Daylily Haiku Thursday | Only time remains...

autumn afternoon

recalling some past flowers,

small is beautiful.

This is H. 'Grape Cupcake' from Tim Herrington of Dublin, Georgia.  I added this small double to my collection after seeing it in Amber Strope's Garden in northern Ohio this summer.  I bought it right out of her garden after the 2010 Summer Tours.  It is registered at only 3.5", which makes it a tiny little flower with a big punch of color! 

Birdbaths and Blooms | Daylily Blog about Reflection

Daylilies and birdbaths are great complements of one another.  The water reflects the blooms or as in the photo on the left, acts as a temporary home for the even more temporary bloom. 

I have noticed many gardeners using the traditional concrete birdbath in their gardens.    A simple pale daylily bloom can last all day floating in the shady birdbath.  Stealing this idea for my own garden, I have learned that if the birdbath is in the shade, the bloom lasts longer.  Also, if the bloom has good substance, that helps it last in the water.  Darker, saturated daylilies tend to lose their color floating in the water, so I don't use the real dark ones.  Large, pale, floppy daylilies work the best as they seem to utilize the movement and not-so-literal fluidity of the water in the birdbath.

Other birdbaths provide structural interest and a visual break from swaths of grassy daylily foliage.  Something you might not have thought to do with your concrete birdbath is to put a concrete cherub or gargoyle in the center of your birdbath.  Look at how the two separate pieces complement each other in the photo on the bottom right...

In general, water in the garden, in any form, is a must.  It reflects and refreshes not only the bugs and the birds, but the gardener as well.  Refreshing the bloom each day is like adding a new piece  of tiny art in an unexpected place.  Surprise!

I love how this daylily fills up with the water from the birdbath bowl.  Look in the throat area of the daylily in the photo on the right.  You can see even the sepal is almost completely submerged, but still holds its substance.  Every day you could float a different bloom in your birdbath, showing off new characteristics or new arrivals in your garden.  I even saw one sales garden once float about 15 blooms in a birdbath at the entrance to the garden.  It gave customers a quick glance of what they could buy without walking in the fields.  These garden owners told me they always sell out of what they have on display "in the bowl" as she put it.   (of course I didn't take a photo of it, and now here I am talking about it...)  They always showcase what they have a large quantity of, or they showcase something extra special like a new introduction or a new arrival.  As something sells out, they replace it with another bloom.  Neat idea for an sales garden, either way! 

Below are a few more examples of great birdbath scenes.

     

      

How often it is that a garden, beautiful though it be, will seem sad and dreary and lacking in one of its most gracious features, if it has no water.

- Pierre Husson

Head to your local garden center now; all four of my local ones have their birdbaths at 50% or more off...you could get a great steal for next season!

The Queen Returns | Presentation Etiquette 101

Note: If you have stumbled upon this post by accident, or by coercion, you should know that "the Queen" is my occasional, alter-diva-gardening-ego. She has shown up today to make a fantasy decree about presentation etiquette. 

Hear ye, hear ye!  When I am Queen, I will make it a mandate for every invited speaker who stands up in front of a (most often) paying audience to do the following:
1.  Have a point.  Please do not just slap 1000 of your random photos into a PowerPoint presentation and flip through them.  I can see that in your catalog.  Get a point.  Have a theme.  Develop an outline for your presentation, which should have an opening, a body and a clear conclusion.

2.  Provide the audience with a verbalized take away from your presentation.  What do you want me to learn from your presentation?  What do you expect to tell me that I don't already know?  How will I be better off in the daylily community after hearing you speak?

3.  Practice the timing of the actual presentation and adhere to the allotted timing.  Nothing is more annoying than a presenter flying through the last 50 slides in the presentation because they didn't realize that 150 slides couldn't be realistically shown in 30 minutes.

4.  Do not make apologies for your poor photography or your PowerPoint layout or your lack of technical skill.  If I didn't notice how bad it was before you pointed it out, I sure do now.

5.  Provide a slide key / handout.  Not only does it give the audience something to take specific notes on while you are talking, but it tells them when the presentation will be over and stops them from asking you to repeat the name of the cultivar or cross that is on the screen.  If you don't want to provide a handout in order to save trees, consider putting the name/details/cross on the slide in complementary fonts.  It will help both you and the audience.  It will also serve as a great marketing tool for you when the audience leaves the presentation.  Put your website, blog and contact information on it.  Tell people how to buy your stuff.  Make it easy for me.

6.  Speaking of fonts, don't use 10 million of them in your presentation.  Very rarely does one presentation require the use of multiple fonts in various sizes and a multitude of colors and animation styles.

7.  Do not use any words that may be offensive or demeaning to the audience- no matter how funny you think they (or you) are.  You never know who you may offend with your unnecessary remarks.  Regardless of formality or humor, this is unprofessional.  Save the off-color commentary for non-podium conversations.  You are a guest and are expected to show (fake if you have to) a bit of grace and good breeding.

8.  Practice the presentation that you are giving before you give it, so you know what pictures are in the presentation and what you intend to say about each slide.  Saying 'I don't know what that slide is doing in there' during the presentation gives the audience the impression you didn't take the time or care to know what you were going to say to them in advance.

9.  If you have a traveling road show that makes lots of appearances, take the time to do something a bit different for each one.  Tell a new introductory story, or slide in a few new pics for each audience.  Make it personal.  It makes a difference - guaranteed.

In closing, your presentation is an extension of your business and is a product of your marketing department.  If you wonder why your order counts don't soar after doing a presentation, you might re-read the above points and see if you can recognize yourself in any of them. 

Daylily Haiku Thursday | Sparkling.

Dancing in the sun,

tiny sparkles reflecting

beautiful light rays.

Oh, I love diamond dusting, but it is so hard to catch in a photograph! This shot of H. 'Magnificent Rainbow' was taken in 2008 during the Region 2 Summer Tours. It is one of the rare opportunities I have had to capture diamond dusting on a daylily.

See what looks like gorgeous, glistening glitter on the petals? (look on the right side of the bloom, near the edges especially...)  See how the light reflects what looks like tiny crystals? That's diamond dusting and it's really hard to catch on film.

According to  the AHS Dictionary of Daylily Terms, diamond dusted daylilies have structures that produce a glitter-like quality on the petal surface.  If you visit that link above, you'll see two more wonderful examples of diamond dusting.

I love this quality.  Quite honestly I love sparkles on almost everything, especially my daylilies!  This is a surface quality and definitely contributes to the overall distinction of the bloom. 

I hope you find some sparkles in your own world to appreciate today!

Daylily Haiku Thursday | Slick.

smooth, sliding surface,

the petals slick with the day-

finding their balance.

After this post, where I mentioned a "thick" daylily, I thought I would continue with other characteristics I notice and other vocabulary that daylily folks tend to throw around. This daylily, H. 'Ballyhoo' is exhibiting slick texture on its surface. You might say - "That daylily is slicking" if you were going to use it in a sentence and sound rather sassy.

Notice the area in the eyezone, where the petal surface seems to be wet, or shiny. That's slicking, and some daylilies do it more than others. As the day goes on, this particular bloom will probably "slick out" so bad that it is not attractive anymore.

From what I understand, "slicking" results from a degeneration of tissue structure and texture, due to environmental and genetic factors. For example, from exposure to hot, dry sun for a full 10 hours on a hot July day may cause it to "melt" or "slick out" as seen in this picture. Some dark or very saturated daylilies do this more than other light colored and heavier substanced examples, but that cannot be used as a generalization. (I have learned that with daylilies, whenever you believe you have an absolute, you can be assured you will soon be proven incorrect.)

It is not always a terrible trait; I still enjoyed this bloom of H. 'Ballyhoo.'  Although it was showing signs of slicking, the substance of the bloom was not affected- it still felt oddly fresh and sturdy when I touched it.

Daylilies are a journey that will never be complete.  Just when you think you have it figured out, a new window opens and new information floats in on the wind.  I love the discovery.

Off to Atlanta this weekend for the Region 5 Fall Fling.  I'm presenting a session on blogging - how fun!  Hope to see you there!

Thick.

Now this is frothy fabulousness.

It is H. 'Emerald Splendor,' and I'm sad to say it doesnt grow in my Michigan garden anymore. I bought it with the intention of growing it here, but after planting, it languished to two puny fans, with one scape and three buds. But I didnt want to give up on it so quickly, so I relocated it to my mom's garden in southern Illinois - where it took off. This is the epitome of the characteristic - substance. At first blush, substance doesnt hit you as a characteristic you can measure with your eyes, but with your fingertips. This photo conveys the emotion, movement and spirit of substance.  I think substance can be affected by water, soil conditions, genetics, fertilizer, growing conditions...many external factors contribute to a daylily's ability to exhibit perfect, proportionate, delicious substance. 

Judging Daylilies, the AHS handbook published to train Exhibition and Garden Judges, describes substance as "the thickness of the tissue structure..." and this daylily exhibits that exquisitely. Many of Tom Wilson's introductions were of this substance - and many of those are diploid!

Hmmm...now who said diploids were wimpy?

Guest Blogger | Bob Faulkner (Natural Selection Gardens - Dayton, Ohio)

"How to keep a club motivated, interesting, current and fun - our 20 years of experience"by: Bob Faulkner

“By example isn’t another way to teach, it is the only way.” – Albert Einstein

We here in the Dayton, Ohio area of the Midwest have an amazing group of knowledgeable and fun daylily folks. This has come through much learning, mistakes and a large measure of humility.

Back at the beginning it was necessary to either take a trip to Northern Indiana, in Michigan City or south to Chattanooga in order to find a group of enthusiasts. From Dayton, these were several hour trips at the minimum. The information and camaraderie were always worth the effort, but a couple of people got together and said “why don’t we try to organize something here in this area?”  A seed was planted and a club was formed, which was the beginning of what would come to be known as the Midwest Hybridizers - from which the “Daylily Trader” and “the Northern Mecca” websites have evolved.

So STEP #1 is realizing a need.

Shirley Farmer was in charge. The first meeting was held at the Old Cox Arboretum in Dayton. In attendance were approximately 10 daylily enthusiasts. The original topics were growing, labeling, stubborn parents and concerns of hybridizers on introductions. In attendance were some experienced hybridizers and some beginners. It was decided that there should be 2 meetings a year. The spring meeting would be informational and the fall meeting would be to showcase slides of the best seedlings.

So what began what was to be an important part of the hybridizing programs of many good hybridizers, along with information and just plain entertainment for collectors and beginners alike.

STEP 2 - Find and appoint a leader.

“The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.”-R. Frost

Shirley organized and hosted the first few meetings and 20 years later is still in charge. Along with being efficient, Shirley has the keen ability to deal with problems as they occur (and they will). A good leader will need to be able to listen well, analyze any problem; will be positive no matter what the problem is and will have the ability to create positive results. There is nothing worse than wanting to communicate a problem or a concern or even just an idea and not get recognized. Then there are last minute cancellations. Have a backup plan, maybe an open panel discussion, or a showing of seedlings from a local hybridizer.  Keep in mind that this is a fun meeting, it is run and organized by all volunteers.

STEP 3 – Keep the meeting interesting and informative.

“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four— calling the tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.” –Abraham Lincoln

Any club, and the territory that it encompasses, is made of an eclectic group of people, all with a similar interest in Daylilies but all at different levels of interest. It is important to remember, you can’t please everyone with each and every program. Therefore, a knee-jerk reaction to one person who didn’t like one program is probably going to be an over-reaction. We can’t always know the key to success ahead of time, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

I remember one program where Jamie Gossard brought in potted dips and demonstrated step by step the process of conversion to tets. We had another of John Benz who did a wonderful slide show presentation of the history of pink daylilies from the first to today…..both these programs were fascinating. Richard Norris did a helpful presentation on daylily markers and was convinced that venetian blinds and lead pencil were the longest lasting in the seedling beds. (I still use them today). Other programs of interest are presented as we become aware of the talents and needs of those attending.

STEP 4 – Don’t overlook new visitors.

“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” -George S. Patton

We sometimes get caught up in all the “things” that have to be done to get the meeting ready and we forget to include the new people. After all the announcements are done, we take the time to introduce all new visitors. All new visitors are prospective good members and future presenters. The success of our club can be credited in a large part to regular attendees who were once a new visitor. They become involved and eventually are not only a valuable part of our meetings, but a good friend and helper in the daylily hobby. Who knows how many valuable participants we might have not had if just once a new visitor was not made to feel welcome. 

STEP 5 – There is no room for a “Superstar”—we are all equals.

“Those who have good reason to brag never need to.”-anonymous

Many clubs met their demise at the cost of some superstar who refused to realize that the club exists for all people. A club cannot be just one member, it is many. Suppose we compare all the members in a club to the human body. What if your foot could talk and it said; “because I am not a hand, I cannot be part of the body.” Or what if the ear said; “I am not an eye, so I cannot be part of the body.” Or what if the whole body was an eye---how would it hear? Or if the entire body were an ear, how would it smell? It is important to get the idea that one person isn’t more important than another. For a club to function well, all parts must work together for the whole. It is a ‘must’ for the human body and it is also one of the secrets of having a good functional club.

We make extra effort to never omit anyone simply because of their over-developed personality, so it is important to work with them. The results can be beneficial to everyone. It is most certain that if the problem isn’t addressed it can and will affect the mood of the club.

 

STEP 6 – Find people’s individual strengths and tap into them.

“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” - Lily Tomlin

It takes a team to run successful meetings, year after year. The danger of having just a few do everything is Burn Out. It makes more sense and it is a lot more enjoyable to be responsible for a few things so that you can too enjoy the meeting. For the first few years of our meetings Shirley just about did it all. She arranged the speakers, organized the lunches, brought the slide projectors, booked the location and mailed the reminders. It was getting to a point where she needed help. We realized that we all needed to take more of a part. That was a turning point and looking back it was the moment we really began to grow and prosper. Don’t wait until someone gets burned out to pitch in.

As new people come to meetings, it is quickly apparent that some are much more interested and involved than others. These individuals will ask questions, even volunteer to help and will want to attend everything. These are the folks who can become a part of what is happening and will be happy to do so. It can also be quickly apparent that those who don’t participate, who simply come to be entertained, are the ones who will be most likely to criticize. Rarely does a participant have anything negative to say about the meeting. (Okay, for those of you who have forgotten, go back to step 3-don’t change everything for one person).

Along those lines, no discussion or input should be discouraged. I’ve been to meetings where the host would be defensive and would actually cut people off. There is a fine line between control and sensitivity. A good host can realize what point the participant is trying to get across even if the delivery leaves something to be desired. We all make mistakes but sensitivity is a must. On the other hand, some folks love to hear themselves talk and the host needs to know how and when to have them wrap up their discussion. There can be those topics that create a lot of discussion but there comes a point where it needs to be taken up at a different time and location.

STEP 7 – Make it fun for everyone.

“Make happy those who are near and those who are far away will come.” -Proverb

As far as showing pictures of new seedlings goes, we have reached a point where we reserve the entire fall meeting as it takes the entire day to get everyone in. We have hybridizers that are nationally recognized and those who are locally recognized. Then there are newcomers who have never shown pictures before. We need to really encourage all of these levels of participation. We have seen newcomers emerge as cutting-edge hybridizers in just a few short meetings. It can be a real pleasure to watch a newcomer show their pictures for the first time with all their excitement and nervousness. Those of us who have ever encouraged a child to walk for the first time can relate to this experience. And when they finish we are sure to make them know we were glad they did it. We all started somewhere, sometime.

From our two meetings a year have emerged a plethora of hybridizers and we expect more to come year by year. Not everyone has as their goal being a known hybridizer or even doing introductions at all. Growing a club such as the Midwest Hybridizers has come slowly and steadily, not unlike hybridizing itself. Most “new” hybridizers that come on the scene aren’t really new at all. They have paid their dues and by the time we start to recognize them, they have put in many years of hard work. The same applies for any successful club; it won’t happen overnightwon’t happen without dedicated people working behind the scene.

Two of the great things that have emerged from our cooperative are "The Daylily Trader" and "The Northern Mecca". These sites are both accessible on the web. The Daylily Trader lists the hybridizers who want to have their work recognized, some have introduced flowers, and others are just getting started. Northern Mecca on the other hand emerged from a need to organize ourselves and invite others to come as join us during bloom season in our celebration of accomplishments. This group of hybridizers has shown themselves to be generous, helpful, good sports and have produced daylilies that are beautiful and desirable in today’s’ market.

Little did Shirley Farmer know what the future held when she said nearly 20 years ago, “we need to form a club.” Her generous spirit, warm personality and gift of teaching have lent themselves to a harvest beyond her imagination and she is to be commended for all her work and direction.

“Knowledge speaks, but Wisdom Listens.” – Jimi Hendrix

The information in this article has been purposely kept as general as possible as a tool or grid for use when working with your own club. The hope is for you to take this information and use it as a guide, then your own club will have a personality and foot print of its own based on people and agenda.

The above photos of Bob's seedlings were taken by me in Bob's garden during the summer of 2009.

Daylily Haiku Thursday | Ode to Color...

a royal beauty-

shades of purple seduce me.

inside, yellow yawns.

H. 'Mort Morss' - thriving here in Michigan since being moved to a full sun location.

2010 Region 2 Summer Meeting Tours | My Favorite Photos

Click on any of the photos to enlarge and enjoy!

This summer 250 daylily fanatics went to Wadsworth, Ohio to attend the Region 2 Summer Meeting and were treated to a weekend to remember.  From the handmade goodie bags, to the well organized plant sale, to the smiling faces at registration, to the fabulous live auction, to the great food, the great gardens and the wonderful people - we had it all.  We voted for the Englerth Award winning seedling, we shopped in a cool boutique, and we were inspired by the daylily in all the tour gardens.

Seen on the left is H. 'Art in Heaven' by the bird-loving, expertly- purple Ludlow Lambertson.  It was the most stunning daylily I saw during the two days of tours around north central Ohio and it is certainly high on my wish list.  If they can grow it down there, Im going to take a chance on it here in Michigan - if I could only find a piece for sale!

What I remember most about these gardens were the wonderfully planned vignettes and thoughtful color-coordinated plantings.  So many of the gardens had collages of containers, as seen below at Fran Houghtlen's garden.  Notice even the hanging basket complements the container collage.  She sure knows how to put a scene together; they were all over her garden.

H. 'Big Kiss' seen on the left below was a stunning clump.  Look how tall those scapes are, and notice how full the flowers are...now notice how the scapes arent bending at all!  They are standing tall and putting on quite a show.  Love it.  I tried H. 'Big Kiss,' but it died twice for me here in Zone 5.  Must have been me, though, several of my friends in the area grow it just fine.   Sigh.

Above left the crocosmia was simply the most fabulous thing ever in the Burkey's garden.  It danced in the wind and splashed a gorgeous color of red in the wicked long fence planting at their home.  I thought it looked like a hundred red hummingbirds.  Awesomeness.

H. 'Dreamsicle Supreme' from Nicole Harry was a close runner-up for favorite bloom seen on tour.  I couldn't order this one fast enough straight from Nicole when I came home from Regional.  It has settled in nicely since being planted in August.  I cannot wait to see this one and all its 7" glory next summer. 

You know I never go anywhere without talking about the food.  Oh, the food.  I love tour food.  I love to see what people choose to serve their guests, how they serve it, and how the guests enjoy it.  The people who serve the food in tour gardens are always the coolest people to talk to...they are usually moms, sisters, best friends, or neighbors who are pitching in however they can to make sure their loved ones day is a success.  At Wendy Schwall's, we learned that her grandmothers made the deee-lishhhh-ous shortbread cookies.  The grandmothers were enjoying the tour from prime rocking chair seats on the front porch.  Many folks approached them to send their compliments to the chef. 

The walking tacos at Sally Marcum's were so clever and well done and very tasty - great flavor.   And again, cool people serving them with great care.  Our bus actually broke down for a short bit at Sally's and I didnt really mind much, since I knew there were scads of walking tacos to be eaten in her back yard.  These finger treats were at Wendy Schwall's.  I think I ate all six of these after I took the photo.  Sorry - they were seriously fresh and full of homegrown goodness.

I saw H. 'Maymont Double' for the first time at Sara Knackstedt's Daylilies By The Pond.  I loved the full, creamy shape of this double.  The color was clear and just looking at it I was refreshed - it reminded me of frozen lemonade...or fresh whipped cream.  Yummy. 

Yes, as seen below I also took time to enjoy a few laughs on a very cool swing at the Burkey's.  Many folks took a moment to sit a spell here and laugh.  It was nice to see people from all ages enjoy this treat.  I remember the swing at Jeff and Elizabeth Gilbert's last summer in Illinois and the gorgeous pergola swing at the Seago's in Georgia.  I love swings outside. 

I loved these gardens on tour.  They all had places to sit, great snacks, cold drinks, and above all else - wonderfully grown and exhibited daylilies.  Below are more daylilies I saw for the first time.

H. 'Hologram' and H. 'Memphis'

H. 'Yazoo Double Butterscotch' and H. 'Purple Kaboom'

H. 'Purple Kaboom' may be the "grapiest" daylily I have ever seen.  Like Violet Beauregarde purple- you know the kind I mean.  Purple in every sense of the word. 

So many breathtaking daylilies and so little time to see them all in one short, sweet summer.  Thanks, ODS.

The Southern Michigan Daylily Society is the host for the 2011 Summer Meeting.  The dates are July 15-17, 2011 and the hotel will be the Detroit-Troy Marriott in Troy, Michigan.  Please plan to join us!