 History: Day Lily Trip
by NYHS
DAY LILY FARM OUTING
On Saturday, July 26, 2008 fourteen members of the North York Horticultural Society drove to Orono to “We’re in the Hayfield Now” Day Lily Farm on Pollard Rd. for its annual open house. The torrential rainfall during the drive there did not deter anyone as the sun came out when we arrived. In spite of off and on rain showers, members enjoyed seeing the huge fields of day lilies in full bloom. The variety of colours seemed endless but with excellent guidance from the staff at the farm lilies were chosen to take home. An excellent lunch in the rustic barn was followed by the drive home where once again we encountered heavy rain. July certainly was the rainiest month ever but it made the plants grow!
DIVIDING DAY LILIES Spring is the best time to divide a day lily but you can do it in the summer too. This should be done every 3 years. In early summer or later after it blooms, dig up the clump, gently removing as much soil as possible. Cut back the leaves to 9 inches. Put the clump in a container
of water and gently pry apart the divisions. Some are quite tough. Using a sharp knife, cut into the plant, dividing it into clumps and then try and separate sections by hand. Always make sure you leave a few roots with each division ensuring that as many of the white roots as possible stay attached. Divide again by hand, pulling apart the roots until they are at the size you want to transplant. You may have to cut again. Prepare the hole, making it larger than you will need, supplement the soil with compost or rich earth if needed and plant the new cutting. Fill in the hole leaving a small trench around it to hold water. Water well and mulch around the plant to protect it from summer heat and water evaporation. Now you will have even more day lilies to enjoy.
(2011-02-02) |
