There were orange daylilies blooming everywhere. Everywhere...but not at my house.  |
| Photo by Mr. Goo Shoes |
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| Photo by Mr. Goo Shoes |
The neighbors had them; the gas station had them; even empty lots had them.
But not moi.
I was enamored with their long and lanky, stems.
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| Photo by Mr. Goo Shoes |
Wherever they grew, they looked so natural, and at ease...not "planted" or "planned."
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| Photo by Mr. Goo Shoes |
I had to have them.
I looked all over NJ.
And New York.
Even Massachuesetts.
Not one nursery stocked them.
"We don't carry them any more because they're too invasive."
Well, hello, that's exactly why I wanted them. I wanted them to multiply and spread like wildfire...or at least, like wildflowers.
And, what, exactly, did they mean by "too invasive?"
Like Little Shop Of Horrors, invasive?
Were the lilies going to start singing "Feed Me, Seymour?" Yeah, I could see how that would be annoying.
But since I hadn't yet seen any of the neighbors' homes being strangled by daylilies, this "invasive" thing didn't scare me.
I wanted some.
And I was determined to get them.
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| Photo by Mr. Goo Shoes |
...well, because they don't call me
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| Photo by Mr. Goo Shoes |
I hit pay dirt...
...they were ready to toss them in the garbage, and were happy to give me some.
I only took about eight plants, because I figured that in no time, they'd run riot in the yard. As much as I didn't quite believe all this "invasive" business, I didn't want to chance it, and have them start growing out of my kitchen faucet.
In hindsight, I should have taken as many as I could fit in a Louis Vuitton Neverfull Tote Bag.
Invasive?
Here they are, four years later. While they've definitely multiplied, frankly, I'm a bit disappointed that they haven't lived up to their aggressive reputation.
Granted, they've had a tough go of it. Last year, the deer ate the buds before they had a chance to bloom.
This year, they did blossom, thanks to Mr. Goo Shoes' diligence with deer repellent spray.
Over the years, I planted other varieties of lilies...
But I'm partial to my favorite...
The lilies are starting to fade, which means that summer is winding down.
At least I know they'll be back again next June...
...as long as I can keep the deer from devouring them at their annual "all-you-can-eat" buffet in my garden.
Linking With:
Ms. Toody
They're gorgeous! I had no idea they were "invasive." I wouldn't mind having them take over...much better than weeds taking over!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Michelle! I wanted them to take over the property! ;)
Deleteoh, that peach one just stole my heart! Is it invasive juts like the bright orange ones?
ReplyDeleteNo, Magali, I planted those about three years ago, and they haven't really multiplied that much. It is pretty, isn't it?
DeleteThose lilies - like you, I see them in vacant lots, in ditches and growing out of gravel, for goodness sake! Like California poppies, that grow out of absolutely nothing.....and won't do more than make a very tepid showing in my garden. What is that all about?
ReplyDeleteI don't get it...I wish I could figure it out!
DeleteWonderful post Amy! Nature is always amazing
ReplyDeleteHugs from Jerez
Thanks, Marina...Hugs back from Jersey!
DeleteI am so thankful we don't have deer in the suburbs. I think if you move the small "babies" and plant them your patch will begin to multiply. I got my original group from my aunt. I've brought them with me to each house and have spread them around the yard. I love them because they make me think of her and my granny. Invasive? That's an invasion I would welcome.
ReplyDeleteI will give that a try, Katie. And thanks for the idea of taking them when you move…I would never have thought of that! Not that I have any plans to move anytime soon, but…storing that in my memory bank!
DeleteWow those are beautiful photos! I too love the orange lilies. I hope you keep the deer away and they grow even more abundantly! Loved the "feed me Seymour" reference!
ReplyDeleteps visiting from #LOBS
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Kat! I'm glad you got the "Seymour" reference ;)
DeleteBeautiful photos, love lilies!
ReplyDeleteFound you via the weekend blog hop :)
Hi Jenn, Thanks for coming by. Appreciate that you are "following." Going over to your blog now to return the favor.
DeleteThose yellow lilies are everywhere here on Cape Cod. Our yard, the neighbors yards, all along the roads. Yours was the first post I picked out of the blogroll because my own post is about lilies too. Email me if you ever get out to the Cape - I'll let you have as many orange lilies as you like!
ReplyDeleteI saw your lily picture, Frances -- it was stunning! Oh how I would love to take you up on your offer! Thanks!
DeleteHi Amy,
ReplyDeleteI loved your 'angle' in this post, the way you presented the invasive nature of these most lovely lilies, (gotta say, I'm partial to the pretty peachy ones)! I can't stop staring at pic #6, with the house in the background...is it your house? What idyllic surroundings! Thanks for the chuckle and the charm!
Poppy
Hi Poppy! Glad you enjoyed…I wish the house in pic 6 was mine -- it's not. It's across the street from the Waterfall House that we rented earlier this summer. I love that from this angle, it looks lost in a field of lilies.
DeleteI, too am in love with lilies and had no idea the orange ones were so invasive... but, when it comes to lilies or weeds - I'll definitely take the lilies... love your pics - they are beautiful... stopping by from Debbiedoos....
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Cath! I'll take the lilies, too!
DeleteOh, carry me, to where daylilies bloom .... ;-)
ReplyDeleteIn my old neighborhood, on the New Continent, there is a meadow where daylilies are given free reign, for decades now, and they have still not overtaken the world.
That made me smile, Merisi! I guess there could be worse things than the world being overtaken by lilies ;)
DeleteBeautiful Daylilies!! Would love for you to share at Simple & Sweet Fridays! New Follower!
ReplyDeleteJody
Hi Jody, Thank you for stopping by…I did share at Simple and Sweet Fridays, and I am now following your blog!
DeleteYour daylilies are beautiful, I love the colors
ReplyDeleteThank you, Riet.. Glad you came over to my blog.
DeleteI love daylilies too, but have had the same problem with those. I received some from my neighbor many years ago. At first, they thrived, but now they aren't reblooming like they once did. Some have died altogether too! I'm like you and wouldn't have a problem with them multiplying like crazy. I'd love to have my entire back yard framed in them! Yours look healthy though. Maybe they're just fickle. LOL! Glad you finally got some in your yard to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt makes you wonder why they stopped selling them…at least around here. Thanks for reading!
DeleteHi Amy, I think they're gorgeous too, and I just have a few of them, nothing prolific going on over here either, but on a trip up I44 in Missouri last month they were EVERYWHERE and growing beside the Highway for Pete Sake!! Anyone with a Neverful LV tote is a gal after my heart!!
ReplyDeleteHi Debra! I would have been so tempted to pull over and dig some out! Glad you appreciate my LV reference! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThanks, Claire! I appreciate the pinning!
ReplyDeleteI love flowers. I dream of our yard overrun with wild flowers. Alas I have a brown thumb. Or maybe not patience. And if it doesn't talk to me, I forget to feed it!
ReplyDeleteMy MIL always referred to them as 'ditch lilies' and they do seem to mulitiply like crazy in ditches and on the side of the road! They must thrive on benign neglect and poor soil :)
ReplyDeleteAh, Mary, finally some concrete advice! I'm going to try neglecting them! Thank you - I think it just might work!
DeleteOh, my Dear! If you were here in Georgia you'd find them EVERYWHERE! We often see clumps in the ditch alongside the roadways - I always tell Dearest, 'there's more Daylilies in the ditch'! Yes! You should have taken as much as your heart wanted - the photos are gorgeous! I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
ReplyDeleteKathy
Next time I go to Georgia, I'm bringing a shovel ;) Thanks for hosting H & G Thursday!
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