Hi everyone, I'm back... ok this is no such a thing that could definitely change your lives
I had a long stressing period, one of my beloved cat died from cancer, in the meanwhile his brother was under therapy for one problem first, then for another one.. I guess my head wasn't here and willing to partecipate.
I still have my daylilies, many new crosses should bloom this year for the first time (I hope), I found a severe infestation of Otiorhynchus (is there a common name?) and all the plants are chopped almost to the ground especially new leaves.

This year I decided to plant some lilies bulbs, I planted them a bit late (like yesterday ) and want to see how they will do in my garden.
Now I am ready to look at all the new and beatiful picture I know you all always post on here!
And, as always, pardon me if my english is not perfect.

Sabrina, I'm so sorry to hear that you cat died. It's like losing a family member!

We've had a cool spring here in Florida, and my elephant ears are not growing, but the daylilies are loving it! I'm going to post some more pictures.

As always, you English is just fine! You don't want any of us to try to speak Italian!

Thank you Arlene!
Yes they are family members. It's been hard because he was a special cat, he was the boss, took care of the others cats and of me.
Oh and back in september the family grew again, we found two little abandoned kittens and took them home with us!
Winter is been a bit colder an longer than the past years, I check DLs everyday to see if I can see a scape but nothing. Even stella de Oro is late!!

Sorry to hear about your cat Sabrina. I have one on chemotherapy now. The other broke a tooth and then I found out he also broke his jaw. Both seem to be doing fine but they haven't had a recent checkup so we'll see how it goes. I know how painful it is to lose a pet and how stressful it is to try and nurse them back to health.:grouphug:

I have no idea what your weather is like but my lilies are just starting to pop up now so you may not be too late planting them. The daylilies are looking really good this year (not sure why). I'm hoping I have a really good bloom season but it's way too early for me to have scapes. I'm also hoping a lot of new seedlings bloom. Just have to wait and see.

Elena, I'm so sorry for your cat, big hugs to you. For Dot (this is was his name) no chemiotherapy, it was too late, he never showed pain or suffering, he started to having difficulties eating then we found he had three different cancers. In 20 days he left this world.

As I was writing before everything here it's late but this winter has been a more "normal" winter for our zone, so I'll just wait and see. I have to take care of this otiorhynchus because damage is getting too much.

I'd never heard of this weevil before. I guess we have them in North America too but I've never seen them. I didn't find anything online that said they bothered daylilies but maybe our species here doesn't but yours does. I read that they damage the roots of plants and that some predatory nematodes will kill the grubs. I know they sell the nematodes here but I'm not sure about Europe.

Yes they are eating almost everything in the garden, from what I know they are not species related. Larvae eat roots, adults eat foliage. I know about nematodes and I can get them here too, I have a specific insecticide too and I can't decide on using it or not. It takes care of aphids, ants, many insects. I already saw ants on leaves so maybe aphids are already here too!

Oh, I forgot to say WELCOME BACK!!!! We've missed you.

florange said:Oh, I forgot to say WELCOME BACK!!!! We've missed you.

@bxncbx, Elena, since you grow lilies, could you tell me how long do they need to pop out when first planted? They where in bags with some sort of dry chips. One of them had a mouldy point I took off some of the affect "leaves" of the bulb and planted.

Sabrina I planted my lilies years ago. I must have planted them in the Spring and I'm pretty sure they bloomed the same year. They come dry here too and I think it was only a few weeks before they sprouted. They can grow really quickly in the right conditions (lots of sun and some rain but not too hot). Mine bloom midsummer but I only have lilium regale and a couple of non-oriental lilies. I think some of the oriental lilies bloom earlier?

on the loss of you beloved cat, Sabrina. It is good to see you posting again. Look forward to seeing your Daylily photos and post.

Thanky @bxncbx, Elena! Mine are some oriental, some asiatic and one is longiflorum (I read that this should be a different type too). I don't know lilies at all!

GaNinFl said: on the loss of you beloved cat, Sabrina. It is good to see you posting again. Look forward to seeing your Daylily photos and post.

Thank you very much Stan

So sorry to hear about the death of your kitty, Sabrina.
I am glad that you have new kitties to love and are back here.

cybersix said:Thanky @bxncbx, Elena! Mine are some oriental, some asiatic and one is longiflorum (I read that this should be a different type too). I don't know lilies at all!

Welcome back, Sabrina, and sorry about your cat problems. I just wanted to make sure you are aware that true lilies, such as Lilium longiflorum, are toxic to cats.

@Jillz, many thanks, there's a happy gang of six cats, Dot was one of the oldest, there are his brother Comma, Dash, then the youngest, females, Rose, Pezzy and the two we found on the road, Orange and Pumpkin. I sure have company!

@Sooby, Sue, so happy to read you again! I read that lilies are toxic to cats, for now the cats don't have access to the garden. It's a really small piece of garden among other houses and too near to the road.
We found a house we like a lot, with a big garden, so if we will able to buy it I plan to divide it in two to make a safe garden for cats and a place just for flowers. So both flowers and cats will be safe!

I'm happy to see you back, Sabrina! I had wondered where you had gone .

Welcome back, Sabrina. I am so sorry about your cats. I hope the ill one makes a good recovery. We are having a slow spring this year, too, but the weather is better here now, so hopefully things will start progressing.

Welcome back, Sabrina. I'm so sorry to hear of your kitty. And I hope your brother is doing better.

It's good to have you back and I'm looking forward to you sharing all of your blooms.