“Catching Up”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
Sorry I have not been posting lately. Work got very hectic a few weeks back and kept me extremely busy, and when I would come home, this recent drought only allowed me time to water the garden. Then family issues came up and needed to be dealt with, and lastly, my computer crashed and had to be replaced. Finally, I realized I was just exhausted and needed to take a break, so I have been resting a bit more and the only garden work I have been doing is watering (I think my garden has become a little too big since it takes soooo long to water everything.)
It will take me a few posts to catch up with what has or had been happening in my garden. This drought we are experiencing has finally entered the bad phase. So far we have had no rain in June, only 0.67 inches in May and only 0.64 inches in April. In a normal year, these three months average about 16 inches of rain, and all we received is 1.31 inches. With high temperatures in the mid to high 90’s, you understand that I mostly spend my time watering and trying to keep plants alive.
Even with the drought, the daylilies have continued to bloom. One that I am sorry I did not buy more of is Little Wart. This is a precious, small daylily that deserves a better name.
The red daylilies that have only been in my garden for two years or less are doing very well. The first one I planted is always the first to bloom.
One of my oldest daylilies is Rose Passion. This is another small daylily that I have placed at the front of the border.
One of the big, frilly daylilies that is a recent addition from last year, certainly put on a show this year. This is one of the most prolific in my garden.
I didn’t realize how many daylilies I have added to the garden in the last few years. There are still a few more photos of other ones I will have to post. Since I have started planting just perennials, I have learned to appreciate the daylily. I look forward to their increasing in size so that I can divide them for a better showing. One mistake I made when first buying daylilies was that I bought only one plant of a particular variety. Now, I buy at least three of one variety so that there is a nice display of flowers of a single color.
This just goes to show that you always have something to learn.
Always Growing 
linda said,
June 20, 2011 at 5:39 am
It’s good to see you back. Your daylilies are gorgeous.
Jan said,
June 20, 2011 at 6:06 am
Thanks, Linda.
Patty said,
June 20, 2011 at 8:38 am
Missed your posts, glad to see you back. Of course, I share your love of daylilies as they do quite well here and grow huge. This year my La iris have done beautiful that I ordered mailorder last year. Makes me think of home.
Linnie said,
June 20, 2011 at 9:50 am
Glad you are back Jan. Missed your posts
Linnie in Destrehan, LA
Randy said,
June 20, 2011 at 11:08 am
Jan, I’m right there with you. I’ve been absent for various reasons too. The heat is destroying the garden. Even with the drip system everything is burning up. I lost a lot of plants last year and I see the same happening again this year.
MaryJaynes said,
June 20, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Oh, this lack of rain is killing me. Just like you, all I am doing is watering to keep my garden alive. I think this is the driest spring and early summer I can remember. Love your daylilies. You are wise to be going toward more perennials.
Janet, The Queen of Seaford said,
June 20, 2011 at 2:39 pm
I know what you mean about the drought conditions, really hard on the garden. Sorry to hear about all the balls you are juggling in your life. Glad to see you back on the blogging circuit.
Your daylilies are gorgeous, love the ruffly ones.
Greggo said,
June 20, 2011 at 3:38 pm
We’ve had rain in southcentral kansas, but the wind and heat are @#%*@### me off.