The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places to go to unwind.  Just  let the summer breezes carry your worries away.   One of the reasons I enjoy the garden is that it is in constant flux which makes going such a pleasure, you never know what’s going to be in bloom.  This trip was all about the daylilies which are in full bloom and spectacular this time of year.   The garden has an extensive website you can check out here.  Click on images to enlarge.

The bright yellow Chihuly glass “rays” seem to glow in the bright summer light.

The Linnean house was built by Henry Shaw in 1882 and is the oldest continuously operating greenhouse conservatory in the United States.  It has been recently renovated and houses the garden’s camellia collection.

Now for the daylilies.  I photographed a few of my favorites with their names just in case anyone was interested in adding a few varieties to their collection.  I have to admit to a bit of a daylily nuttiness this year.  I just added five new varieties to my garden and am running out of spots with full sun for them all.   I find daylilies not only beautiful but also very easy to grow, a win – win in our busy world today.   I can’t think of another perennial that comes in such varieties, requires less care, less maintenance, and blooms consistently for months at a time.  Did you know that the genus name for daylilies is Hemerocallis,  which comes from the Greek words Hemera (day) and Kalos (beautiful.)   Click on images to enlarge.

Name:   Asterisk

Name:  Mary Todd

Name:  Laughing Giraffe

Name:  Watson Park Tempest

Name: School Bus           …. can’t imagine how they came up with that name?

Name:  Bi-eyed Beauty

Name:  Sparkling Champagne

Name:  Kyoto Swan

Name:  Affair D’ Amour

Name:  Written on the Wind

Name:  Jane Timmer

Name:  Dream Legacy

Name:  Francois Verhaert

Name:  Bela Lugosi

Name:  All American Chief

Name:  Black Arrowhead.   I decided out of all of the varieties in bloom at the garden at this time I wanted to find this one for my garden.   Well not so easy I found out, after several hours of searching daylily growers’ websites I found one that carries this variety, and naturally it’s not inexpensive but I think worth the price considering the splash of color Black Arrowhead would add to a garden.  Click on images to enlarge.

An afternoon spent at the Missouri Botanical Garden is for me better than a massage and a glass of wine..well ok, maybe having all three would really be a relaxing day, but for the all of one’s senses to come alive and stay clear headed come to the garden, it never disappoints.  Remember to check out their website here.