Historic daylilies are timeless classics that remain extremely popular despite the passing of time. According to the American Hemerocallis Society definition, historic daylilies  currently include all daylilies registered on or before 1990. This is a “rolling” date which extends by ten years every decade, i.e. in 2030, the date will change to 2000.

Many daylily aficionados grow historic daylilies, as well as the newer cultivars. My daylily collection is composed of 15% historic cultivars. My historics are daylilies I can't bear to part with.  They are stellar performers that have proven themselves over the years and earned every inch of their garden space.

'Condilla' is one of my favorite historics, hybridized in 1977 (Grooms). The deep gold flowers reliably double 100% of the time. To this day, when it's in full bloom it still wows me! It is a dormant diploid daylily that grows 20-22" tall and has cute, ruffled 4.5" blooms. Last summer Condilla bloomed from July 17 through August 18 in my garden.

And look at the awards this beauty won!
AHS Awards:

• Award of Merit (1985) Signifies that a cultivar is not only distinctive and beautiful, but also performs well over a wide geographic area
• Honorable Mention (1982) The first official “stamp of approval” by the American Hemerocallis Society
• Lenington All-American Award (1991) Awarded to one daylily each year that is voted the best performer over a wide geographic area.
• Ida Munson Award (1984) An annual award given for the most outstanding double flower. Voted by Garden Judges.
• Georgia Doubles Appreciation Award (2001/2006)
  

In spring 2019 this dainty, 12" tall fringed tulip arrived unannounced in my garden. The odd thing is that I have absolutely no idea where it came from. However it got here, I love it and it's staying! Note the neat white eyes in the first photo. This is also my latest tulip that bloomed through May 12.

Also known as Crispa Tulips, fringed tulips have lacy petals and crystalline-like fringes. Some have fringes in the same color as the petals, but others have contrasting fringes. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Like regular tulips, it’s easy to grow fringed tulips. Plant the bulbs in autumn, in well-draining soil that gets full sunlight and add a bit of bulb booster. That's it!

You can read more about fringed tulips at Gardening Know How:
www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/fringed-tulip-information-and-care.htm

Lucky me! I had some help getting my gardens in order this spring. Our nephew, Neil, had some time available during Wisconsin's shelter-at-home days. He took care of our mulching, weeding, and annual planting, for which we were very grateful. He's very detail-oriented and did a most awesome job. Plus it's always nice to see him!  :)

(When we regularly resume spraying deer deterrent, the protective tomato cages will be removed.)

Here are some of my experiences that make up the ever-present irony of daily life. Do any sound familiar?

1. Good news....free samples of pizza at the grocery store
   Bad news...it's 'breakfast' pizza - no wonder they give it away
   
2. Good news...the grocery store offers an insanely cheap price on an item
   Bad news...you have to buy 10 of them to get the cheap price
3. Good news...you are given a *free* car wash token
   Bad news...while going through the car wash,  your rear windshield wiper gets ripped off, never to be seen again
   
4. Good news...while shopping you finally locate a public restroom
   Bad news...there's not a shred of toilet paper to be found anywhere
   
5. Good news...it's Saturday
   Bad news...your alarm clock woke you up at 5 am because you, while on auto-pilot, activated it the night before
6. Good news...you are having friends over for dinner
   Bad news...you forgot to press start on the dishwasher full of dirty dishes
7. Good news...a dog-walker dutifully carries their plastic bag
   Bad news...when his dog did the deed, the dog-walker did a 360 to see if anyone noticed; he assumed no one did and continued on his way. The plastic bag must have been a fashion accessory.
   
8. Good news...you spent $150 at the grocery and replenished every item you wanted
   Bad news...except for the one item you desperately needed to make your evening meal
9. Good news...you bought ten beautiful perennials you couldn't resist
   Bad news...not one empty space was available in your garden
10. Good news...gasoline prices are at an all-time low
    Bad news...you're 'sheltering at home' and your travels are limited

In 2018 I purchased a daylily at a plant sale named 'Delta Force' which is purple with a dark purple eye. I planted the two fans in my front garden and waited.  Fast forward to 2019 -- this is what bloomed last summer, and it was most definitely not Delta Force!  After doing a little detective work comparing descriptions from the 2018 sale spreadsheet, what I really have is 'Heavenly Blue Butterfly.' My photo matched the hybridzer's photo perfectly along with the bloom size and bloom time.  I LOVE this daylily and I don't grow anything remotely like it. I actually wondered why I didn't purchase this daylily in the first place?

Hybridized by Jamie Gossard (2013), Heavenly Blue Butterfly is a dormant diploid that grows 32" tall and has large 9" blooms. It's an early midseason  unusual form - cascade. From the first year blooms, it appears vibrant in color and sunfast. It will look gorgeous in the future as a huge clump. Call me happy!