CSD Hybrids Developed at Olallie Farm: Vermont zone 4b-5a

 

     The CSD hybrids are a series of cultivars developed by Chris Darrow at Olallie Farm in So Newfane Vermont. These plants have been selected for      earliness of bloom and variation in color and form.
     Virtually all of these plants were in full bloom by the end of June or beginning of July.

 

         
    
 
 

 
 

 

Defining early bloom times in daylilies
 Many consider Stella D'Oro to be the marker for the beginning of the early daylily season. Here in Vermont Stella D'Oro begins blooming some time during the third week of June. We consider any daylily that begins blooming before Stella D'Oro an extra early bloomer. Daylilies that begin bloom around the same time as Stella D'Oro are considered early bloomers

Early and Extra early blooming daylilies are limited in type and color
Particularly extra early bloomers. The vast majority of daylily cultivars bloom in mid July through mid August here in Vermont. Of the daylilies that bloom around the same time as Stella D'Oro or before, there was little variation in color, form or habit. The colors are mostly yellow and gold shades with a trumpet form.

Uses of early blooming daylilies
Early blooming daylilies and Extra Early bloomers can add a whole new dimension to the garden. Daylilies are excellent for forming a flower backbone or base from which to work around. Use them as you would a bulb; rely on them for consistent   late spring bloom. Extremely hardy plants, they are not eaten by rodents and are very adaptable. The varied hues of yellow in the early daylilies contrast nicely with the blues, purples and whites of Siberian Iris, Campanulas , Tradescantia, and Centaureas which also bloom in June.    

 

        

   Eastern Sunburst very early pigmented hybrid        An Early Orange hued daylily                      Early Bird one of the first pigmented daylilies to bloom

 

  

 

Where do the earliest daylily hybrids come from?

The earliest of all daylilies are of course species. H. middendorfii, H. middendorfii and H. lilioasphedelus (flava) are the three species that are commonly found and extremely early. These early blooming species are consistent growers, performers and bloomers. Almost like bulbs these daylilies appear and bloom early in the season. Because of this early blooming, they can tolerate a bit of shade as there is a bit more sun at that time of the year.

The other great attribute is that there are many blue shade perennials blooming in June.

Campanula, Baptisia,  Tradescantia, and Iris are just a few blue hued daylilies blooming early in the season. Additionally the early blooms make a great backbone  for annuals such as Chinese Forget Me not, Allysum and more.

What we are doing at Olallie is vastly increasing the selection of early types. We are growing;
Colors: Yellows from butter to pale lemon yellow, Additionally recognizing the lack of other colors, we are working on reds and a variety of eyezone types.
Forms: Trumpet to star shaped to spidery.
Sizes: From 4" pony size to giant 6" blooms (rare in early bloomers).
Height: Scapes up to 38" with others at 18" are held just above the foliage.

As with many of the cultivars we are hybridizing, we like the simple clean lines of the species-like forms making the earlies we are developing easy to fit into a garden planting without looking too formal.

Another characteristic that has appeared on some of our early cultivars is dark reddish scapes and buds. This characteristic adds to the decorative feature of these cultivars. Even before the flowers open the red buds are like a garnet amongst the green.

As with many of the cultivars we are hybridizing, we like the simple clean lines of the species-like forms making the earlies we are developing easy to fit into a garden planting without looking too formal.

Another characteristic that has appeared on some of our early cultivars is dark reddish scapes and buds. This characteristic adds to the decorative feature of these cultivars. Even before the flowers open the red buds are like a garnet amongst the green.

                       

 

OK this really appeals to the science plant geek in me. I'm trying to overwinter peppers plants (they're perennial!) and they have aphids (aka plant lice). I've discovered the aphids are being parasitized by Aphidius wasps. These wasps are about the size of an apostrophe! It's cool and creepy as the wasps eat the aphids from the inside just leaving the lifeless husk.
The Aphidius wasps attack 40 different species of Aphids
The life cycle is such: Adult Aphidius wasps lay eggs in the Aphids (1 egg per Aphid I believe). The eggs hatch and the larvae feeds on the Aphid. The Aphid swells up as the larvae matures. The Aphidius wasps. then hatches out of the back end of the Aphid, leaving a lifeless husk.
One can see living Aphids of all sizes inter mingling with the dead Aphid husks. There is a theory that this is beneficial to the Aphids in that it makes it harder for the wasps to find the Aphids or at least differentiate them at first?
  
On the left living Aphids on pepper plants.                            Aphid cocoons and a close up of  aphids husks.
One winged adult Aphid in the center and below
Two empty Aphid husks with exit holes
 
On the right two Aphidius wasps surveying  a host of parasitized Aphid. A Red pepper acts as a colorful background.
 
 
 
 An ecosystem at my fingertips.  Live aphids, Aphid coccoons, and four Aphidius wasps. all in a space barely larger than my thumb!
 
The Aphidius wasps appeared spontaneously on pepper plants I'm trying to overwinter in my heated basement. The Aphids increase quickly and as such are a concern. I am seeing an enormous increase in numbers of the Aphidius wasps. Will they over take the Aphids, only time will tell. The pepper plants look much worse for the wear though
 
There are many suppliers of the Aphidius wasp on the internet. Here are two sources with additional information 
They can easily appear spontaneously too as mine did. They seem to work great in the low light situation of my walk-in basement.
They are of course harmless and it's amazing to see them flitting from leaf to leaf!

03-07

on bloom in 6/27/07

12-07

In bloom in 6/27/07

1-05

In bloom in 6/29/07

15-05

In bloom in 6/30/07

07-07

on bloom in 6/27/07

20-05

In bloom in 7/9/09

30-07

In bloom in 7/9/09

3-09

In bloom in 7/9/09

23-07

In bloom in 6/30/09

21-07

In bloom in 7/9/09

19-05

In bloom in 7/9/09

 

19-07

In bloom in 7/9/09

2-07

In bloom in 7/9/09