Though considered by many to be somewhat ordinary, I find the blooming of the first orange daylily a special event. It seems to me that the garden is celebrating, if not Independence Day, then the arrival of high summer. The daylily is the tallest flower in my garden right now, on a stalk that rises up over deep green, sturdy leaves. The fireworks this evening will be worthy of "oohs and ahhs" but, for this gardener, the explosion of fresh orange blossoms over a patch of white daisies is more satisfying. Ordinary? Perhaps, but also reliable, colorful, and vibrantly alive. I'm somewhat ordinary as well, but wouldn't mind being described by those adjectives.
photos by Aisling, July 4, 2008