2010 Early Early Daylilies (Philadelphia)

First daylily of the 2010 season was Earlybird Sunshine, a Megan Skinner (Allentown, PA) 2001 introduction. She says it regularly beats Stella to bloom. Available from Manatawney Creek Farms near Pottstown, PA. Website http://www.manatawneycreekfarm.com/ for mail order. Note the owners are Omish so they're closed Sundays.

A study in microclimates! View from west, so the geraniums and daylily get afternoon sun. The hosta (Sagae) on the far (east) side gets morning sun then shade from the Japanese Maple. The hosta next to the daylily gets shaded all day by the Maple, but it's Titanic, a dark green one that can deal with pretty full shade. But in better light it would be twice as big. The Heuchera Citronelle on the right will take sun OR shade, and brightens up the area.

Second daylily of 2010: Begin With a Bang by Mike Huben of Boston. This is a MUST for early hybridizers becuse IT'S NOT YELLOW!! Available from Harmon Hill Farm in New Hampshire, and possibly from Ellen Laprise of http://www.partridgehillgardens.com/ in Mass. Mike and the Skinners both hybridize on city lots of less than a quarter acre, yet have beat the "big guys" in the early early race by sticking to a narrow goal.

Is this normal? Fourth bloom of 2010 is Siloam Button Box, Henry 76. 20EM4.5 registration, but that was "down South". Is it EE for anybody else? I just got it last spring, but it came from New York, so this isn't "Florida bloom".

Third bloom for 2010 was another Megan Skinner intro, Earlybird Orangeade (2004). Another "close to species" trumpet shape, this clump had one bloom on 5/23, five yesterday and EIGHT today.

The season has begun! Long live daylily season!