Planet Max does not like to turn its blooms lose, but Nosferatu gladly hands them to me.

I got up and went out from 8-12 to plant some of the new daylilies I received, some that had been potted and were sitting on the driveway, and then I watered and took pictures of blooms. Then I went to work at the office the rest of the day so I could get cool and relax Unfortunately the boss didn't agree with the relax part and made me work It was too darn hot and humid to stay out all day. Looked on the LA and am holding back - for now

I agree with Larry, in that some daylilies are easy to snap the blooms off, others aren't. For the latter, I just use some pruners and cut the stem behind the ovary (or whatever that female seed-making part of the bloom is called).

If I pollinated the bloom, then (the morning after) I cut the bloom off maybe 3/4" of an inch in front of where the stem meets the ovary. That generally gives enough margin so that the ovary is not cut into (though sometimes it has gotten a bit of a shave ). The residual bloom tissue dries up and falls off in a few days, but until then, it is really not noticeable. (I like to keep the daylily garden relatively neat. Dead blooms are really unattractive, imho.)

We possibly did something a little different in our gardens today.
I worked out in the gardens all day. It was so hot and some humidity had me soaked all day. We are getting ready for visitors since OKC Daylily club is host to region 11 summer meetings starting tomorrow.
My girls cleared the gardens of some guests that visitors my not appreciate.



This was one of 2 large snakes we removed from the flower beds.


And this also had to go.

Holy cow, what kind of snakes are they??? That first one looks like it just had dinner.

Oh my goodness! Those girls are certainly braver than me That is definitely something I could not do.

I screamed the other day when I almost stepped on a black snake. I got the pitchfork for my husband so he could move it across the road. Then yesterday, we saw a snakeskin hanging from the tall birdhouse. I felt bad for the birds who were nesting in there.

Finding those two snakes by a group on a garden tour would have made for some interesting photo opportunities.

Kid I must say I commend your girls because my girls and I would have been running as fast as possible the other direction

The first I think is a King a snake and the second is a Bull snake. When we got married 18 years ago DW in the last photo was freak out afraid of snakes. We taught her to overcome her fear. She knows all types of snakes but has no more fear of any.
She has taught the kids the respect but no fear of nature. I think there are things that live on oceans that may strike a little fear in them.

Built the third raised bed out of my left over lumber.

Snakes, I would have been running like the dickens.

Larry I love your new raised bed! What did you use for the top with all of the design?

My daughter had a party tent, I salvaged the four aluminum corner posts after it was discarded. They are very light and easy to move around.

You did a great job Larry! Very attractive!

I should have added that as they sit they don't provide any use. But when it gets cold I have black fabric to lay over them on cold nights, I can also use clear plastic in the early spring and late fall for a long growing season, and I can use hardware cloth or netting over them to keep out critters, so they are extremely versatile.

Have been cleaning foliage all week getting ready for the National next week. We live headed tonight getting ready for open gardens this weekend - I think from now on all the future daylily purchases must be a minimum of 42 inches in height.

Di this is absolutely gorgeous Beautiful gardens

Thank you Ginny, I have not mastered taking closer photos with the done yet. I wish I could post video here.

Larry, I love your swanky new raised bed!
If you were going for "Urban Chic", you nailed it, friend!!

Di, absolutely gorgeous gardens!!

So, more health issues crept up recently, delaying things that much more!! This is ridiculous! I've never had so many issues in such a short period of time! Perhaps the extreme stress, that I've been under for the past 6 years, has caught up with me!!

DD#1 is home for Father's Day, and the DH was off from both jobs today, but he works all day tomorrow and Sunday So we had our Father's Day today! Nothing major, just spending some quality time together.

I've had the kittens since Wednesday, so not much has been getting done in the gardens except maintenance. .....Oh, and anxiously waiting for the 'Helix' buds to open, and the FFO's put on a very underwhelming show!! Didn't open up completely!

take care of yourself and that's an order Glad you had a good Father's Day