Plant of the Week: Daylilies

SOLAR ORIENTATION. Solar Calendar is in many ways the cradle and cusp of civilization. The sun set recently over Antarctica and will not rise again for 6 months. With over 1/3rd of our planet frozen knowing and planning the other 2/3rds can rely on our relationship with the Sun. Ask any Daylily how important that can be.

Our ancestors were very careful about how their land was situated. Besides understanding drainage, soil fertility and available potable water the track of their only heat bearing light bulb, the Sun, received a lot of attention. We can relate to them following a few easy steps.

Site planning for Solar Orientation when choosing building location received little attention zoning, cheap energy and “curb appeal” ruled the site for buildings built in cities and suburbs after 1945 rarely took this aspect into account. A brief period following the Yom Kippur War of 1973 to oil price collapse in 1979 saw it come back to the fore rather than an afterthought, time for a come back?

Understanding sunlight on a site is something that can be as easy as looking up at the right time. With exception of areas close to the Equator, where daily daylight time remains near constant,  the farther from the Equator the more dramatic the change in day/night length. Plants and animals play special attention to the change in solar minutes each day. Ask an Elk if he or she notices when it is Fall as in falling day length. A bird or two has decided it is a good time to go North or South to find available food and egg making opportunities depending on how the Sun is choosing to show itself. Plants are tied to the ground a bit more, as are we.

Roof orientations on single family homes were and are critical for sound living in an efficient way. My ancestors on the isle of Islay off Scotland and Northfield Massachusetts did not have the chance at solar panels nor did our Indian friends here with their longhouses.  Three centuries away from that, improving opportunities has been getting 1970’s style attention even of government “experts”.  Without the dole or the cocktail bragging rights many plants have been paying attention long before humans stood up.

From Nova Scotia to New Zealand gardeners and Daylilies share a common experience. Using the 45th parallel as an example, total daylight lengths are identical at this point in our Planet’s history. The Solar Clock is exactly 50 % of the calendar we all pay bills with. Knowing and understanding not just its length but the change in angle is a fun and useful act. Equator opposite is the Polar position. Setting sun the Spring of each means it will not set again for months, Fall Sunset means dark for months. Knowing your latitude is useful but not necessary, looking up in the sky while standing in your yard or choosing a window in your home will give you the information you need. 10 AM, Noon, and 2PM and are my favorites. Travelling all over the world can give sunrise and sunset a wonderful experience and photo opportunities but midday sun height and angles are more useful.

Plants exist because of sunlight. Photosynthesis is the process they use to create fiber, energy and roots. Eons of development have created a myriad of plants that depend on sunlight and thankfully have added color to compete for the attention of insects and other creature that help them reproduce by spreading their pollen and seeds. Elk are a bit more dramatic but have similar goals.

Deer and rabbits get hungry and enjoy the plants that are popular in many human settled areas.  Daylilies are sometimes popular with both. These wonderful, colorful plants can help us know and understand our properties and planet position. They are colorful, spread readily when happy and bring color to our days, not our vases or nights. They are tasty and safe to eat by and large by us. Find a place on your land or a spot in a planter outside your window that has a sunny time from 10 to 2 year around and you will both be happy.

As the sun sets and the flower fades expect both to reliably add color to your life daily, and reliably.

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Peter F. Alexander, Landscape Architect Planner
A traditional practicing professional who designs and accomplishes projects from Perennial Gardens to Regional Planning. Inspired by Norman Newton, Peter Goldmark and Michael Everett he is dedicated to restore Landscape Architecture as the primary effort by mankind to plan for the future. Insisting on inclusion of fun and positive conclusions for all is the base. Copies of the book can be made available by contacting pfalexla@gmail.com a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the By River Parks Foundation.