Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "Daylilies Brightened My Day!" Story

Woodcrest Daylilies sign. Click on photographs to enlarge.

It was an ordinary day. Driving through Lancaster County's back roads, heading to Lititz, Pennsyl- vania to snap a few photographs for a story I am writing. Have driven this road many times while my parents were both residents at Moravian Manor Retirement Home in Lititz. Today I finally realized that the name of the road was Woodcrest Ave.

Entrance into the gardens.

And, the reason I now know that is because I made a remarkable discovery today when I passed a home at 603 Woodcrest Ave. In front of the home were flowers galore with a big sign attached to a fence that read "Woodcrest Daylilies". Made a quick "U"-turn, parked along the curb and headed to the property that was ablaze in brilliant colors everywhere. When Carol and I moved into our "Beach House" (aptly named, since it looks like a house at the shore) about 20 years ago, we planted the large bank along our driveway with daylilies.

Daylily from the gardens at our "Beach House."

Daylilies, as their botanical name "Hermero- callis" implies, are a perennial that is beautiful for a day. The blooms last one day but do have several stems that can average another dozen or so blooms that will allow the flower to have color for a week or more. I knocked at the door of the adjacent home and after finding no one at home, walked through the pathways in the garden, snapping a few photographs.

Breast Cancer Ribbon flower bed.

The place was amazing. Flowerbed after flowerbed with different themes to them. One such flowerbed was titled "Guardian Angel in the Breast Cancer Ribbon bed." It was designed to honor, support and inspire friends or family members who have battled breast cancer. All flowers in this bed were pink and gathered around the Guardian Angel in the middle of the flowers. Another Guardian Angel nearby is surrounded by purple blooms in support of all the various types of cancer. Their webpage for Woodcrest Daylilies tells that the co-owners and creators of the business are Michelle Bingham and Denise Freeman. They sell their daylilies at local farmer's markets as well as online at www.WoodcrestDaylilies.com. They have over 600 varieties in their six themed flower garden. I noticed that a few of the beds were lined with rope lighting and found a photo online showing the garden at night. The place is truly amazing. Needless to say I couldn't photograph all 600 varieties, but I did select my favorites to share with you. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did. it was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.