Stella de Oro Daylilies Add Beauty to Garden

A few years ago my neighbor had put two containers of Stella de Oro daylilies at the curb, they were near death and I did not think they would survive but took them anyway. I submerged the container of extremely dry dirt in tepid sink water. This allowed the container to take in the water and the soil became evenly moist. I removed the container plant and drained the sink before setting the container in the sink to drain.

When all the water had drained I set two lilies close to a plant to grow light, since they had been in a dark garage for several days. I knew that they needed light.  Well, I rescued the Stella de Oro's in time because both survived.  They were transplanted into my garden and today they bloomed. The repeat large gold star flower blooms are beautiful.

Plant taxonomy classifies Stella de Oro daylilies under the daylily genus, Hemerocallis, which derives from the Greek, hemera, "day," plus kallos, "beauty”

Autumn Joy Sedum Growing Tips

Shrub-like appearance:  Autumn Joy Sedum

Autumn Joy Sedum is an upright shrub-like plant that produces large showy flowers from August to October.  The flowers will change in color from rose pink, to pink-bronze and then copper red.  Grow sedum in containers, or in the ground next to a sunny garden path or in a rock garden.  The autumn joy sedum is eye appealing all season.

Autumn joy grows well in a sunny location that has well-drained soil.  If you reside in zone 3 to 9 and your summers are hot with little rainfall then autumn joy is a plant for you as it is drought and heat tolerant.  My summers are extreme with temperatures well into the upper 90’s to mid 100’s.  I do not have to water my sedum every day, however I do water it 1-inch per week and the plant foliage is green and healthy.  

The best time to plant is in the spring after the danger of frost has past.  Decide if you are going to plant sedum in the ground or in containers.  For growing in the ground you would ready the garden by removing the grass and then loosen the soil to 18 inches with your spade or tiller. Whenever I prepare a garden I remove all of the rocks and debris then I work the soil with my hands to remove the clumps.  A fine soil texture is best when rooting new plants.  Another thing that I do is amend the soil with organic matter; compost or manure. 

 

Plat the autumn joy sedum by digging a hole that is the same depth and width as the nursery container.  Gently remove the plant from the container.  You may need to lightly tap the container to remove the root ball.  Set the plant in the center of the hole.  Spread the roots so that they grow outward.  Fill in the hole with soil and water well.  Keep the soil evenly moist but not wet for the next 10 days.   If you intend to plant more than one sedum then allow a two foot space in-between plants.

Tips:

Apply two inches of much around the stem.  The mulch will help deter weeds and will improve the soil.

Autumn Joy sedum flowers attract butterflies.

You may transplant sedum anytime during the growing season provided you keep the ground evenly moist until the roots take.

Instead of cutting back after a hard frost, apply two inches and mulch and leave the plant and the dried flowers.  The autumn joy sedum Will add winter interest to your yard and garden. 

Fertilize autumn joy sedum the end of July and you will have beautiful blooms in fall.

Toad Lily Growing Tips

Toad lilies are dainty flowers that resemble an orchid.  Gardeners who reside in USDA growing zone 5-9 plant the shade loving toad lily amongst their hosta’s, ferns,  astilbe, or in a woodland  setting..  The toad lily will start to bloom in September and will continue to bloom into October, thus adding eye appealing color and interest to ones shade garden.

A few years ago, I discovered  toad lilies growing in my garden.  I took several pictures of the orchid-like flower and went to the library to research the flower. The botanical name is Tricyritis Toad Lily and it is grows in shade to part shade. A woodland setting is ideal for growing the toad lily.  

The following spring I planted the yellow with red dots and the white with purple dots toad lilies in my shade garden.  In the later part of summer the stems pushed up through the soil and grew very quickly. 

When fully grown the stems have a hair texture and the leaves are dark to pale green.  Toad lily stems will grow to the heights of 18 to 28 inches and the spread is that of the same. T

Toad lily flower buds as a cluster and are funnel shaped and open from the tip of the bud.  The flowers come in a variety of colors: White with purple dots, white with red dots, yellow with red dots or white with light purple dots.  If you are like me I know you will want to grow all of the color combination's.  

Plant the toad lily rhizomes in early spring after the danger of frost has past. Toad lilies grow best in an area of shade to part shade, with moist hummus rich well-drained soil.  

Clear the planting area and amend the soil with compost.  Dig a hole that is three inches deep and plant the rhizome, pointy side up.  Fill the hole with soil and water well.  Keep the soil moist during the growing season. 

You can also grow these lilies from seed.  The toad lily will reseed itself or you can buy seeds to fill your garden with this exotic looking flower.

Caring for Toad Lilies

The toad lily is very easy to grow and is cold weather; frost, snow and icy hardy.  For best results plant according to requirement and water so that the soil is evenly moist.  Do not let the soil dry out.  I water my toad lilies daily to keep the soil moist.  In late August I will feed the toad lilies with a liquid fertilizer and in a few weeks my toad lilies will have many clusters of buds.  


Care for toad lilies after a hard frost by cutting stems back to soil level.  Do a hand pull of any weeds in the garden and then apply two inches of compost topped with 3 inches of organic mulch; pine needles, freshly chipped wood, or grass clippings.

Tips:

If you were unsuccessful in growing the orchid, then grow the Toad Lily.  For small yards, garden, or shady apartment balconies you may grow the toad lily in a container.

This orchid like perennial will continue to grow in my shade garden for many years to come.

*The toad lily image with multiple cluster buds is an original photograph of the flowers that grow in my garden.