Monday, July 1, 2013

Almost Persuaded!

Hello Daylily Friends,

This past Saturday we held our annual sale from the Garden, and I am so grateful for all the help that we had from our friends.  Our "Diggers,"  David Arthur, Mitch Harmon, Joe Wilhelm, and Luke Van De Vate, all worked so hard to help so many daylily friends.  And we couldn't have survived without Camilla Arthur and Ms. Diana handling all of the transactions and questions.  We also had additional help from Jacob and Ansley, who are David and Camilla's grandchildren.  Jacob helped carry daylilies to the cars of our customers, and Ansley prepared name tags for plants that were sold.  Thinking back, I wish that I had taken a picture of everyone before the morning got started, but it all happened so fast that I just missed the opportunity.  However, I did take one picture at the end of the day, and I'm showing everyone who was here, including our new friend, Todd, who we hope will join our Daylily Club.

One reason that I missed the opportunity for an early picture was because of the "first bloom" on my Seedling 8-196.  I've always known that 8-196 is a fine seedling, but on Saturday morning the first bloom was over eight inches in diameter.  I wanted to get a better picture but there were so many people to help that there just wasn't time to get the "best shot."  Nevertheless, I did get one shot that showed the eight inch measurement.  May I humbly say that there are yellow daylilies, and then there are daylilies such as 8-196.  The parentage in 8-196 is as follows: [(Summer Hymns x J. T. Davis) x Ram].  The measurements for 8-196 include a height of 32-33 inches, 5-way branching, 23 buds, and a 7" flower.  Plus, 8-196 is a Dormant.  The 32" height of 8-196 is somewhat of a mystery because one parent measured 24 inches, one was 25 inches, and one was thirty inches.  The dormancy in 8-196 probably comes from SUMMER HYMNS, because J. T. DAVIS is an evergreen, and RAM is a semi-evergreen.  Sometimes a hybridizer just gets "lucky" with a cross, and hits a home run despite lack of evidence that anything more than a "double" should be expected.  This morning, that is, on Monday morning, 8-196 bloomed again.  In fact, there were four blooms!  Unfortunately, none of the blooms were as large as the eight inch bloom that we had on Saturday, but today's blooms were all over 7 inches,  I'm showing one picture that verifies the height and the diameter measurements.  I think that I may introduce 8-196 this coming fall.  I just have to say that this late blooming beauty just towers over the garden because of its color and because of its height.  Any name suggestions?

Little Lily Rae came over this morning, and since last Wednesday she has not felt well.  Indeed, she has seen physicians, and has been taking medicine to help her get better.  We walked together around the garden, and later we went to watch the fish swim in the pond.  We eventually came in and Lily Rae had a snack that included cantaloupe and grapes.  Soon, I was reading to Lily Rae, when suddenly she went to sleep, and I wasn't far behind.  Diana snapped our picture.

One other bloom that I have to tell you about from today is from my Seedling 2-455.  I previously mentioned 2-455 in my posts on December 15, 2012, and May 23, 2012.  I had thought that I had a good seedling with a fine green edge, but it didn't do that well in the Greenhouse this spring, and then the outside blooms didn't show much promise either.  But, everything changed this morning.   The outside bloom was just gorgeous with some promise of a double, but the edge was so green and specifically with green teeth.  I just had to have a wonderful picture, and I think that I have this accomplished.  I must confess that I had become so disappointed
with 2-455 that I threw away the 3-gallon pot of the plant that was in the Greenhouse, and now I have only the plants that are growing outside.   I was almost persuaded to completely toss 2-455 until I saw today's bloom along with the new scape.  It appears that 2-455, while it is a semi-evergreen, leans considerably toward dormancy, and it doesn't like the temperatures in the Greenhouse.  It needs a winter chill.

The parents of 2-455 are as follows: (Diana's Irish Dream x Irish Halo).  The measurements are as follows:  27" tall, 4-way branching, 16 buds, and a 6" flower.

More news soon.

Bill

18 comments:

  1. Every Year , I get a few I wish to cull that are okay but not great, that bloom early but on the rebloom with the hot summer temps setting in , they are great? Teeth, angel wings, colors. So sometimes it pays to give them a fighting Chance . But usually I keep a way to big pack of dogs for way to long. I guess practice will better my culling skills. Great seedlings wow, Steve from Texas

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  2. Great looking form, ruffles & even some pleating on a huge bloom...well done!

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  3. Thanks friends for the comments, but I'm having a hard time trying to find a name for 8-196. A friend suggested Apollo, but the name is taken. I've been thinking and thinking but no result yet. I will give one of the plants of 8-196 to anyone who comes up with a name that I ultimately accept.

    Bill

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  4. Ok Bill I'll take a stab at it. Two names that I have considered using when I get the right flower are Lamp unto my feet and Light unto my path. When I look at it 8-196 all I see is a bright light and I thought these two would fit the seedling well. Diana's Lemon Pie would be a another cute one. Blazing Cannons is growing really great. It's been blooming for over a month now and I'm proud to report that I have 6 fans and two prolifs. Diana's Irish Dream has the greenest edge of any daylily I have by far and I have used the pollen on everything I could think of. I'm proud to also report it has multiplied to 3 fans as well. Take care and have a wonderful 4th.

    Marlon

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  5. How about" league of it's own " for 8-196.Anyhue heck it's just pretty! Texas Steve

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  6. Hi Marlon,

    Thanks a bunch for the name suggestions. While I like scriptural words and phrases for daylily names, I just can't get past the fact that too many syllables mess up my thinking and perhaps the thinking of others as well. While the two scriptural quotes are outstanding, I think that DIANA'S LEMON PIE is both outstanding and tremendous.

    Right now you are leading the parade to find a new name.

    I am so pleased to hear the good news about BLAZING CANNONS and DIANA'S IRISH DREAM. I think that BLAZING CANNONS is a superior red as evidenced by the fact of its production for you in your climate. I also agree about the green edge on DIANA'S IRISH DREAM. You can spread the pollen and you will definitely produce more green edged seedlings!

    Again, thanks for the name suggestions. I remember that you brought me to the name BLAZING CANNONS.

    Bill

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  7. Hi Texas Steve,

    I like your name suggestion of "LEAGUE OF IT'S OWN." I am particularly focused on the word, "League." This seems to be leading to an isolated but tremendously significant way to give the plant its own identity. Any more thoughts on the use of the word League?

    Bill

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  8. Bill,


    How about League Champion? League Title?
    League leader? Championship League?

    Here's a few others: Lemon snap, Lemon grass,
    Lemon curry, Lemon Meringue.

    LEMONCELLO. It's an Italian lemon drink.
    There ya go Bill. It's a winner.

    Hope that helps.

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  9. Thanks Paul. Great ideas! I'm going to check on LEMONCELLO.

    Bill

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  10. How about " Not just a Lemon" or " League of friends ". Still want to get it when it's ready to go out in the world and rack up a outstanding list of credentials! But hey such a great blog! Been reading it for a year or so , wow .Happy Fourth from Steve in Texas!

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  11. Hi Steve,

    I like LEAGUE OF FRIENDS! Very good. That is now in the lead. Very, very good.

    Also, I'm so pleased that you are on the blog. This morning I've been out in the garden and even though we're having a flood of rain, 8-196 is blooming as if today is a sunny day. So bold and beautiful. I'll have to go back out and see if I can get a picture.

    Bill

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  12. Hi Bill
    Hope Lilly Rae is feeling better by now....Loved that picture of you both "taking a nap"...Sweet!!
    I like your description words of 8-196....
    SO BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL...as a name for that beauty....;)

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  13. Hi Lori,

    Thanks. Like your name! I want something that is descriptive about big, great, grand. Can't seem to get my mind on the correct name.

    Bill

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  14. Steve,

    What do you mean when you suggest "LEAGUE OF FRIENDS"?

    Bill

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    1. Your signature phrase Bill.Though I never met yah personally I feel your a people person. And how many people in this world love to cross daylilies? Maybe thousand or so . Out of six billion. We are a league of off the usual road friends. Texas Steve

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  15. Bill how about Fort Knox? That's a lot of gold you have there. lol

    Marlon

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  16. Hi Marlon,

    I like your suggestion so I went to the daylily names and found that it has already been taken. Oh well.

    Bill

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  17. How about Solar Flare...for such a big & blindingly bright beauty

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