Seedling 11-279.

Good Evening Daylily Friends,

I just couldn't let the day pass without telling you about what happened.  This morning my cat Sammy wanted to go outside early, and so he began to whine to get my attention.  I woke up.  I didn't wait to respond because Sammy would only start to scratch Diana's chair in our bedroom.  So, Sammy got what he wanted: I jumped out of bed, and let Sammy out the door.  Then I remembered that Seedling 11-279 was going to bloom in the Greenhouse.  I started to just go to the Greenhouse wearing just my underware, but then I knew Sammy would come back to the house soon for his breakfast.  Sammy did come back for his breakfast, and in the meantime I made coffee.  I fed Sammy, poured a cup of coffee, and headed to the Greenhouse wearing my shorts.  The bloom on 11-279 was nice, but not nearly as good as it was when it bloomed outside last Summer.  I called my friend Larry in Alabama, and explained what I was seeing.  I told Larry that the bloom was coming only from a proliferation that now had 8 fans plus another proliferation.  Larry explained that so much energy had gone into producing the 8 fans that perhaps not much energy was concentrated in the flower.  Larry also noted that we would have to wait until later this spring, with much warmer temperatures, to again see 11-279 at its best.  I'm showing the bucket where 11-279 is growing in the Greenhouse.  I must say, with pride, that I am pleased to have produced 8 fans plus a proliferation, from only a small proliferation.

I'm also pleased with myself that I left the main seedling to continue to grow outside for a second winter.  I knew that if I dug it up early that I would not know the seedling's numbers in height or branching or bud count for a much longer time in the future.  For your recollection I'm showing a picture of 11-279 that was taken outside last summer, and posted on this blog on the date of June 13, 2011.  Clearly, there is quite a contrast between the Greenhouse picture taken this morning, and the picture from the garden this past summer.  The garden picture has a more intense purple color. the edge and teeth on the garden picture are much more white in color, while the Greenhouse flower seems less demanding.  The flowers are the same in that the teeth are clearly seen, and the flower is still beautiful whether seen in the Greenhouse or in the garden.  I also took a picture of the outside fans, and there are 5 fans.  These 5 fans should multiply nicely this coming summer, and along with the fans in the Greenhouse, I should have a wonderful supply heading into next season.  In the meantime I'm making plenty seeds using 11-279 as a parent.

The exact parentage on Seedling 11-279 is as follows:  [[((Heartbeat of Heaven x Johnny Cash) x Cerise Masterpiece) x Gnashing of Teeth] x (Shirley Anne McCord x Gnashing of Teeth)].  Long, long cross, but well worth the effort.  Serious cudos to Karol Emmerich for producing GNASHING OF TEETH.

Another bloom from this morning was Seedling 1-383 which I just showed on March 29, 2012.  In a note that Marlon wrote, following my blog entry, he suggested that this gorgeous red should have the name, BLAZING CANNONS.  So, I have reserved this name, and this is what Seedling 1-383 will be called.  What a wonderful name!  Thanks so much to Marlon for the suggestion.  When I release this daylily I will send one to Marlon as a gift for suggesting the name.

Speaking of civil war weapons, this evening I went to listen to a presentation by Michael K. Shaffer who is a Director and Lecturer of the Civil War Center at Kennesaw State University.  Professor Shaffer has just published a book entitled "Washington County, Viriginia, in the Civil War."  Washington County is in the southwest corner of Virginia, immediately north of the State of Tennessee.  Professor Shaffer's book focuses on "salt" that is mined and harvested in Washington County, and then examines leaders from Washington County in the Civil War.  Some of these leaders include General Joseph E. Johnston, Major General J.E.B. Stuart, and Col. John Singleton Mosby.  After the lecture I bought Professor Shaffer's book, and we had our picture taken together.

Just a wonderful day.  Beautiful flowers, and focus on subjects of interest.

Bill