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Community Corner

Daylilies Put on a Show for Annual "Open Garden"

Davidsonville couple to host yearly daylily extravaganza. Hundreds expected to visit magnificent display in Foxhall neighborhood.

If you’ve ever yearned for an education on daylilies, then head on over to Faith and Jerry Bange’s “Open Garden” today. Located in the Foxhall neighborhood in Davidsonville, the Bange's garden is a one-stop-shop for lily enthusiasts, offering a stunning selection of some 1,100 varieties—in all different shapes, sizes and colors.  

Faith and Jerry have long been known for their magnificent garden. Filled with beds containing dazzling daylilies and colorful perennials, the garden covers approximately an acre of land.  

The Bange's fascination for daylilies began merely as a hobby in the early 1990’s when Jerry brought home a few seedlings from a trip to North Carolina. Thinking little of it, Faith planted the daylilies and tended to them for several years.

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In 2001, Faith came across an ad for the National Capital Daylily Club sale at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Intrigued by the club announcement, Faith and Jerry trekked down to the Arboretum to check out the sale.

Upon arriving, the Banges were both impressed and amazed by what they saw.

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“When we got to the sale, I was astonished at how daylilies had changed so dramatically,” Faith said. “The lilies at the Arboretum were not just trumpets like those in my garden. These flowers had ruffles and glitter among many other fascinating attributes. I was captivated.”

The Bange’s interest intensified as they started joining daylily clubs, attending seminars, and talking to local growers. “I interjected myself into the hobby,” explains Faith. “It was no longer a pastime but a passion.” 

Truly a joint venture, Faith researched and selected the plants while Jerry prepared the beds. Faith estimates they spend about six hours a day in the garden, tending to the lilies and other perennials.

Throughout the years, the selection of daylilies in the Bange’s garden grew from a couple hundred to the thousands represented today. The splendid collection is a result of plants acquired from club members, friends, sales and auctions. In 2005, the Bange’s garden was named as an “Official Display Garden of the American Hemerocallis Society.”

"These daylilies are not your ordinary plants found in many home gardens," Faith said.  "They are very unique with names such as “Float Like a Butterfly,” “Milk Chocolate,” “Our Sweet Caroline,” “Eyes Wide Shut,” “Web Browser,” “String Bikini” and “Elvis”.  

Faith and Jerry are, not surprisingly, very involved in the industry. They are members of the Freestate Daylily SocietyNational Capital Daylily ClubSouthern Virginia Daylily Club and the Blueridge Area Daylily Society. Jerry is the current president of the National Capital Daylily Club while Faith is a garden exhibition show judge.

See for Yourself

The Bange’s first Open Garden was held in 2004. Since then, hundreds of daylily lovers from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have descended upon the Bange property to view the spectacular display.

This year’s Open Garden is being held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. today (June 25) at the Bange's residence at 3508 Foxhall Drive. Select daylilies are for sale and prices range from $5 to $75. Folks unable to attend this weekend’s event may visit the garden anytime during the growing season which is the last week of June through the third week of July.

For additional information, contact Faith and Jerry Bange at 410-798-9207. If no one answers, check the garden. Chances are you’ll find them tending to their stunning array of prize-winning daylilies.

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