HOTLANTA wins the Region 5 Best Seedling Award.

Hello Daylily Friends,

Last week-end Diana and I drove to Valdosta, Georgia, to participate in the Regional Meeting for Region 5 here in Georgia.  We had been working so hard for so long here in our own garden, that we welcomed the chance to get away for the week-end.  Of course, getting away for us is usually visiting with our daylily friends.  We first went to a chicken dinner at Tim Bell's garden, and of course we enjoyed the auction that Tim conducted for the Region.  On Saturday morning we were privileged to visit many gardens, but when we reached Wynn's Daylily Garden I was in for a

surprise.  Diana and our Club Secretary, Nancy Green, both allowed me to take their picture at the Garden's higway sign.  I soon met Gene Wynn, and of course I soon walked by the "Enman Joiner Seedling Bed."  I was then very surprised to see my seedling, HOTLANTA, growing in the bed.  With Gene's help, I later recalled that I had, indeed, given the plant to Gene for display in the seedling bed, but I had just "forgotten" that this had happened.  At the Regional Meeting members of Region 5 voted by secret ballot as to their favorite seedling, and HOTLANTA was chosen.  I was so, so pleased.  In fact, I was later given a check for $100.00 for winning the contest.   I also found that I had given Gene several fans of both BLAZING CANNONS and LITTLE JACKIE PAPER, but neither of these plants were blooming.  However, I sold all of my fans of BLAZING CANNONS, and so it will be wonderful to receive some fans back from Gene.  I hope to have about 25 additional fans this coming fall.  Thanks Gene for growing HOTLANTA so well such that everyone was pleased with this flower.

This past week-end we had our Show Clinic in preparation for our joint daylily show with the Atlanta Club, which will take place at the Galleria Mall on Saturday, June 8, 2013.  Our Club members met here at our house on Saturday morning, and we had a wonderful breakfast.  Several members recalled that I had said that I liked sausage and egg casseroles, and there were many to choose from.  Everything tasted so good.  It had rained all night on Friday evening, and more rain was predicted for Saturday, but it was holding off during our breakfast.  Then, suddenly, the rain came. 

We then all took our chairs and rushed to our side porch where we soon held our Clinic.  Our instructor was Jim Mullins who has been very successful in growing and displaying his daylilies.  Jim is an expert in presentation, and he instructed us on many points to remember in showing our own daylilies.  Thanks Jim for your hard work!

Well, today is Sunday, and
we've had many new seedlings in the Greenhouse.  I've kept good journals, and I'm now gathering seeds.  I hope to get plenty of the seeds planted by the middle of June.  I intend to see 90% of my seedlings bloom outside after growing for less than a year.  One of my Greenhouse Seedlings is 3-421, and the parentage is as follows: (1-341 {Spiney Sea Urchin x Gnashing of Teeth} x Gnashing of Teeth).  Seedling 3-421 is not very tall, but it has a 7" flower as is shown by the measuring tape.  I have solid plans as to how this seedling will be used.  Also, today we had two of our friends come to visit our garden who we met this past winter when we traveled to St. Louis.  Carolyn Myers and Judy Schneider had both been to Florida, and they stopped by our garden on their way home.  We had such a wonderful visit, and we regretted to see Carolyn and Judy leave.  We could have talked about daylilies for many more hours.

I also must say that we've been blessed to have had so much rain.  It just is making our daylilies grow so well.  Soon, the news will be from our outside gardens.

Bill