In the F beds near the Gateway building is a group of Hemerocallis exaltata, the flower stalks reach two meters and then the buds burst open. Each trumpet like, bright yellow, flower only lasts for a day. Bees and other pollinating insects take the opportunity on a warm muggy day to fly from bloom to bloom as the opportunity arises.

Native to Japan this species is not suited to modern suburban gardens due to the amount of space the mature plant sprawls over. The long linear leaves collapse under their own weight, more rapidly after heavy rainfall. Dried, the foliage toughens and can be used to fashion rudimentary footwear.

Hemerocallis exaltata

Hemerocallis exaltata