Tuesday, June 22, 2010

June is Day Lilies . . .

 
June --  the roadsides  and stream banks in our area are ablaze with wild orange day lilies. Hardy, rapid growers, they do well wherever there's a bit of sun and moisture. Each plant produces multiple blooms and each bloom lasts only a day -- hence the name.
But they aren't wild and they aren't lilies. Hemerocallis fulva is an import from China and Japan that naturalized long ago. The unopened buds are good in stir fries and the flowers can be dipped in tempura batter and fried to produce a lacy, mildly oniony tasting treat.

There are only 20 species of Hemerocallis world wide but breeders have come up with some 20,000 hybrids, a few of which are blooming in our yard just now.

And there's always room for more.
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18 comments:

alexis nicole said...

They are beautiful. I had no idea that they are edible!

Victoria said...

I love day lilies, they're so cheerful. I was talking to a friend yesterday as she was driving back from Tybee Island to her home in Kentucky, and she was telling me about the abundance of day lilies along the road and in the medians when she drove through North Carolina.

Your new header photo is stunningly beautiful! (And I just realized I forgot to put up my 'Sunday Sunsets' photo. Drat!)

Martin said...

I'm going to relay this information to our daughter. She has a huge clump of these growing in her garden.

Brian Miller said...

wow. you have a wonderful array of color in them...they seem happy flowers...

Pat in east TN said...

I have many volunteers growing along an old creek bed and I love looking out and seeing them throughout the day.

Miss_Yves said...

Once more, a beautiful collage...

Ms EM said...

Wow, I had no idea they were edible! My husband will be thrill to know this! He loves day lillies and we have them everywhere around Six Oaks. Thanks for sharing as always. PS. I can't wait for the new book!

Jean Baardsen said...

What a beautiful collage of flowers!

Paul C said...

These are beautiful. I particularly like them in natural settings, in the ditchbanks, and along the fringes of woods.

Elora said...

Lovely collection of photos, Vicki! Day Lilies always strike me as being a "sweetly simple," a humble flower that springs to life in some of the most parched habitats! It asks so little and gives so much.

Your sunset/sunrise header today is beautiful!

Elora

Stella Jones said...

I was amazed to see these so prolific when first I came over to Tennessee. Now I am used to seeing them, but I never stop marveling at how they survive the hot sun and searing heat here. They seem to love it, flowering in profusion all over the place. I didn't know that the flowers were edible, although I think it is a shame to eat an unopened bud.

Folkways Note Book said...

This past weekend I was on the road frequently. I noticed the embankments of the old farm day lilies, they were prolific and made the ride so enjoyable. -- barbara

Tess Kincaid said...

They're beautiful. We've got a bunch of these up at the road. Wow, I didn't know you could eat them!

Anonymous said...

How charming these day lilies are. I have some in our garden, their brilliant colors enhancing the hues of the flowerbed.

Vicki Lane said...

I'd love to know just when and how day lilies arrived in the US -- every farmer's wife around here must have had some.

They are such obliging plants -- divide them at any tome of the year, neglect them -- you can't keep a good day lily down!

Vagabonde said...

Your day lilies are so pretty – can they be grown in the shade? I also love your collage. Today I tried to go into Picasa to do a collage for my post. I had fruits and veggies but some were vertical photos and other horizontal. When I went into Picasa it did a collage of all my photos on the post, not just those I wanted. I have to study this – it is not that easy. So I did two collages with my old program.

Vicki Lane said...

They will grow in shade, Vagabonde, but they won't bloom well.

Tipper said...

They are in full bloom around here too. Granny is always afraid they'll 'mix' with her other ones : )