Daylily Resources

Given the warmer than usual spring we've been having here in New England, certain daylilies are already beginning to flower.  Daylilies offer thousands of different colors, patterns, textures, and some are even scented.  Many of them are incredibly tough and need little in the way of special attention once established.  It took a while, but over time I learned who the reputable growers were and I learned to avoid the frequent cries of "Fantastic Daylilies at Low Low Prices!!!"  So, here are some of the places I've purchased from in the past and one place I visit on a yearly basis (for blueberries and for pictures as well as daylilies).

http://www.mariettagardens.com/
Marietta gardens offers up an amazing array of plants including many they've developed.

http://www.oakesdaylilies.com/
Probably the first grower I ordered from.  They tend to have older varieties with great prices and huge plants.  Many of the older daylilies have become harder to locate due to newer, showier plants taking their places.  It's important to preserve these more antique varieties for genetic diversity and because they're pretty fantastic in the garden.

http://www.daylilygarden.com/
Olallie Daylily Gardens specializes in especially hardy, early blooming, and late blooming varieties for northern gardens.  They also sell an amazing variety of Siberian Iris.  During July, they have pick your own organic blueberries and it's a fantastic place to wander about.  If you're ever in southern Vermont, their gardens are certainly worth a visit.

http://www.tranquil-lake.com/
Tranquil Lake is a Massachusetts grower with an impressive selection of plants.  They also have many workshops and a fantastic "Garden Days" festival each summer.  Tranquil Lake also offers a large number of Siberian Iris.

http://www.daylilies-hostas.com/
Another Massachusetts grower, R. Seawright Gardens has numerous daylily cultivars along with hostas. 

http://www.daylily.com/cgi-bin/auction.cgi
If you're willing to take a chance, the Lily Auction can be an amazing resource for new plants.  Similar to EBay, growers offer up plants for people to bid on.  I've had success with this process before and will probably use it in the future when I'm looking for deals on specific varieties.  Just make sure to check the seller feedback information to help guarantee that their plants are decent.

Recommended Plant:  Adiantum pedatum.  Maidenhair Fern
This native fern looks nothing like the more common ferns seen growing along streams or in fields.  It's far more delicate in appearance and tends to blend in well with other shade loving plants.  They are a bit picky about site selection and will not tolerate dry shade.  With adequate moisture and dappled sunlight, they will slowly form colonies of graceful, green whorls.  The leaf stems are black and the early spring fronds are red offering interesting contrasting colors.