A visit to the Hayfield

Diamond Daydream (2004 introduction)

In the past, I combed a glossy catalogue and ordered daylilies through the mail. The robust plants arrived from the Quebec nursery and when I planted them they thrived. Yet when they came into flower, I was often disappointed and found myself musing, "Humm...I probably would not have bought that color if I had seen it first." Let's face it, catalogue pictures never tell the whole story. This year I determined to find a local source for lilies, where I could choose plants in flower and skip that nagging disappointment.

When I saw an article in Canadian Gardening about Hayfield Daylilies, located not far from Toronto-that was it. I was determined to go.

Now, usually we plan weekends filled with things we both will enjoy, but in this case we each had specific things we personally wanted to do. So we made a pack. I'd go to the Tattoo at Old Fort Henry in Kingston, if he would take me daylily shopping on the way home. 

The We're in the Hayfield Now Daylily Gardens has an special "Open Gardens" every year during peak flowering in July. (Boom season for daylilies runs from the last few weeks of July to late August.)

Every one at the open garden was in a festive mood. Here Candy, garden helper and head bubble catcher rounds up a few straying bubbles.

There are almost 60,000 cultivars, almost 15 species and 10 different flower shapes of daylilies- the choice in daylilies is mind blowing!

A selection of daylilies on display in glass bottles at the entrance.

Henry Lorrain and his late partner Douglas Lycett started their nursery business more then 25 years ago. Together they began breeding daylilies for vigor, bud count and hardiness for the Canadian climate.

But what to choose with a full four acres of beauties to choose from?

Maybe I should get one of the great pinks?

This one is kind of pretty too. Hmm... maybe I should go for something a bit more dramatic...

Paradise on Parade (does not appear in online catalogue)

no, maybe a bit darker

Bravissimo (2000 Introduction)

Now that's drama, but wait... look at those yellow ones with the crinkled edges!

North of the Border (2003 Introduction)


Hey, what's that bee butt doing in my perfectly sublime picture?

Mavis Folemsbee (2009 Introduction)

This white one is gorgeous too....

Uptown Girl (does not appear in online catalogue)

Hold the phone...this one glows for pete's sake!

So, what did I settle on in the end? It was a really tough decision, but I went with that yellow one with that cool crinkled edge. 

I don't know about you, but I find that buying daylilies is very much like buying hostas. There are extremely pricy hostas and then there are their more affordable cousins which look pretty closely related, but are just a bit cheaper. I could have bought this registered cultivar for $35, 

but choose instead to buy its unregistered kissing cousin (weekend special #3) at $15.

I hope you will forgive me for not naming all the varieties I've shown in this post. The plant markers in the open field were a bit helter skelter. I found myself wondering if it was for instance, the"Everyday Magic" lily to the left or right of the sign. I would hate to think someone might order the wrong thing based on my misidentification.

If you are thinking of adding new varieties of daylilies to your garden, its not to late to visit your local nursery to see plants in bloom. And if you want to check out Hayfield Daylilies, here is the contact and location information:

We are in the Hayfield Now Daylily Gardens 

(905) 983-5097  

Hours of operation May 15 to September 15, 2010. 

Nursery Hours: Mon.-Wed. 9 am to 6pm 

Thurs.- Fri. 9am to 7pm 

Sat.- Sun. 10 am-5pm

http://www.hayfield.ca/