Flower power at Tower Hill

What could be more beautiful than a fragrant day lily opening at sunrise and closing by sunset?

How about thousands of day lilies blossoming in multicolored splendor at Tower Hill Botanic Garden?

An estimated 100 exhibitors and several vendors are expected to show a rich variety of day lilies in a one-day Saturday event, Patriot's Pride Daylily Show, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Boylston botanical garden.

Marvel at the kaleidoscope of colors from pale yellow to rose pink and deep grape. Inhale their scent. Learn secrets of cultivation from experts.

"Day lilies are the perfect New England flower," enthused Alexandra Turner, special events coordinator at Tower Hill. She said gardeners and vendors typically get up for the show "in the wee hours" of Saturday morning, cut and pack their day lilies for the drive to Boylston and then hurry to set them up for judging before they've wilted.

"We're expecting visitors and exhibitors from all the New England states and as far as Canada," she said. "We're in the height of day lily season."

Judges will evaluate day lilies according to national standards in several different categories based on color, size, variety and other qualities.

The day lily is classified scientifically as "hemerocallis," which is derived from the Greek words for "beauty" and "day."

Like the perennial day lily, Tower Hill has been holding an annual day lily show since "shortly after it opened" in 1989, said public relations director Michael Arnum.

"It's for everybody who appreciates flowers. You don't have to be a day lily-head to enjoy this show," he said.

Arnum said day lilies will be blossoming primarily in Tower Hill's Lawn Garden from July through mid-August.

He urged visitors, rather than spending all their time inside, to check out "more than 100 varieties" of day lilies in the Monocot Border of the Italianate Systematic Garden, which features 26 distinct plant families.

While day lilies are native to Asia, they have become increasingly popular among gardeners in Europe and the United States since the 1930s. Over the last 70 years, hybridizers have dramatically increased the range of colors from the commonplace yellow, orange and red to a fabulous mix of shades and hues.

Turner described day lilies as a "popular hardy perennial" that typically "blooms for one day and fades away." She said day lilies are often called "the perfect perennial" because of their varied sizes and shapes, resistance to drought and pests and suitability for most landscapes and soil types.

"Day lilies don't require lots of pesticides. They're easy flowers to hybridize and give unique colors and textures," said Turner. "Day lilies bloom during the summer. It's like they have a botanical clock that sets an exact time depending on their variety. They have a wonderful scent. Every home garden should have one."

After entrants' flowers are judged from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., all the day lilies will be displayed in the Orangerie from 1 to 5 p.m.

Turner said this year's event is "nationally accredited" by the American Hemerocallis Society. It has been organized by members of the Patriot Daylily Society, which meets monthly in Bedford, and the New England Daylily Society with support from Tower Hill staff.

At 2 p.m., Patriot Daylily Society President Kate Reed will make a presentation, "An Addiction to Daylilies," which was created for the University of Rhode Island's master gardener's program. The lecture is $10 for non-members.

Adele Keohan, a Wakefield resident who helped organize the show, said visitors will see many unusual varieties of day lilies far different from the "all-too familiar orange ditch lily." "People who might be new to day lilies can learn by seeing so many different varieties," she said.

A teacher who performs in community theater, Keohan said she's been "crazy over day lilies" for years because she enjoys learning about nature and meeting other like-minded gardeners.

"The appeal of day lilies is they are hardy plants that don't need much tampering. Once they're established they're very drought-tolerant," she said. "I really enjoy the social aspect of gardening because there's so much to learn. There's so many different varieties, you can have a garden with all different kinds of day lilies."

THE ESSENTIALS:

Tower Hill Botanic Garden is located at 11 French Drive, Boylston.

The day lily exhibition runs from 1 to 5 p.m.

The gardens are open year round, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and holiday Mondays. May through August only, the garden is open Wednesday until 8 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for youth 6-18; members and children under 6 are admitted free.

Exhibitors for the day lily exhibit can contact Patsy at patham@cox.net or call 401-965-8286.

For more information, call 508-869-6111 or visit www.towerhillbg.org.