Latest news with #Hemerocallis
The Herald Scotland
05-07-2025
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Aphids are driving me mad - we must be quick to act
A few weeks ago, I had been surprised to see aphids begin plastering the Sutherland kale with their foul little grey bodies before I had even planted them. What was going on, I don't usually see them till early autumn? I imagine you might have had the same problem, not necessarily mealy aphid but attacks on the likes of your roses. As with so much, I wondered if the problem stems from climate change. Read More: It seemed I was right as recent research by SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) has shown. The scientists' data covered last winter and this spring and found that, overall, aphids could be active 3-4 weeks earlier than usual. Cold winters kill off many hibernating insects, so the milder the weather, the more aphids will survive. In looking at the mean temperatures for Edinburgh and Dundee between December and February, researchers showed that last winter was unusually mild. Edinburgh experienced the 13th warmest winter in 50 years, while it was the 12th mildest in Dundee. And if that wasn't enough, higher April and May temperatures encouraged the insects out of hibernation early which will give them time to produce even more than their usual number of generations. We gardeners rely on many different predators of pests like aphids. Wasps, hoverfly and lacewing larvae, ladybirds and birds such as tits can be relied on to predate aphids, but they hadn't built up large enough populations to deal with the early pests. Wasps are especially useful but the nests were still small with few workers feeding hungry larvae. So how do we deal with the problem? The first thing is to check the plants regularly to spot the problem and to act quickly. You could use insecticide or a soapy water spray, but that would kill 'beneficial' insects as well as the aphids. Particularly the lacewing, ladybird and hoverfly larvae that live among the aphid colonies. Although turning a jet from the hose on established plants would probably help, you obviously can't do this with young plants. I'm afraid I have to resort to routine check and squash - unlike me you can wear gloves. Natural predators are mow getting to work now their populations are building up. Plant of the week Hemerocallis 'Old Tangiers' (Image: PA) Hemerocallis 'Old Tangiers' is a later season daylily with bright tangerine coloured flowers with a striking yellow throat. Later season daylilies are less likely to suffer from Hemerocallis Gall Midge which causes buds to distort and go brown.
Vancouver Sun
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Vancouver Sun
Brian Minter: Day lilies give explosive colour, are drought tolerant and simple to grow
As you drive through various communities at this time of the year, you can't help but notice the massive colour displays provided by day lilies. From street median and roundabout plantings to massive drifts in park beds, day lilies have become today's go-to perennials. When I have questions about day lilies, the person I love to contact is Pam Erikson of Erikson's Daylily Gardens in Langley, B.C. As a breeder, grower, judge and retailer, she is one of Canada's leading day lily authorities. Erikson's carries over 3,000 varieties of day lilies, as well as an incredible collection of hostas, drought-tolerant plants and fall bulbs. 'Why all this obsession with day lilies?' I asked. 'Drought tolerance,' Erikson responded. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'With our changing climate, hot and cold extremes and long periods of summer drought, few other plants can tolerate these conditions and still perform beautifully,' she explained. Most of the North American varieties are hardy to zone 2, except for the more tender Florida bred varieties, which are mostly rated for zone 6, but after our severe cold spell two years ago, she no longer carries them. Hemerocallis, commonly called day lilies, are some of the easiest perennials to grow. Because they tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions, all they need is well-draining soil, a little organic matter and slow-release fertilizer for a continuous feed throughout the summer. Generally speaking, day lilies appreciate five to six hours of summer sun each day. Erikson surprised me by saying the dark red and purple varieties need a little shade during the hottest part of the day in order to maintain their deep, rich colours. I asked about the trend of continuous blooming varieties, like Stella d'Oro. She pointed out that breeding that variety has made it one of the best, and by far, the most popular day lily today, with millions planted around the world. However, Erikson prefers Happy Returns, a slightly fragrant, softer yellow that also blooms continually and looks like a field of daffodils all summer. I mentioned that knock-offs of Stella d'Oro don't seem to have the staying power of the originals. Erikson pointed out that there are non-registered varieties on the market that are mass produced by tissue culture, but they do not have the same intensive breeding and testing to ensure their quality. When she breeds a new variety, Erikson trials it for eight years before releasing it in order to ensure its long-term quality and viability. The American Hemerocallis Society, which is the North American day lily authority, has a website that will confirm if varieties are registered. According to Erikson, some of the best day lily breeding in North America was done in the 1980s. Many of those varieties had more resilient, unique blooms and tended to have a longer blooming period. Big Spider was an example of a very different yellow day lily that had massive blooms over a four-week period. She also mentioned that Bill Munson, often known as the American godfather of day lilies, warned that too much breeding could result in their extinction. Erickson also pointed out the absolute drought tolerance of day lilies. In the absence of water and with extreme heat, they can die down completely, but when water returns, new leaves emerge, and they begin to flower all over again. I asked her to name some of the best varieties. She said that was a tough question because she is passionate about so many. Canada 150 she said is one of the best dark reds with a darker eye. Rootin Tootin is another beautiful red, and a Canadian hybrid. Lemon Lace is a lovely ruffled, fragrant yellow with very large blooms. Strutter's Ball, which Erikson thinks is magnificent, is a deep purple. I asked her how to create the best display of day lilies for a home landscape. Erikson recommends a perennial border, where day lilies are blended in with other perennials, flowering shrubs and spring-blooming bulbs for a long and attractive showing. For an early display of colour, she likes to plant minor bulbs, crocus, narcissus and tulips around day lilies, and as the fall foliage begins to decline, the foliage of day lilies begins to grow and hide the unsightly leaves of fading bulbs. Erikson particularly loves combining variegated weigelas with purple day lilies. PG hydrangeas, especially the more compact varieties, also make great companions for day lilies. Erikson is OK with underplanting trees with hemerocallis as long as the trees are open and not casting heavy shade. Most of all she loves growing them in pots. She enjoys moving them around and changing out the varieties as the seasons progress. No wonder Erikson is the go-to horticulturist not only for day lilies but also for many other perennials and bulbs. Hemerocallis are playing an ever-increasing role in our home gardens, roadside plantings and parks. This year, Erikson's Daylily Gardens, located at 24642 51 Avenue, Langley, will close at the end of June and reopen in August for fall perennial and bulb sales. Please check online for current hours of operation.
Newsweek
29-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Pet Owner's Warning After Both Cats 'Turn Yellow' Overnight
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Reddit post has gone viral after a cat owner revealed their two orange cats mysteriously turned yellow overnight—prompting widespread concern. The Redditor, u/vvleo, posted in the popular subreddit CAT HELP, sharing their confusion and concern after noticing both of their cats had yellow-stained faces and fur. The post quickly amassed over 21,000 upvotes. "Woke up this morning to two of my cats all bright yellow in the face/neck area. the first cat's bed is also colored where he lays his head. we do have two bouquets but we've had them for almost a week and this is new and I don't know if they could be causing it. is this potentially dangerous? thanks in advance," they wrote. The accompanying images showed both cats with yellow discoloration and pictures of the flower bouquets in the home—one of which appeared to include lilies. Posts from the cathelp community on Reddit Expert Insight According to Dr. Maggie Placer, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), the yellow staining could potentially be pollen from lilies in the bouquets. She explained to Newsweek even though the flowers had been in the house for nearly two weeks, cats can suddenly take interest in things they previously ignored. "All parts of the lily plant are toxic, with the flowers being the most dangerous," she said. "Untreated lily intoxication can cause kidney failure within 12 to 36 hours of exposure and death within a few days." In cases where more than one cat shows signs of exposure, it may be that one cat's curiosity influenced the other. Placer said that regardless of whether lilies are present, the owners should call their veterinarian immediately. She noted that exposure to certain lilies, such as those in the Lilium and Hemerocallis species, can cause lily toxicosis—an acute and potentially fatal condition resulting in kidney failure. To ensure safety, she recommended pet owners always review the contents of bouquets received or purchased and to be vigilant about their cats' environment—both indoors and outdoors. A split mage showing the cats with mystery yellow stains covering their fur. A split mage showing the cats with mystery yellow stains covering their fur. vvleo/vvleo Reddit Reacts Concerned Redditors flooded the post with advice and urgent pleas for the owner to act fast. "Lilies aren't just toxic to cats—they're deadly. Take them to the vet ASAP," one user urged. "I work in a Vet ER and I really wish ALL florists would mention that lily is toxic. We get dozens of new cases every holiday. Especially Mother's Day and Easter, it's honestly heartbreaking," another shared. "This is an EMERGENCY VET VISIT—please let us know once you get back from the vet and kitties are okay!" said a third. Update From the Owner Later, the original poster returned with a reassuring update, explaining that the cats had been treated and were expected to recover. They shared that the cats received fluids to help hydrate and flush out any toxins and would return to the vet for a follow-up the next day. While acknowledging the oversight, the Redditor emphasized their love for their pets and gratitude for the support they received. They wrote that they had "definitely learned" from the experience and will be more cautious in the future. "Thanks to everyone who said kind words and genuinely wanted to help, I love my cats and have had cats my whole life. I like to think I'm a pretty great pet parent and this is my first oversight ever, though it's a pretty huge one... at least I know I truly care for them, even if it doesn't show in my words," they said. Newsweek reached out to u/vvleo for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Enjoy the many edible and ornamental plants in your garden
In the past, we were encouraged to forage for leaves or tubers in the countryside, but it's now recognised that this can endanger some species, so as a general rule is discouraged. Some species, like the seakale that once grew extensively at the back of shingle beaches, were so popular they were foraged almost to extinction. The only way now of enjoying seakale's tender young stems is to grow them in the garden. But if you're to enjoy them at their tastiest best and avoid any bitterness, you must start blanching the emerging shoots in February. Do this with established plants by placing two pots, one inside the other with drainage holes covered. Enjoy the harvest from April till now, then let the plant grow on attractively. It's often been recommended that we mix attractive veg into a flower border by adding small stands of climbing French beans or statuesque chard with golden stems. But a bed begins to look a bit pockmarked once you've started picking a few of the delightful little red and green lettuce edgings. But edimental gardening prevents this. You nibble part of the flower bed without creating unsightly gaps. In his publication, 'Around the World in 80 Plants', Stephen Barstow tells of the countless number of species worldwide that have been considered edible for hundreds if not thousands of years. When European plant plunderers brought back their many trophies, edibility was rarely considered. Those of us growing hostas, dahlias, begonias, and saxifrages, to name a few, can enjoy their buds, flowers, or leaves, depending on the species. Newly emerging hosta shoots are reputedly especially tasty, but as they're near the top of a slug's shopping list, I've had to give up any hope of growing them here. And judging by the number of folk asking me how to protect their hostas, I'm not alone. But if you're blessed with a mollusc-free garden, you should prevent any bitterness in shoots by covering a hosta crown, as with seakale, and cut some small stems before the leaves uncurl. In Japan, hosta shoots are so popular you can even buy them year-round in supermarkets. Hemerocallis buds and flowers can be fried or added to dishes for their slightly mucilaginous texture. Since these daylilies offer so many blooms, I can spare a few, especially of 'Lemon Bells', with its particularly pleasant flavour. And for leaves, try mallows, both Malva moschata and Malva sylvestris. You can eat young leaves raw, but cook older ones. They're pretty mild-flavoured and are worth adding to a dish of 'weed' leaves; a quiche of ground elder, nettle tops, sorrel, and mallow is worth a try. Check out some of your flowers, making sure they're safe to eat, and enjoy a nibble. Plant of the week Plant of the week (Image: Supplied) Geum 'Karlskaer' has bright orange-yellow single flowers carried on 30cm dark stems above a neat mound of bright green foliage. Like most Geums with upward-facing flowers, 'Karlskaer' needs well-drained but moist soil and a sunny position. Geums are untroubled by slugs and snails, a huge bonus, and stay looking healthy throughout the summer.
