Preparation of New Seedling Beds

Good Afternoon Daylily Friends,

Well I have been in the process of trying to get ready for 2010 by preparing some new gardens beds. I started behind my barn, and used my tractor to loosen and till the soil. I knew that there would be tree roots because I have pine trees and oak trees nearby the beds. Using the tractor was the easy part. I passed over the beds several times, and the tree roots were really diminished. After I used the tractor I had to wait to do additional work because it kept raining so much. Finally, this week, the weather cleared, and I was able to line out the beds. The beds are 28 feet long. Each bed is five (5) feet wide, and the walking rows are three and one-half (3 1/2) feet wide. I am showing a picture of some of the adjacent trees.

I then started to dig out the first walking row. I dug the row down just a little over one foot. In fact, I am showing a picture of the row. As I dig out the row I throw the dirt onto the five foot bed that will be planted. This does two things. The area beneath the soil that has been turned by the tractor is without roots, and the dirt that I move onto the row is also without any tree roots. After the dirt is totally removed and placed into the row to be planted, I then take rotted wood chips and fill the walking row. This is hard work. The rotted wood chips have been deteriorating for two years. In the walkway they will continue to deteriorate. Ultimately they will be moved into the row to be planted. I am showing pictures of the two walking rows that were excavated.

My friend Jeff Glauser has come to visit. I will come back and finish this post later today. News about Jeff's visit: Jeff brought a set of "The Daylily Journal" that has publications dating back to 1953. These were brought to me by Jeff from our Club member, Ira Pegues. Ira is one of our charter members. Jeff also brought to me a "Color Chart" published by "The Royal Horticultural Society." This was also a gift coming from our friend Ira. Thanks Ira for the Journals and for the Color Chart. Our Club will ultimately decide how we should use the Journals. I will simply put the Color Chart to good use. It was a special time that we had with Jeff. I might also add that Jeff is an Art Teaches in Fulton County, he loves daylilies, and he is a tremendous skater. Thanks Jeff for coming to visit!

It has begun to rain. So, it is a good thing that I made the progess that I did on the new beds. Although these will be new beds, they are a long way from being completely finished, and ready for planting. I have checked with my neighbors, Todd and Kris Wooten, and they have agreed to suppy me with plenty of "horse manure." Todd and Kris have eight horses, and so they have plenty of manure. Then, even though I will apply the horse manure, I will also apply 10-10-10 fertilizer, and plenty of lime. Then the beds will be completely tilled. It is important to work during these winter months to get ready to move plants from the Greenhouse, and to be ready to place selected Greenhouse seedlings. I showing two pictures of the beds as they appeared today before it began to rain.

I'm so much looking forward to the New Year!

Bill

Christmas, 2009

Hello Daylily Friends,

As most of my daylily friends know, I practiced law before I retired. I decided that I wanted to do something other than practice law, and what I wanted to do more than anything was to grow daylilies, "full time." My law partner and my friend, James Wilson, has been so steadfast and close, and it is always a delight to see James and his lovely wife Margie. James and Margie have two sons. The eldest son is Brian who works in the television business with his uncle in South Georgia. The youngest son is Michael who is studying to be a Doctor. Well, Brian and Michael were home with James and Margie, and Michael brought his new friend, Vivian, who is also studying to be a Doctor. Well, the occasion was so special that I took our picture. I want you to see us all together at James and Margie's house on Christmas Eve. From left to right, myself, Michael, Vivian, Margie James, Brian and Diana.

As I look back over the past 24 hours the time has been just electric and exciting. After we came home from visiting with James and Margie and their family, Diana began to prepare a wonderful dinner. You may recall several posts back when I noted that Diana prepared the Porterhouse steaks and how well I liked them. Well, about a week ago we were at Costcos and Diana purchased several more Porterhouse steaks. She prepared these for our Christmas Eve dinner. Our daughter Kelley Rae and her husband Michael came over and we just enjoyed a wonderful dinner. I washed the dishes and off we went to our Church, which is the First United Methodist Church here in Marietta, Georgia. The service started at 7:30 p.m., and we were in our seats at the proper time. I wish I could have taken a picture when the Sanctuary was aglow with almost 1,000 lit candles while the congregation sang "Holy Night." I knew that I should not take a picture in our Church Sanctuary, but I had my camera at my side. Then, our friend Michelle began to play the violin. I went ahead and took a picture. My dear wife quickly objected! I put the camera away, but I had the picture. So, I took some risk in taking the picture, but it is here for you to see.

We came back home and exchanged gifts with each other. I received three shirts, a television remote control, candy, a Claxton fruit cake, and the joy of being with my family.

Today, Christmas day, I was up at 5:30 a.m. I immediately went to the Greenhouse to make sure that there would not be any watering of the daylilies. I then went down the driveway and picked up the morning papers. I came back and read the papers and soon Diana was up and moving. We had breakfast, I read over my e-mails and checked my website and my blog. Soon, Michael and Kelley arrived along with their little gray cat, Stinky. Diana prepared a ham for Christmas dinner. She boiled the ham: 1/2 of the ham was boiled for 30 minutes, then the other side of the ham was likewise boiled for 30 minutes. She then baked the ham for one hour. It was just delicious. Kelley's little cat Stinky was all over the house. Our cat Sammy did not particularly like Stinky, so Sammy stayed outside. After dinner we all went to the Greenhouse where I took our picture. The featured party in the picture is Stinky. Stinky ran all over the Greenhouse, hiding among the daylilies. Stinky is just the best little kitten and Kelley loves him so much! We came back from the Greenhouse and looked at video pictures of Kelley when she was at Youth Camp. So much fun. Soon, Michael and Kelley and Stinky went home and we regretted to see them go.

Diana and I then went across the street to visit David and Camilla. Camilla just prepared a fabulous feast. They had their three children and their friends and wives with them, along with four grandchildren. Just so much fun. Then Diana and I came home to rest. Christmas is a great day.

Bill

Dormant? What do you think?

Good Morning Daylily Friends,

This morning I went again to check Seedling 9-38, which is growing outside in the cold, cold weather. Already we have had many frosts and many nights when the temperature was below freezing. I have previously reported that I thought that Seedling 9-38 was Semi-evergreen. Well, I am now moving toward deciding that 9-38 is dormant. I am noticing that there are varying degrees of dormancy. Some dormants just turn completely yellow, and decline completely into the ground. Others do the same thing, but it just takes longer for the process to be completed. If Seedling 9-38 is dormant, then it becomes a much more interesting daylily. It already has a gorgeous color, some teeth, and that wonderful green edge. I am showing a picture of 9-38, the flower, and then a picture of 9-38 as it appears this morning. What do you think? From what you see is 9-38 a dormant or is it a semi-evergreen? I'm looking forward to your thoughts.

I am also showing a picture of 8-96, the flower, and then a picture of the foilage as it likewise appears this morning. I know for certain that 8-96 is dormant. I watched it all winter last year, so I know for certain that it is dormant. You can see from looking at the 8-96 foilage that it is all yellow, and that it has practically and almost completely receded into the ground. The degree of dormancy of 9-38, as compared to 8-96, is much more complete. But I think to myself, what difference would it make if both were dormant. More dormant, not as dormant but still dormant? What difference does it make? It would seem to me that both would survive just fine in the coldest of climates. Hope this additional information helps answer my question about the dormancy of 9-38.

Well, it is December 24, 2009, and it is Christmas Eve. Last night our good friends David and Camilla Arthur came over to visit. They brought us several wonderful gifts. One gift was "Smoked Salmon" that David cooked on his "Smoker." Oh is it delicious! Just an incredible flavor. I cannot stop snacking on this delightful treat. Another gift was "Muscadine Jelly" that Camilla made this past Summer. In my post on September 16, 2009, I noted that Camilla was picking the Muscadines from behind the Greenhouse. I then openly mused in my post, the following statement: "Maybe Diana and I will be able to try Camilla's Jelly." Well, Camilla remembered the post and presented us with a jar of her Muscadine Jelly. She also gave us a loaf of cake to use to taste the Jelly. Just such wonderful surprises. It is good to have the Arthurs as friends!!!

Again, I'm looking forward to your thoughts as to whether Seedling 9-38 is dormant.

Bill

Merry Christmas from the Cobb County Daylily Society

Hello Daylily Friends:

Over the past three years our Cobb County Daylily Society has met at several restaurants for a Christmas dinner together. All of our Christmas dinners were delightful, and were enjoyed by all of our members. However, we noticed that we did not get to talk to each other as much as we would have liked. We would sit next to each other, but with 40 to 60 members present, we could not communicate as much as we would have liked. So, we received a tremendous suggestion from Jack and Cynthia Rigsby. Cynthia is our Hospitality Chairman, and Jack is our Treasurer. Jack and Cynthia volunteered to have our Christmas dinner at their home. A fabulous suggestion! Although our Club has been in existence only five years, we now have a treasury with funds totaling over $5,000.00. What better way to be close to each other, to move about freely, to talk, and to enjoy each others' fellowship. So, our Club officers decided to spend part of the funds in our treasury to pay for our Christmas dinner. You can see several of our members arriving at Jack and Cynthia's home.

In the first picture above, from left to right, are Doris and David Bishop, and Jim Clements. In the second picture above, from left to right, are Camilla Arthur, Deborah Pitts, and Sharon Box.

Well the preparations that Jack and Cynthia made for our dinner were just tremendous. They teamed with Diana Waldrop and Camilla Arthur and just made a gourmet spread. We had large shrimp, filet mignon, and wonderful ham. There was fruit, there was coconut cake, there were treats with caramel, pecan, and small pretzels. There was wassel to drink, and many other additonal choices. I'm showing a picture of Cynthia at one of the serving tables. To Cynthia's right is our new member, Katie Lou Greene. I'm particularly pleased that Katie Lou is a member because in high school, over 46-48 years ago, I was close friends with her brother Luke Williams. Luke now operates a stone business where he sells gravel, slate and anything else that has to do with stone work. Again, it is a small world to now have Luke's sister as a daylily friend. I'm also showing a picture of our friend, Gene McCord, as he prepares to simple the shrimp. Gene knows how to choose the best in an ultimate cuisine. In the background, to Gene's left, is Carolyn Herndon.

We all just gathered and talked about our past year, and the fun we had in growing God's most beautiful creation, the daylily. There is no club in all of Cobb County, Georgia, that it is better to be a member of than the Daylily Society. Not the Purple-Hat-Club, or the Blue-Hat-Club, or even the Red-Hat-Club. As I say, the best club is the club that is all about beautifying the county, the country and the world. When we had our Joint Flower Show with the Greater Atlanta Daylily Society at the Galleria Mall in June, we had 496 entries. Three more entries and we would have had more entries than any other club anywhere in the United States. In 2010 I'm sure that we will have more entries than any other Club. We also talked about John Kinnebrew's program. We know John because he came to speak to our Club in February, 2009. We also talked about Nicole Harry's program. We know Nicole because she came to speak to our Club in September, 2009. We even talked about our AHS National Convention that will take place in Valdosta, Georgia, in 2010. I'm showing several of our members as they discussed these wonderful topics.

I should also note that we had two new members to attend our Christmas dinner. The first new member is Lynn Rose Padfield, and the second new member is Henry Bogatay. Lynn and Henry have different last names, but they are husband and wife. They were invited to our club by our long time member, Ms. Eileen Simms. I'm showing a picture of Lynn and Henry standing in front of the Christmas tree.

We had over 40 of our members present for our Christmas dinner, and although we had planned to be together from about 4:00 p.m. until about 6:00 p.m., we actually stayed at Jack and Cynthia's home until about 8:00 p.m. Thanks Jack and Cynthia for your wonderful hospitality.

The end of 2009 has come, and we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ who is God's gift to us from his unending stream of pure love. Merry Christmas to all!

Bill

Travelling with Larry

Hello Daylily Friends,

I talked to my good friend Larry Grace, and Larry suggested that we go to Rollingwood Garden, which is the garden of Jeff and Elizabeth Salter in Gainesville, Florida. Jeff and Elizabeth have put their 2010 introductions out for sale, and their plants are so delightful. Larry and I could not resist; we just had to have those Salter daylilies. I'm showing a picture of Elizabeth selecting the pots that Larry and I were purchasing. I'm also showing a picture of Larry, Elizabeth, Jeff and myself after all of the newly purchased daylilies were placed in Larry's truck. I must also say that this past week I came across a booklet published by Jeff and Elizabeth back in 2002. The primary introduction was MORT MORSS which is still in significant demand here in 2009. Another introduction was Elizabeth's OUT OF THE BLUE. Confidentially, I have seen flowers created using TET. OUT OF THE BLUE and they are just incredible! Elizabeth and Jeff are both so talented. After leaving Rollingwood Garden Larry and I headed to Ted Petit's garden which is known as Le Petit Jardin.

At Ted's we were so pleased to walk through his greenhouse where he has over 7,000 seedlings growing at "Sunshine-Speed," which is daylily talk for very fast growth. Ted told us that he used a new soil called "Jungle Growth" for his new seedlings. All of the seedlings were first grown in 3-inch peat pots. Then the Jungle Growth soil was placed in the Greenhouse. Next, the soil was covered with a mesh cloth. There are seven rows in each section, and each of the seven rows are one foot apart. Ted uses "Snapshot" to control the emergence of weeds, and he fertilizes with Neutracote. Larry and I had the unique opportunity to see a number of Ted's future seedlings. I also decided that I must aditionally have Ted's 2010 RUFFLES HAVE RIPPLES. This new seedling is very important because it also has "circular rings" along with a wonderful, matching double/triple edge. Ted is truly a great hybridizer!

Larry and I were privileged to have stayed the night with Ted and Susan at their home close to their garden. We all went to dinner together, talked about daylilies, and had a wonderful evening. I was very, very tired so I went to bed first, but Ted and Larry talked about daylilies until close to midnight. Promptly at 5:45 a.m. Larry and I left Ted's headed toward Larry's house.

At Larry's Graceland Gardens I was especially privileged to see Larry's 2010 Spring Introductions. They were all so large, and growing so well in three-gallon buckets. Larry's new introductions can be found by looking at his website which is as follows: gracelandgardens.com. I particularly like BUT NOW I SEE which has Tet. Blue Oasis as a parent. To my knowledge, this is the first introduction where Tet. Blue Oasis has been used as a parent. I also like TREASURE THAT I SEEK, which uses Jelly Maker as a parent. Obviously, Jelly maker made TREASURE THAT I SEEK have have more branches and even more buds. I also like LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN. It has Larry's ANGELS GATHER AROUND as a parent, and the other parent is one of my seedlings. The "green-edge" on LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN comes from Larry's ANGELS GATHER AROUND. Anyone would also enjoy Larry's BRIAR PATCH. Those "teeth" are just delightful on such a lovely, dark colored daylily. Indeed, I like all of Larry's introductions, and it is my understanding that they are being well-received by the "daylily-world."

It was just wonderful to take a daylily vacation to Alabama and Florida, see daylily friends, add new daylilies to my collection, and be even better prepared for Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, our Cobb County Daylily Society will have its "Christmas-Festival" at the home of Jack and Cynthia Rigsby this coming Sunday, on December 20, 2009. The fun begins at 4:00 p.m., and will continue until all daylily conversation is concluded, and all of the delightful appetizers are devoured! It is indeed "fun" to be a member of our local club. I'll make another post after we have enjoyed our Christmas-Festival!

Bill

Helping the Growing Tip Emerge!

Good Morning Daylily Friends,

As you know I have been in the process of converting a number of daylilies. One in particular that I am trying to convert is Elizabeth Salter's METRO BLUE. Lovely daylily. I like the pattern, and I've noticed that daylily gardeners in general are likewise attracted to patterns. So, I bought METRO BLUE from Elizabeth, grew enough so as to treat four, and it appears that I may get all four converted. I am showing a picture of METRO BLUE so that you can see the pattern. From looking at my second picture, you can see that METRO BLUE is "capped." That is to say, the foilage overlaps other foilage such that the growing tip becomes hidden. It is important to keep the daylily trimmed so that the growing tip can freely grow upward. This is important to keep the plant from becoming diseased and die. So, I am showing myself using a knife to cut METRO BLUE. Then, after the cutting is completed, I am showing another picture where I am applying powder. The powder helps because it prevents disease, and because it keeps the plant dry at the places where the plant is cut. If you have a daylily that you are trying to convert, and if it is not capped as is shown here with METRO BLUE, then your conversion candidate is probably not going to be a tetraploid. The capping takes place on all daylilies that I have grown that were ultimately converted. So, the step of keeping the path open for the upward growth of the growing tip is very, very important.

Those who have been keeping an eye on my conversion posts will recall that I have been focusing on WAXEN SPLENDOR, plant number three. It is still doing fine. I have cut and removed foilage, I have been watering about every 7 to 10 days since the weather has been much cooler, and I have kept water off of the daylily itself when I have watered. I am showing two pictures. One picture is meant to show some of the cuts that I have made. At the place where the cuts were made the foilage has naturally split. I am showing another picture from the top of the plant. You can see the center of the plant where the growing tip will eventually emerge. There is no success until the growing tip begins to emerge from the plant. This growing tip and the successive foilage is a sure sign that the conversion process is taking place.

Well that is all for this morning. I am continuing to make progress with the conversions, and soon I hope to see the plants coming into full growth.

Bill

Three Nominations for the AHS Honorable Mention Award

Good Morning Daylily Friends,

For the first time I have entered three of my previous introductions as candidates for the AHS Honorable Mention Award. It was a simple process. I first went to the AHS website, which is "Daylilies.org," and then I selected "Awards and Honors." Under Awards and Honors I selected "2009 Hybridizer's Nomination Letter," and then downloaded the necessary pdf form. I then filled out the form and mailed it to Ms. Julie Covington, AHS Awards and Honors Chair, 4909 Labradore Drive, Roanoke, Virginia 24012-8537. I am showing the envelope that I mailed to Julie.

My first entry was DIANA'S PINK GOWN which was introduced back in 2004. It is a cross between the following parents: (Ed Brown x Pearl Harbor). It is 28" tall, it has 5 1/2" flowers, it has four-way branching, and about 20 buds. It has been bought by many friends who have visited the garden. Indeed, one purchaser from a nursery in Alabama bought over 40 fans. It is one of the parents to DIANA'S EVENING GOWN which is a big 7" dormant daylily. It costs nothing to make the entry, and it may have some success. There is no harm in making the effort.

My next extry was PASTOR LAURIE ANN MOELLER which was introduced back in 2004. It is a cross between [Moon Over Monteray x (Ed Brown x Tet. Dena Marie)]. It is 29" tall, it has a 7" flower, it has 3-way branching, 20 buds, and it is registered as a semi-evergreen but I now believe that it is a dormant. The flower is a cinnamon peach blend with a ruffled gold edge. I introduced it back when I did not prepare a brochure, and to my surprise it has gained recognition in a number of gardens. The blooms always look the same, and are just beautiful. It is grown in many gardens including those of Cristy Dixon, Ron and Pat Bonner, and Don and Nancy Eller. During this past daylily season Cristy even said that it was a "workhorse" as a parent in her garden. It will require 20 votes from at least four different regions to qualify. Pastor Moeller's distribution may now be such that it will receive enough votes in the required number of regions. I am posting a picture of the daylily, PASTOR LAURIE ANN MOELLER, and I am also posting a picture that shows the real Pastor Moeller.

My third entry was KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HAYRIDE. It was inroduced in 2007, and there is still considerable demand for this daylily both from my own garden and from the Lily Auction as well. It is 27" tall, it has a 6" flower, 3 way-branching, 17 buds, and it is a coral-pink and cream polychrome with a stunning gold edge. It is a fragrant semi-evergreen. When it was first introduced I even sold 6 plants to one person! I am showing a picture. Hopefully it likewise will receive the requisite 20 votes in four separate regions.

I will just wait and see if my daylilies can collect the approval of my daylily friends.

Bill