The Incredible DaylilyWritten by Donna Evans
The Incredible DaylilySome people have referred to daylilies as poor man’s orchid. Indeed, daylilies, like orchids, are a beauty to behold. Daylilies are no longer just muted yellow and orange plants grown in road ditches. They come in every color from white to deep purple (almost black) and in a variety of sizes. If you don’t’ have a green thumb, daylilies are perfect plant. They are relatively carefree and can turn an unused, dull area, into a stunning bed of color and texture. Daylilies flourish almost anywhere. They are also an excellent plant to use for erosion control, such as on a slope that is difficult to mow, and also as a ground cover plant. There are indeed a lot of common yellow and orange daylilies around. However, there are some spectacular varieties that you should keep an eye out for:
| | "Plants To Grow Old With" or "The Constant Battle"Written by S. Johnson
Following are a few paragraphs about on going battle I had with some of my plants! Way back when I was just starting to garden I excitedly gathered starts from here and there, and several times, when I asked people for a particular start, they, with raised eyebrow, would ask me if I was sure I wanted that plant as it could be invasive. Naively, and just so thrilled to get a new start (I had garden fever bad Ha!), I said that wasn't a problem. Wow! Was I ever clueless! I had a lot to learn as to just how INVASIVE some plants could be and how hard some were to kill out. Following are a few short tales of battles I waged with those wonderful starts I collected years ago. Horseradish will be first I'll mention, as it was one of first starts I acquired. I found it to be a very worthy opponent. In some book about companion planting I read that horseradish was good to raise by potatoes, so I rushed out and found a start of it! Well, I’ve long since quit raising potatoes, but I still have a thriving supply of horseradish. Slow spreading, but, as far as I'm concerned, impossible to get rid of. When you dig it up any tiny pieces of root that remain will start new plants. I tried covering it with black plastic for two years and it just sent out shoots to come up in other places. I guess we will grow old together. Wild Blackberry is next opponent. I love blackberries, so I asked a friend who lives in country for a start of hers. With raised eyebrow she asked me "Are you sure you want this?” I assured her, "Oh yes, I'm going to train it to a trellis.” she just said ok with more raised eyebrows. (Are you laughing yet?) Train wild blackberry to a trellis, no such thing for me. For two years I had delicious berries but thorns (from Hades) ripped me to shreds, and underground runners were sending up new shoots in my tomato patch, my carrot patch, and in my neighbors yard, to their delight and mine. NOT! The more I cut them down more they ran. It finally took cutting them to ground (with ripped up body parts to accomplish this) and covering them with black plastic for four years to finally kill them out.This is one battle I won!! Mint, of which I have three varieties, is sure to be another plant that I'll grow old with. I got Apple mint and Lemon mint from same friend that gave me start of blackberry, with an even stronger reaction. She warned me how aggressive and invasive mint could be. I purchased Peppermint from a retailer. I was sure I could contain mint with some mulch and some of those four-inch barriers. I planted it by walkways in my flower and herb gardens, as I thought fragrance that would be released, as people brushed against it would be
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