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Fifth of the series, the theme of the monthly floral exhibition for May was daylily (hemerocallis aurantiaca). May is the month in which daylilies blossom. It's very sensitive flower having single-day life; as the evening falls they fade away. These flowers can be found in all colours except blue and white. Once planted one can enjoy daylilies for four years after which they stop blooming.
World over hundreds of hybrid varieties of daylilies are available. The flowers are funnel shaped with broad petals and sepals, usually fragrant.
Daylily stem length can be up to four feet. The conditions conducive to its growth are hot season, full sun or partial shade. Plants are hardy and need less care.
For their proper growth, ample quantity of organic matter is needed in the soil and frequent water applications at flowering. Their bulb-like seeds are planted between February and March. Planting gap could be two feet.
At the exhibition, beautiful yellow daylilies were on display, besides many fresh and dry floral arrangements created by the students of a three- month-long floriculture course being held at the Lawrence Garden under the agriculture department.
There was a competition for fresh floral arrangements among the students, to be judged by Dr Tariq Iqtadar, Director, Floriculture Department. The combined fresh flower arrangement by course participants stood first, while Ms Saboohi and Farida Bano bagged the second and third prizes, respectively. Special prize was given to Umme Kulsoom. The fresh flower arrangements comprised daylilies and other flowers.
Mr Iqtadar said 'We started these monthly floral exhibitions from January and they would continue till December'. In July an exhibition of summer flowers would be held in the Burney Garden, he added.
He said the daylily exhibition would remain open till midnight under artificial lights.
'We have arranged five tube lights of 500 watts each to keep them blooming till midnight.'
