A Gardener’s Miscellany

This week it’s:

Heavenly hemerocallis

Daylilies produce masses of short-lived blooms

DAYLILIES – species and hybrids of hemerocallis – are aptly named. They bloom just for a day, closing at sunset and then withering. So, why bother with a plant that has such a short flowering period? Well, these plants make up for it by producing flower after flower over several weeks in early summer. And I wouldn’t be without a few of them in my garden. Daylilies used to be part of the lily family, but botanists decided that they fitted the asphodel family better, so they now sit alongside asparagus, phormiums and red hot pokers (no, I don’t think they look anything like them, either – what botanists on?). Anyway,