Day Lilies Along The Roadsides

 

Riding along the country roads in Alabama this time of year, the ditches are lined in places with the common orange day lily. I love them. They are so big and bright for wildflowers. I call them wildflowers; they might as well be. They came to this country with the first homesteaders. This flower rarely produces a seed, but spreads vegetatively from the thick roots. It is a clone and all day lily plants have the same genetic make up. They take care of themselves and hold their own against the grasses and even the herbicide the road crews put out. The herbicide knocks them back temporarily, but they spring back again. The mowers may cut off the flowers, but they will return to smile again as if nothing ever happened. All parts of the common day lily are edible: flowers, stems,leaves, and roots. I have not personally eaten them, but how bad could they be really? Some orange petals would really perk up a green salad. They can even be dried and added to winter salads for color.Wine can be made from the spent blooms, and as with almost anything, they can be fried. Fritters are made from the flowers or they can be pan seared. The leaves and roots can be eaten raw or cooked. Remember this when hard times come.