TET. MIMOSA UMBRELLA: Pod Fertile.

Good Morning Daylily Friends,

On Saturday afternoon, on September 22, 2012, we had our annual "Fall Picnic" here at our gardens.  It was so good to see everyone after a wonderful summer of growing our beloved daylily.  We came together as a close family, and enjoyed each other's company until deep into the late hours of the evening.  We had "Southern Fried Chicken," and members brought many casseroles and desserts.  Oh, there was so much to eat, and so many friends to talk to, I just didn't think that it could all happen so well on such a wonderful Marietta day.  One of our members, David Bishop, was our Auctioneer at our plant sale, and our newly elected President, Mark Franklin, helped with the auction.  The Auction went very well: we sold plants where members had earned points for working on Club projects during the year.  Also, Mark and Patty Franklin brought many wonderful Iris plants from their garden, and let everyone have as many as they could carry.  I also took a group picture of our Club just to record the afternoon and evening.  Daylilies and Daylily Friends are exciting!

The last two days it has really rained, and this has been such a blessing for our gardens.  The moisture has helped the seedlings get better established, and we've seen some nice fall blooms.  This morning, at about 9:00 a.m., I went to the Greenhouse just to look around.  You may recall that in my Post on this blog, back on September 5, 2012, I asked if anyone had any knowledge as to whether

MIMOSA UMBRELLA was pod or pollen fertile.  I received many helpful and insightful answers.  I learned that it has shown itself, as a diploid, to be both pod and pollen fertile.  However, there is no information as good as "first hand knowledge."  I am very, very pleased to report that TET. MIMOSA UMBRELLA is, indeed, "pollen fertile."  To make my point I'm posting a picture that I took this morning in the Greenhouse, showing large pods growing on SAWYER'S GIGGLES.  I am also pleased to report that in using pollen from TET. MIMOSA UMBRELLA, I have set pods on the following additional plants: ANGELS GATHER AROUND, CRIMSON COWBOY, PRICKLY SENSATION, BARBARA MANDRELL, VIVID BUTTERFLY and KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HAYRIDE.  I was never able to actually set a pod on TET. MIMOSA UMBRELLA.

I also have to tell you about Little Lily Rae.  Yesterday morning she said her first word.  It was "ball."  A number of years ago I saw mothers speaking to their children in the grocery store and I thought, that is silly.  The child can't understand language.  Well, when we were blessed to have Little Lily Rae, I began speaking to her, like the mothers would in the grocery store.  I talk to her as if she were an adult.  This has had a magical effect.  She just comes to me, opens her arms to me, and she even clings to me.  Such a little sweety.  Now Lily Rae's ball is not like an ordinary ball.  The only way that I can describe it is to show a picture.  I also want to proudly announce that yesterday morning Little Lily Rae took her first steps.  I saw Lily take three steps, and Diana saw her take two steps.  So much progress.  Although I didn't get a picture when Lily Rae took her steps, I did get a picture of her clapping while standing next to the table in the living room.  She is becoming so nimble on her feet and toes.  When we have Little Lily Rae, her Mother, Kelley Rae, always gives Lily Rae her evening bath.  Kelley washes Lily's hair and her back and Lily splashes and just has the most fun.  Kelley recently bought three "frogs" in different sizes, and Lily Rae loves to play with these.  Splash, splash, frogs everywhere.  Later, when Little Lily Rae grows tired, Kelley Rae gives her a bottle, and you can just see her melt into sleep.  Last night Lily Rae slept from 7:00 p.m., until 6:45 a.m., this morning.  When she woke up her grandmother, Diana Rae, gave her, her morning milk treat.  Little Lily Rae is such a wonderful addition to our lives.

More news soon about my efforts to convert Kamensky's 2005 daylily called, BY THE GOLDEN RULE.

Bill