Monday, October 12, 2009

Visiting Chattanooga and My Friend, Lee Pickles

Good Morning Daylily Friends,

This past Saturday Diana and I travelled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to visit with the Tennessee Valley Daylily Society. The time of the meeting was from around noon until around 4:00 p.m., which is when Diana and I began our journey back home. I point this out because at the time of the Club's meeting, Tennessee and Georgia were playing football on national television. The game was played in Knoxville, Tennessee. Despite the football game, the attendance at the Club's meeting was very, very outstanding. It is a good thing to see a daylily club with its full attention devoted to daylilies, and not to a sporting event. I would note that Tennesse won the ball game, and congratulations to Tennessee for a tremendous atheltic effort. After the meeting I took a picture of the club which I am herewith posting.

I would also like to thank the Club's President, Lee Pickles, for inviting me to come to the Club's meeting. Lee is my good friend, and he is a leader in Chattanooga, in Region 10, and in the AHS. Lee is responsible for the Mid-Winter Symposium which met for so many years in Chattanooga, and which now meets in Nashville, Tennessee. We have attended the Mid-Winter Symposium for years, and we enjoy meeting daylily friends there, we enjoy the programs, the pictures and the fellowship. Also, at the beginning of the Symposium I always visited Lee at his Greenhouse. Lee's Greenhouse was a motivational tool for me to begin working to have my own Greenhouse. Most of all, I can leave from the Mid-Winter Symposium and see "spring" just over the hilltop. I know that spring is only a few moments from reality, and I know that real daylily blooms are nearby in our garden. Thanks Lee for all you have done and continue to do for daylilies.

Just before we left Chattanooga, Diana and I were delighted that we were able to have our picture taken with Mark Gilreath, the Club's Treasurer, with Sam and Linda Hassler, and with Lee. I am showing this picture. I particularly want to than Linda for purchasing my IRISH HALO and my EMERALD LACE. I know that these two, green edged daylilies will grow well in the Tennessee climate, and I pleased that Linda will have them to show to other members of her Club. Linda actually lives in Crossville, Tennessee, and she and Sam are also members of the Middle Tennessee Daylily Society. So, two more Clubs in Tennessee will be able to witness the performance of IRISH HALO and EMERALD LACE. I would also note that when I was showing my new purple seedlings, Linda observed that "even the sepals have saturation [in color] that matches the color of the petals." Linda has indeed become my "close friend."

I might also note that Diana and I have been traveling for the past five week-ends. We have been to (1) Columbus, Georgia, (2) Little Rock, Arkansas, (3) Tallahassee, Florida, (4) Kingsport, Tennessee, and (5) Chattanooga, Tennessee. It has been a real opportunity and blessing to have seen each of these wonderful clubs. Meeting the people and having time together with them affirms the goodness of our AHS. We will also soon travel to several other clubs including Augusta, Georgia, and Alexandria, Louisiana. Visiting with the clubs gives us the an "eye-to-eye" view of our national organization. We see the members, the workers and leaders, and the love for America's most popular flower: "The Daylily."

Again, thanks to the Tennessee Valley Daylily Society for its friendship and hospitality.

Bill

3 comments:

  1. Hi Linda,
    I've just noticed that you have begun to follow the Blog. This is very good indeed! I know that you will see my new "Post" from this morning when I wrote about meeting you and Sam. And, "golfing" is OK, but I do not have time because growing daylilies is my number one priority. Right now we are receiving rain and rain and more rain. We already have 3" that has fallen in the past 6 hours. Your friend,
    Bill

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  2. Hi William,
    I'm so pleased that you have also joined to follow the blog. This is more, good news for Monday, October 12, 2009!
    Bill

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  3. Hi,Bill
    You are a really good photographer! Very nice photos....just now had a chance to look at your blog. I'll check back often to see your posts. Really look forward to Irish Halo and Emerald Lace blooming. We are getting lots of rain here, too, and it's getting cold...hoping to get some more garden prep done before winter!
    Linda

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