Daylily Haiku Thursday | Learning something despite the circumstances...

wet indifference.

blooms soaked in heaven's kisses -

still bright with color!

H. 'Spanish Fiesta'

While listening to a friends story about a recent vacation gone wrong, I got to thinking about my own vacation mis-adventures.  The 2009 AHS National Convention in central Florida immediately came to mind.  We decided to piggy-back on the trip for the daylily event with our first family trip to Disney World.  <shakes head>  

Anyhoo, the event was two days of garden tours through some of the most experienced hybridizers gardens in the country - this part of the state is known as "Daylily Mecca" in some circles and I am so thrilled I got to attend - despite the deluge of rain (state records were set) and a family-wide sinus infection.  

It rained for seven days straight.  It rained every day we were at Disney.  It rained every day on the tours.  It rained at night.   It rained out a white linen lunch at Frank Smith daylilies (see below).  It flooded the garden paths.  It leaked in our car, soaked our shirts (see Brenda Macy below right) and challenged our sunny resolve.

The daylilies did not disappoint.  Their substance and texture rose to the beating of the rain.  We saw what they could do under adverse circumstances, and we saw what WE could do despite less-than-comfortable circumstances.  (52 waterlogged gardeners with dirty, wet shoes sardined in a charter bus does not smell good, by the way.)

I am glad I went.

And I'm glad it rained.

We wouldn't have learned all that we did if it hadn't.

H. 'Much Ado About Magic' - I love the erect edges on this one. That is distinct!

Daylily Haiku Thursday | Pink!

The meaning of the color pink is unconditional love and nurturing.  It is a softer, non-violent red - the sweet side.  Fiery red is diluted with the innocence of white to make our pink. It is baby girls and cotton candy and bubble gum all rolled into one estrogen-laden hue.  Prisons use it to clothe its most hardened inmates and sports teams use it to paint the visiting teams locker rooms - both tactics to dilute passion and emotion.  It is a romantic color, and some say that for women who are often overworked and overburdened, an attraction to pink may speak to a desire for the more carefree days of childhood.  Hmmm.

H. 'Something Lovely' - note the black punctuation on the filaments!

In Japan, pink is somewhat of a mystery.  It is referred to as a masculine color - nodding to the masses of spring cherry blossoms which signify the young Samurai warriors who fell in battle in the prime of their lives.  But...it also has a more provocative, feminine meaning in Japan that I won't discuss here.  <I'm blushing pink right now.>

I have fought my own battle with the color pink - you can  find that tale in the "arguably pink" entry here.

H. 'Mandarin Seas' - a little more tangerine-pink

Pink does get its name from the garden- the dianthus to be exact.  The name derives from the frilled edge of the flowers - the verb "to pink" dates from the 14th century and means to "decorate with a perforated or punched pattern."  

I still don't know what my fascination with the color is about.  I'm surely not romantic, dilute, or very soft.  Certainly not always girlie or unconditional.  But, my purse is pink, my phone case is pink, I have at one time had pink pinstripes on a car I loved and I have more pink highlighters than should be legal to own.  And, today I noticed I have a ton of great photos of pink daylilies!

Read more fascinating facts about pink here.  There are some wonderfully sinful potential daylily names to be found there- check it out.

red is diluted

with the innocence of white-

bleeding.  fading.  pink.

Daylily Haiku Thursday | Celebrating Death

when spirits unite

on a bright and pleasant fall day-

taking death's journey.

H.'When Spirits Unite'

I raised a glass of one of her favorite wines when I heard of her passing this week.  I drank it with vigor and smiled that she was no longer waiting.

Here's to you, Jane.  May you look down upon us and laugh wildly because you now know the real truth.

Godspeed.