums in the basement. I think you can tell by his expression he wasn’t all that happy about it.
In the background behind Dante are yellow Canna seedlings, I grew from seed. I’m looking forward to seeing them bloom next year.

One of the most wonderful things about being a gardener is the anticipation of what next season will bring!
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One trick I’ve figured out is to let Dante out early,which i did this morning. It’s cold in the morning so he’s ready to come back after an hour or so. And warm up by my gas heater.