A day of beauty

Inspiration comes from all different places and is unique to everyone. I am so inspired by nature and flowers in particular. I love so many different flowers, but none quite like my daylilies. There is just something about them I treasure. They are the jewels of my garden. They are colorful, cheerful, and the perfect addition to any landscape.

A daylily is something even those who do not know much about flowers may even be familiar with. Daylilies are known for their resiliency, ability to multiply, bright colors, and wonderful foliage even when not in bloom. They provide a place of refuge for wildlife. Baby bunnies and other small animals flock to daylilies to provide shelter from the elements and natural predators.

Two of the five requirements in having your property be a certified natural habitat is providing places for animals to raise their young and cover. Daylilies offer both a haven for animals in providing coverage and a place for animals to raise their young.

Some of my most treasured daylilies have come from a little farm in northern Indiana where you can walk rows and rows of daylilies and hand select your favorite to add to your garden.

The word Hemerocallis is derived from Greek meaning “day” and “beautiful.”

I love how daylilies get a fresh start each day. Imagine if every single day, you had the chance to begin anew again. There is something poetic about knowing if today didn’t go as you planned that you have tomorrow to bloom again. One of my favorite morning rituals I have is going outside with my morning coffee to see which new daylilies have popped open that day. I love trying to remember where that particular daylily came from. Many of my daylilies have come from my mom’s yard and my former childhood home. Each one comes with its own story and memory. I love to tell my kids where they came from and ask which one is their favorite.

I have little cordial glasses that I like to pop some of the blooms and display each morning in my kitchen. My old neighbor and dear friend, Karen, used to do that and ever since I saw her doing it, I too, have joined in the daily ritual.

While daylilies do best in bright sun with well-drained soil, they are an incredibly low-maintenance plant. They are resilient, easy to maintain, and can survive in poor soil conditions. They are a wonderful plant to divide and are very easy to transplant.

The word Hemerocallis is derived from Greek meaning “day” and “beautiful.” (Photos provided by Megan Rathz)

If you’re looking to add some unique daylilies to your garden, check out the Hamilton County Master Gardener’s Association Daylily sale from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 15 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville. There you can walk the rows of daylilies and hand-select the perfect addition to your garden. Master Gardeners will be on hand to dig the daylilies of your choice.

Daylilies are each different and have a story to tell. They are like people. You never know what is going to pop open or what awaits when you plant a new one. They offer a daily fresh start.

Imagine how beautiful our world would be if, like daylilies, we offered each other and ourselves the grace at a chance for a fresh start. Nature is speaking to us. Are we listening?

Megan Rathz is a wife, mother, and teacher. She says everything she has ever learned in life came from her Master Gardener mother.