Nearly a decade from their initial attempts of planting the perennial daylilies into their flower beds, two area men have cultivated some spectacular results. Gerry Harms of Rapid City and John Kung of Rapid Valley both began their floral journey into these multicolored hybrids about eight years ago in their respective flower gardens. Both progressed to daylilies after suffering through years of frustration with other flowers.

"My whole idea of planting daylilies was started after working with tulips that came from Holland," Harms said.

Harms, 71, works about 45 to 50 hours a week in his flower beds, keeping his lilacs, peonies, dahlias and geraniums well-tended. But right now, his daylilies are putting on a spectacular display that he's showing off to friends and neighbors.

"We have some to knock your socks off," he said.

Kung, 58, grew frustrated with his bearded irises. Luckily, his wife's Texas grandfather sent some daylilies to plant. Soon, Kung was smitten.

"I'm addicted," he said.

Kung began gardening about 25 years ago. He credits his mother, who asked him to help separate her iris bulbs for her, but both of Kung's parents were avid gardeners.

"My children aren't gardeners yet," he added.

Eight years ago, he put some daylilies in a section of the yard.

"Now it's pretty much all daylilies," he said.

His flowers are planted on raised beds as well as near the house, which accounts for the early blooms "because they get the warmth from the house." Depending upon maturity, a normal scape (stalk) will get 20 to 30 blooms, but it will only bloom one at a time.

"It can last three to four weeks," he said of one flowering scape.

Kung describes the flower as "the perfect perennial." For being an impatient gardener, it helps that they don't mind the heat, they recover well from severe weather and they will grow in just about anything, he said. They grow in fairly decent topsoil; add compost to enrich the soil to make them do their best. Kung appreciates the more unusual blooms for their looks. They come in a variety of colors and combinations, except blue. "Everyone is hybridizing for a blue daylily and they're getting close," he said.

Kung can name the varieties of the lightly scented flowers that make up his gardens, which is a feat in itself.

"We counted the other day and we figured we had 140 varieties," he said.

Harms doesn't know the names of his varieties, he just knows what looks good.

"I'm an outdoor nut. It's fun to be outside in Mother Nature. You're here for a short time and you ought to make the joint look a little better while you're here," Harms said.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.