Hems and Clems

Above:  'Comtesse de Bouchard'

We're getting May Grey, a thick layer of marine overcast provided by the Pacific Ocean.  Raymond Chandler called it "high fog".  It makes for great gardening days:  cool.  No searing heat, no harsh glare.  Ahhhhh!

In replanting the Dymondia near the front gate, despite May Grey, some temporary shade seems appropriate to prevent stress for the transplants.  They'll settle in faster and suffer less dead spots. 
That done, the camera beckoned.  The big first rose flush of the year is mostly complete, but the Hemerocallis and Clematis are in their prime.  Hems and Clems. 
 'Spacecoast Starburst'
 'Elizabeth Salter'
I have the name of the unnamed Hems somewhere...
...but I'm not feeling like looking them up just now. 

'Bella Serra', looking bleached-out despite the May Grey. The buds developed during last week's hot weather--did that do it?
 'Sabine Bauer'
Oooh that's a pretty one:
 'Etoile Violette'
  This is one of the new Joy Creek Clematis, 'Venosa Violacea',  growing and settling in nicely.  Needs a taller support already!
 'Perle d'Azur'
 'Perle d'Azur'
 'Wisley'
 Seedling:
 May Grey....ahhhh!

Comments

  1. Wonderful, you have so many different daylillies in your garden. And the clematis are
    doing so well!! A feast to my eyes.
    Have a wonderful day Hoover Boo.
    Marijke

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    Replies
    1. I do love flowers. Foliage, too, but...flowers! Have a beautiful day, Marijke.

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  2. You have some very pretty daylilies. One of my favorite flowers. Ours are a long way from blooming.

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    1. I see on the news you are still getting rain rain rain. Well when they do bloom surely they will go crazy?

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  3. A while back I was immersed enough in the daylily world to know right off the name of that violet Hem with the blue eye (being so nicely echoed by the geranium). Still might come to me.

    May Grey must be a blessing for any daylily hybridizers in your region, not only for the effect on looks but because scorching heat can prevent seed set. [Idea for SoCal cultivar name: 'Inspector Maigret' ;>]

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    1. I'm not hard-core Hem, and there are a gazillion cultivars that are quite similar, but at this moment of the season they are a delight. One could name a Hem for every Maigret novel, there are enough of them! I'm re-reading Raymond Chandler these days. His descriptions of California still apply.

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  4. Beautiful! Given the space and sunny aspect we'd happily grow Hems for the continuous blooms it can produce all spring and summer long.

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    1. They do need some space themselves, and they need height and texture contrast with other plants taller and shorter, so a big garden helps.

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  5. I had no idea you could grow Clematis...though Hemerocallis, no surprise at all. You don't have one that's boring! May your May Gray continue into June Gloom...

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    1. Did you know there are native California Clematis? It's a shock, isn't it? Have not found one to purchase yet, however. C. lasiantha, C. ligusticifolia. I'm dreaming May Grey continues well into July...as I always do. One can dream!

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  6. I'd no idea you had so many Hems, or Clems for that matter. Only one of my daylilies, 'Elizabeth Salter', has bloomed, although 'Spanish Harlem' has been teasing me for weeks now. Every time you show your Clematis, you nudge me a little closer to planting more than the one small-flowered variety I have now. Your Dymondia tent is a clever idea - even those I planted back in December and January from flats are already stressed out but then I admit that they probably need more water than they're getting now that we're rain-less.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let me save you a couple of fans of whichever of mine appeals to you.

      Dymondias need water to establish; the temp shade reduces the need quite a bit. I would have been better off replanting in a November. but didn't want to wait that long.

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  7. Beautiful photos of some outstanding Hems and Clems! I have starting adding some modern day lilies to my bank of common orange "ditch lilies" that came with our house. I dream of having all the hues you showed.

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    1. Glad you liked the photos. I hope you get to dry some of the modern day lily cultivars. There are some amazing ones out there, far more exotic than mine.

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  8. The Clems are starting to open all over the Joy Creek gardens. I can't wait to see them in their full glory. It's been so cold up here, we're quite a bit behind. I'll take some cloud cover over hot beaming heat any day, so I really don't mind! (I know that makes me pretty much a minority, up here...) ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like cloud cover too. I think your climate has more of it than mine, especially this year!

      The Joy Creek clematis show must be out-of-this-world wonderful. Enjoy it for me.

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  9. I have spots for two more Clems...only two ! How to decide. Your Wisely looks pretty tempting, but I don't have a white so I am focusing on that. Henryii perhaps.

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    1. I killed a very nice white one, 'Huldine'. 'Arctic Queen' looks impressive. The doubles don't like So Cal that I can tell. But after seeing your post, 'Arabella' went on my list!

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  10. My early clematis are beginning to open but we won't see hems for weeks. With lows in the upper thirties and highs in the mid 50's it might be a while. Your garden is always gorgeous.

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    1. Upper...thirties?!? Our lows are in the upper fifties, but not for much longer.

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  11. Surprised to see your collection of hems...is there anything you
    DON'T do? The parade of Clems at Joy Creek has me reeling.

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    Replies
    1. Don't do? All kinds of stuff. Tulips! Hostas! Lawn! Hey, how 'bout blogging that Parade of Clems for us? Purdy purdy please?

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