Saturday, November 17, 2012

IRISH HALO wins AHS "Honorable Mention" Award

Good Morning Daylily Friends,

I was so thrilled to learn this past week that my introduction, IRISH HALO, won an "Honorable Mention" award from AHS.  There were 84 daylilies that received this award, and IRISH HALO had 40 votes and was in position 18.  I was so pleased that it earned 19 votes here in Region 5 in Georgia, and that it received votes from a total of six Regions.  One Region where it received 6 votes included the State of Ohio.  It also received votes in Regions 3 and 4 which stretch from Virginia through New York and into Maine.  There were also votes from Regions 10 and 14 which includes Kentucky and Tennessee, and Alabama and Mississippi.  I just want to humbly thank those who voted for IRISH HALO, and let you know that I'm pleased that my green edged beauty caught your eye over the past several summers.  I would like to see it eventually make its way into some of our states west of the Mississippi.

I also have to tell you more about the changes that have been made in the Greenhouse.  I previously mentioned that I have gone all the way across the Greenhouse with my seedlings, and now I've done this with everything.  Why I didn't think to do this at some point during the past 7 years is a mystery to me.  By going all the way across the Greenhouse I can place more plants, and there is more room to move around.  The only disadvantage is that the "garden hose" has to go down just one side of the Greenhouse for supplemental watering.  This really isn't much of a disadvantage because I just leave the hose where it is, and just move it up and down the rows.  I've also moved many plants to bigger pots, getting ready for this coming spring.  I'm showing the rows from both the left and right sides of the Greenhouse, and then there is a picture of one of my rows of seedlings. Some of these seedlings look like they could bloom this coming week.

I must also mention how beautiful the fall leaves have been here in Cobb County, Georgia.  I'm showing a picture taken from my back porch which shows a Red Geranium and then a large, golden Yellow Mapel tree that is now golden in color.  Then, just driving around town there are beautiful trees on many corners.  In fact yesterday I took a picture of one big tree with massive yellow leaves.  Fall is a wonderful time of year.  The only drawback is that there are no daylilies in bloom.

I must also tell you about Little Lily Rae.  This past Monday I took Lily Rae to her "Music Class."  About half way through the Class Lily Rae got up, and crawled across the room.  She has done this before so it wasn't much of a surprise.  Then, she stood up, took two steps, she stopped, then she took two more steps.  It was the first time that I've ever seen her do this, especially with anyone else around.  Everyone in the room just clapped and clapped.  Little Lily Rae is always a "star" in her Music Class.  Then, this past Wednesday morning, Lily Rae walked in a "circle."  She did this after walking and holding Diana's finger.  I wish I could upload a video so you could see Lily Rae walking.  Maybe I'll figure out how to do this soon.

Bill

13 comments:

  1. Bill,


    Congrats on the honorable mention on Irish Halo...well deserved. I enjoyed using it this past summer. Was looking at the close up photos on the greenhouse. Are the seedlings in the smaller containers and are intros from around the country in the larger containers? One thing is for certain, daylilies enjoy growing in containers.
    Say, I was wondering if you could comment quickly on how Dr. Stump is as a toothy parent, since I'm pretty sure you have a lot of experience with it. Love to hear your thoughts.

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  2. Hi Paul,

    Thanks for your complimentary words on the HM for IRISH HALO.

    As for the Greenhouse, the plants in the one-gallon containers are the seedlings. The plants in the 2 and 3 gallon pots are introduced plants, plants that will be introduced, and seedlings that will be used in hybridizing. I'm really pleased with the new planting arrangement.

    As for DR. STUMP, it is a "first class" daylily. It is pod and pollen fertile, and I wish that I had made many more plants with it as a parent. I had one small proliferation of DR. STUMP, and it is now four massive fans that are growing in a 7-gallon container. I plan to use it again this coming spring. Larry is to be congratulated on growing such a wonderful daylily.

    I have your introductions planted in one-gallon containers. They will do well in the Greenhouse over the winter. I will let you know how they grow.

    Bill

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  3. Hey Bill,

    The plants look fantastic in your greenhouse. Can't wait to see what you bloom this coming year. Also, congrat on IRISH HALO. I think that your EMERALD LACE has gotten far too little attention because in MHO it is fantastic as well.

    How is VIVA GLAM GIRL growing for you? I may be a little biased, but I think it is the best UF tet double yet introduced.

    Looking forward to seeing your 2013 intros.

    William

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  4. Hi William,

    I've had two other hybridizers also tell me that they prefer EMERALD LACE over IRISH HALO. So, I would wish that EMERALD LACE could receive the recognition that IRISH HALO has. Oh well. Maybe EMERALD LACE will catch up.

    I just potted your VIVA GLAM GIRL into a 3-gallon container, and it is growing very well. Is it a dormant/semi-evergreen/evergreen? I can't wait to see it bloom. I'm growing more excited about working with doubles, and this is particularly true since I now have TET. SUNGLASSES NEEDED.

    I should get those 2013 introductions out soon and save $20.00 in registration costs.

    Bill

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  5. Hey Bill,

    I got all of my 2013 intros registered back in October so I saved a few bucks.

    VIVA GLAM GIRL is a SEV. One of its parents, HEAVENLY FISSION, is dormant. It is throwing seedlings in EV, SEV, and DOR based on the other parent. I like its vigor, it had four sets of scapes this year. It also has 4-5 way branching which is spectacular. I can't wait to see the next big group of seedlings that will bloom from it next year. I will have the largest number of double seedlings, toothy seedling, and patterned seedlings that I have ever bloomed next summer. I can't wait.

    William

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  6. William, I made a mistake yesterday. I said that I put VIVA GLAM GIRL in a 3-gallon pot, but actually I put it in a 7-gallon pot. I am very excited to know that it has 4-5 way branching. I've got several seedlings that it will probably match with to help make good doubles with teeth.

    Also: more good news! I've had a third scape to emerge. I'm glad to know that there is dormancy in the line. It will help to make the seedlings stronger.

    Bill

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  7. Are the scapes on your seedlings? I had about 7 seedlings to throw up scapes this summer when they were only 4 months old. I broke the scapes off because I wanted them to conserve their strength for next year. I do have a few seedlings growing in my little greenhouse. I didn't really intend to grow any this fall, but I just wasn't sure if the seeds were good so I stuck them in pots. They sprouted. So I moved the pots into the greenhouse about a week ago. I won't have any heat in it until I start my big crop of seedlings in late February but they should do better than they would just sitting outside. Even without heat, the temps go up into the 60s even when it is 40 degrees outside due to the sun.

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  8. Hi Bill,
    I agree with will. Emerald Lace is my personal favorite. I am gonna bring it back into to breeding area this next year now that I have some of my own seedlings that show some green. I can't wait to see you 2013 intros. Will you be letting Hotlanta out?
    Josh Jaques

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  9. Hi William,

    On a seedling I never, ever break a scape. I know that many others say that the scape should be broken. I can't do it. If there is any chance to see a flower, then I want to see the flower.

    Having a Greenhouse, even without heat, is fun. I really like the experience, and growing in a Greenhouse gives so many advantages. I'm moving a number of dormants from the big Greenhouse to the new, small Greenhouse.

    Good luck with yours!

    Bill

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  10. Hi Josh,

    I'm pleased to know that you also like EMERALD LACE. I regret to say that I don't really know what it will do as a parent since I concentrated solely on IRISH HALO. I recognize that EMERALD LACE has the bigger, green edge. I just thought that the smaller green edge on IRISH HALO was the ticket to the future.

    I want to get the TET. HANDSOME ROSS CARTER to you as soon as I can. Maybe I can bring a pot to the Mid Winter or to some other forum to you to take home. I would not want to send it bare root. I may see a few seedlings from the cross this summer.

    As for HOTLANTA, I'm growing it as fast as I can. I have about 35 plants. I want to introduce it during the National Convention in 2015.

    Bill

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  11. Bill,


    Reading your comments and I don't remember reading about a daylily called Hotlanta in
    your past blog entries. Is it something you can show us a picture of? Would love to see it. Great name.

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  12. Hi Paul,

    I've just made a new post, and as part of the post I've talked about HOTLANTA and my effort to try to convert WAXEN SPLENDOR. I've also shown a picture of HOTLANTA. I also think there is a post that I've made in the past about HOTLANTA.

    Thanks for the question.

    Bill

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  13. Hi Paul,

    I did look back and I see that I wrote about HOTLANTA back on July 15, 2011. Back then, however, I had not settled on the name, HOTLANTA.

    Bill

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