Diamonds
10×14 watercolor on Arches rough finish watercolor paper. Original available.
Daylilies comprise the small genus Hemerocallis of flowering plants in the family Hemerocallidaceae. They are not true lilies which are Lilium in Liliaceae. DescriptionThe name Hemerocallis comes from the Greek words ἡμέρα (hēmera) “day” and καλός (kalos) “beautiful”. The flowers of most species open at sunrise and wither at sunset, possibly replaced by another one on the same stem the next day. Some species are night-blooming. Daylilies are not commonly used as cut flowers for formal flower arranging, yet they make good cut flowers otherwise as new flowers continue to open on cut stems over several days.
Originally native from Europe to China, Korea, and Japan, their large showy flowers have made them popular worldwide. There are over 60,000 registered cultivars. Only a few cultivars are scented. Some cultivars rebloom later in the season, particularly if their developing seedpods are removed.
Daylilies occur as a clump including leaves, the crown, and the roots. The long, often linear lanceolate leaves are grouped into flat fans with leaves arching out to both sides. The crown of a daylily is the small white portion between the leaves and the roots, an essential part of the fan. Along the flower stem or scape, small leafy “proliferations” may form at nodes or in bracts. These proliferations form roots when planted and are the exact clones of the parent plant. Some daylilies show elongated widenings along the roots, made by the plant mostly for water storage and an indication of good health.
The flower consists of three petals and three sepals, collectively called tepals, each with a midrib in the same or in a contrasting color. The centermost section of the flower, called the throat, has usually a different and contrasting color. There are six stamens, each with a two-lobed anther. After pollination, the flower forms a pod.
Daylilies can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 1 through 11, making them some of the most adaptable landscape plants. Most of the cultivars have been developed within the last 100 years. The large-flowered clear yellow ‘Hyperion’, introduced in the 1920s, heralded a return to gardens of the once-dismissed daylily, and is still widely available. Daylily breeding has been a specialty in the United States, where their heat- and drought-resistance made them garden standbys during the later 20th century. New cultivars have sold for thousands of dollars, but sturdy and prolific introductions soon reach reasonable prices.
Tawny Daylily Hemerocallis fulva, and sweet-scented H. lilioasphodelus (H. flava is an illegitimate name), colloquially called Lemon Lily, were early imports from England to 17th century American gardens and soon established themselves. Tawny Daylily is so widely growing wild that it is often considered a native wildflower. It is called Roadside or Railroad Daylily, and gained the nickname Wash-house or Outhouse Lily because it was frequently planted at such buildings.
Hemerocallis is one of the most hybridized of all garden plants, with registrations of new hybrids being made in the thousands each year in the search for new traits. Hybridizers have extended the plant’s color range from the yellow, orange, and pale pink of the species, to vibrant reds, purples, lavenders, greenish tones, near-black, near-white, and more. However, a blue daylily is a milestone yet to be reached.
Other flower traits that hybridizers develop include height, scent, ruffled edges, contrasting “eyes” in the center of the bloom, and an illusion of glitter or “diamond dust.” Sought-after improvements in foliage include color, variegation, disease resistance, the ability to form large, neat clumps and being evergreen or semi-evergreen instead of herbaceous (also known as “dormant” — the foliage dies back during the winter.)
A recent trend in hybridizing is to focus on tetraploid plants, with thicker petal substance and sturdier stems. Until this trend took root, nearly all daylilies were diploid. “Tets,” as they are called by aficionados, have double the number of chromosomes as a diploid plant. Only one cultivar is known to be triploid, the brilliant orange ‘Kwanzo’ or ‘Kwanso,’ which cannot set seed and is reproduced solely by underground runners (stolons) and division. Usually referred to as a “double,” meaning producing flowers with double the usual number of petals (e.g., daylily ‘Double Grapette’), ‘Kwanzo’ actually produces triple the usual number of petals. (information from Wikipedia)
Complete 2008
Diamonds belongs to the following groups:
A Single flower. 2 per day only , Dimensions, Fabulous Flowers, Fine Arts, Masterpiece: Art, Realist Traditional Art, Simply White Artwork Gallery, Vibrant Plants and Watercolour PaintingsAvailable for sale as Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
cherylc1, 7 months ago
gorgeous
jesika, 7 months ago
When the gods gave out talent, they certainly smiled on you, Barb.
beautiful.
j
Jim Phillips, 7 months ago
This is fantastic! Beautifully done.
BarbBarcikKeith in reply to jesika’s comment, 7 months ago
Thank you.. but do you know what’s great about this? With each piece completed.. I learn more and more.. and I’m really enjoying this journey!!
pat oubridge, 7 months ago
Absolutely beautiful Barb….....
Al Bourassa, 7 months ago
Your work is just incredible!
firstglance, 7 months ago
this is just beautiful well done!!!!
Kate Towers IPA, 7 months ago
fantastic!
Brian Towers, 7 months ago
How can this kind of work still be ‘available’ when buyers should be lining up at your door?
An absolutly astounding piece of art Barbara – and so much info’ to go with it.
Kathy Kuzma, 7 months ago
Gorgeous! Your work is amazing.
Jan Piller, 7 months ago
Beautiful beautiful work!
BarbBarcikKeith in reply to Brian Towers’s comment, 7 months ago
Thanks.. but the info comes from Wikipedia.. thought that instead of a blank spot, information would be nice..
JoanIreland1970, 7 months ago
awesome job!
Kim Oliver, 7 months ago
stunningly beautiful.
Tahnja, 7 months ago
goodness. LOVE the drops of water, wow
bmthour, 7 months ago
Another beauty.
Joanne A. Bradley, 7 months ago
Gorgeous! Excellent work: from the colors, lighting, shadows, angle. Just excellent!
frozenfa, 7 months ago
gosh… the details.. the shading of each water droplets.. amazing!! 8D
Lumineux, 7 months ago
Exquisite work, so finely detailed. A seriously beautiful art work.
Marinella Owens, 7 months ago
very beautiful!!!!
John R.P. Nyaid, 7 months ago
a water-color marvel, with those beads of moisture especially so.
Diana Maus, 5 months ago
I’ve loved a lot of flower paintings and this is one that really draws me in. That little burst of color!
shanmclean, 5 months ago
Just incredible… so jealous! :)
David Roman, 5 months ago
Great ! Very nicely done!
Glenda Remaklus, 5 months ago
Gorgeous lily….........love the coloring and waterdrops. superb!
Terry Krysak, 4 months ago
Absolutely Fabulous Work!!!!!
No less than perfection, you have a great talent.
aila, 4 months ago
Fantastic watercolour!Beautiful.
Ffion Rees, 4 months ago
Amazing!
Laura Barber-R..., 4 months ago
The drops of water are just beautiful!
Susan Moss, 4 months ago
Beautiful work in watercolour
Carolyn Bishop, 4 months ago
Absolutely awesome painting … right down to the finest detail! Wow!
salhunter, 4 months ago
Wonderful!
Estelle O'Brien, 3 months ago
This is truly an awesome painting…what skill and talent you have! Superb.
Carole Russell, 3 months ago
Stunning work, the dew drops are just captivating – what a great talent you have
loragarcelon, 3 months ago
This is amazing! The detail is wonderful – I’ll be studying this one a lot in the future.
Denise Martin, 3 months ago
This is truly beautiful, Barb – an inspiration!
Denise
ANNETTE HAGGER, 3 months ago
BEAUTFIUL, excellent work
Peter Zentjens, 3 months ago
What some people can do with watercolour is truly amazing….
Claudia Hansen, 3 months ago
Excellent!!! Just excellent!!!!!
bcody, 3 months ago
Beautiful work.
Susan Moss, 2 months ago
Absolutely beautiful work
BarbBarcikKeith, 2 months ago
Thank you all!!
Stzar, 2 months ago
stunning art ~ incredibly beautiful ~ i hope you will submit this magnificent work in my new group Dimensions. it is fantastic
BarbBarcikKeith in reply to Stzar’s comment, 2 months ago
wow.. thanks.. I will check your group out ..
Nathan Walraven, 2 months ago
Wow, exceptional picture, I love the details on the water beads and the centre of the flower. Beautiful capture!
BarbBarcikKeith in reply to Nathan Walraven’s comment, 2 months ago
You do realize that this is a piece of art.. and not a photograph
Nathan Walraven, 2 months ago
Lol, yes of course its a piece of artwork. Its just very well done, you captured the essence very well. The details are superb! Great job!
john cole, 2 months ago
this is just so fantabulous, thank you for sharing. John
BarbBarcikKeith in reply to Nathan Walraven’s comment, 2 months ago
Wasn’t trying to be a smarty.. just wanted to make sure you knew..
Nathan Walraven, 2 months ago
Oh I know that, no I was just trying to say I really like it:) You have a great deal of talent!!! Its beautiful!
BarbBarcikKeith in reply to Nathan Walraven’s comment, 2 months ago
Why thank you!!!!
Sharon Mau, 2 months ago
Fabulous commentary, I very much enjoy the wonderful wealth of information you provided on these beautiful flowers. This is an exquisite painting, your use of light and soft subtle colours are most excellent, it is very beautiful!! Congratulations on your wonderful feature today in the Dimensions group. I wish you a sparkling day! Sharon
Sharon Mau, 2 months ago
It is a beautiful greeting card!
Sharon Mau, 2 months ago
And it looks fantastic matted and framed!!
Stzar, 2 months ago
BarbBarcikKeith in reply to Stzar’s comment, 2 months ago
wow.. thank you so much..
Dobromira Dobreva, 2 months ago
Fantastic work!
skyhorse, 2 months ago
barb, that is absolutely incredible – instant fav
Cariad, about 1 month ago
Simply succulent!! ♥ Wonderful light and depth ♥