Zone: Inner Walkway (The Kitchen Pharmacy)

Season of Interest: Late Spring to Early Summer

 (May – June)

The Doctor’s Notes (Medicinal Use)

In Dr. Woodward’s time, the Daylily was recognized for its cooling and detoxifying properties. It was a common "backyard" remedy for:

• Anti-Inflammatory: The roots and leaves were crushed into a cool poultice to reduce swelling from boils or physical trauma.

• Pain Relief: Historically used as an analgesic (pain reliever) for minor aches and as a diuretic to help "cleanse" the system.

• Antidote: In early botanical lore, extracts were sometimes used in attempts to treat minor poisonings or to calm the nerves.

The Household Assistant (Kitchen Use)

The Daylily was an extremely versatile plant for a self-sufficient homestead like the Woodwards'.

• A Nutritious Vegetable: Nearly every part of the plant is edible. The early spring shoots were cooked like asparagus, and the dried flower buds (known as "golden needles") added flavor and thickness to soups.

• Tuber Harvest: The small, nut-like tubers on the roots were often dug up, boiled, and eaten like potatoes.

• Natural String: The long, dried leaves were occasionally twisted into cordage for tying bundles of herbs or light garden tasks.

Botanist’s Corner

• Form: An extremely hardy perennial that forms large, grassy clumps.

• Foliage: Features long, arching strap-like leaves that remain green and lush throughout the growing season.

• Flowers: Known for its fragrant, lemon-yellow trumpet blooms. Each individual flower lasts for only one day, but the plant produces a succession of buds that keep it in bloom for weeks.