If you grew up in the south you probably have heard of daylilies.   Gardeners grow them everywhere.   When I think of daylilies the first thing I think of is the old orange daylily that we saw growing in the ditches when I was a child.   I call this daylily “Roadside” because you can find them on the side of most north Georgia roads.

Today’s modern daylily is much more than that old “Roadside” daylily.   Growers have improved the daylily to the point that you can find thousands of different flowers.   They come in most colors and combinations, including orange.   Some have ruffles, some have edges or eyes, and some have both and sometimes more.  

Daylilies can be found with large flowers over seven inches across or small flowers less than two inches across and every size in between.   Some grow nearly three feet tall and some grow low to the ground.   The daylily is a perfect garden flower and by mixing varieties the garden can be painted with color from late May until fall.

The daylily is easy to grow and will live in most soils but like most perennials will grow better in a well drained soil that is rich in humus.   During blooming season daylilies need to be fertilized well and will need plenty of water.   Most gardeners find that by dividing their daylilies every three to four years the plants will flower better.

One of Cobb Counties best daylily growers, Bill Waldrop of Marietta organized the Cobb County Daylily Society a couple of years ago.   This group will help gardeners learn about daylilies and how to grow them.

On Saturday June 9 th the Cobb County Daylily Society will sponsor its third annual daylily show at the Cobb Galleria Shopping center off of Cobb Parkway.   This show will be a great opportunity to learn more about growing daylilies and to see some of the most exciting new varieties in bloom.   Also exhibits will use daylilies in floral designs that will showcase the versatility of the daylily in arrangements.

Daylilies will also be available for purchase from local growers.   More information on the show and sale can be obtained by calling Bill and Diana Waldrop at 770-429-0204 or Gerald and Dianna Johnson at 770-437-0000.

After the show if you are still looking for more information on growing daylilies the Cobb County Extension Service has a very good booklet on daylily culture.