It has become an evening ritual.

Elke and Michael gave a yellow daylily to Judy for Mother's Day when we lived in Benton. Our collection of daylilies has grown ever since. We have had several moves over the intervening years and we have taken the flowers with us. I created one bed by the pool in April before I retired. I made another large bed early this spring. Now we have nearly 50 varieties, that begin blooming in late May and continue through mid-August. The blooms only last for the day, and Judy likes to have fresh flowers each morning. So we gather up the spent blooms, "deadheads", each evening. By early July, we are gathering literally hundreds of blooms. Some do not look "over and done" as the photo above attests. But in the morning, they would be withered and drooping alongside the fresh blooms. I find it nearly as enjoyable to gather the blossoms each evening as it is to appreciate all of the new blossoms each morning, although I wish we used another word other than "deadhead". I'd like to say we are "gathering glory". Just another part of living in paradise at the "Hideaway".