Daily Home Renovation Tips

In Part 15 we had finally finished planting the climbing hydrangea at either end of the garage wall facing the street.

Today I’d like to return to the stella d’or day lily’s. As per the garden plan, we were to plant 12 of these in the part of the garden beside the edge of the driveway.

My wife picked up all 12 while on sale from the same garden center that created the garden plan for us.

Now, here is a picture from across the street of our house. What I want you to focus on is the ’string’ of day lilys on the right side of the picture along the driveway and see if you can understand why it’s important to check both the labels of new plants as well as the leaves.

Can’t tell? Well, they actually look nice from far away. When one is looking across the row of day lily’s they kind of look scraggly to me. But they will get bushier. Now, what about a closer picture of the day lilys along side the driveway? Can you now tell why it’s important to always take the time to check the labels as well as the leaves of every plant you purchase to plant in your home’s garden?

Still can’t? How about now?

Well, if you really look closely in the above picture, you will see the ’surprise’. No? OK, OK ….how about this picture?

What is shown in the picture immediately above is a close up of one of the 12 plants. Notice (hopefully the colour difference can be seen on your computer screen) that it is a darker shade of orange. The rest of the 11 day lily’s are a peach colour. As well, notice it is taller than the other plant at the top part of the picture.

Finally, notice that it’s leaves are different. Look at the leaves of the day lily at the top of the flowering plant in the above picture. See how they have more narrow and a greater number of leaves compared to the tall orange lily in the middle of the picture?

Now, we just lucked out. Cath just happened to plant this anomaly in the middle of the row of day lily’s. So, it actually will turn out I think quite well to have the row of 12 peach coloured day lily’s with a taller orange plant.

For once, luck in on our side in our renovations! The lesson here, however, is to pay attention not just the sticker or label placed on a plant you are buying. Also pay attention to the leaves. If they look different from the other plants with the same label, be suspicious. It might not be the same type of plant after all.

To continue with the next article in this series, simply select this link to Part 17.