2013 Don C. Stevens Award Candidates- In My Garden | Daylily Haiku Thursday

<posted September 5, 2013>  This is H. 'Kennesaw Horizon' showing off some rebloom awesomeness.  I love Waldrop daylilies - just sayin'.

I've just sent in my ballot for the 2013 daylily awards through the American Hemerocallis Society.  AHS Garden Judges vote on a very large ballot of cultivars for many awards each year. It's a cool privilege to be on the list of people who get to vote on the society's highest cultivar awards.

One of the many available "specialty" awards is the Don C. Stevens Award, which recognizes

"boldly eyed or banded daylilies" 

as observed in the voter's own region or in AHS National Tour Gardens. Judges can select from the provided list of hybridizer-nominated cultivars, or can write in their own choice for a winner.  



This year, of the 22 listed for the Don C. Stevens award, I grow 9 in my own garden.  Here are past winners of this award.  Click here.  

As I look through this list of historical winners, I am reminded that I have an unhealthy affinity for boldly eyed and banded daylilies.  I grow a lot of the past winners of the Don C. Stevens Award.  H. 'Jane Trimmer', the 2009 winner, continues to be a star in my collection!  It has a matte texture that I really enjoy.  Here it is showing off this year:


I recognize that some will object to my public commenting on the Garden Judges ballot, but my comments below do not in any way intend to sway your decision one way or another (if you are a GJ, that is.)  Judges are asked to vote on cultivars they have personally observed in their own regions or on a National tour.  My photos do not qualify as having "seen" them.  Consider this an editorial.  A conversation.  Not a campaign.

In no particular order, and only in my personal and emotional opinion, my favorite contenders for the 2013 Don C. Stevens award, as they grow in my Illinois garden are:

GAVIN PETIT 
(Petit, 2004) height 27in (69cm), bloom 6.5in (16.5cm), season M, Rebloom, Semi-Evergreen, Tetraploid, Fragrant,  Tangerine with black eye and edge above green throat. (Awesome Blossom × (sdlg × Only Believe))


JACKI KROPF
(Morss, 2004) height 28in (71cm), bloom 5.87in (15.0cm), season EM, Rebloom, Semi-Evergreen, Tetraploid, 27 buds, 3 branches,  Clear yellow with dark plum eye and plum outlined gold edge above yellow to green throat.


SYCAMORE FRUIT PUNCH
(Bell-T., 2008) height 24in (61cm), bloom 5in (12.5cm), season EM, Rebloom, Evergreen, Tetraploid, Fragrant, 20 buds, 3 branches,  Yellow with medium red eye and edge above green throat. (unknown × unknown)


How did I ever choose a winner!?!?    What did I choose?

And does my choice agree with the other garden judges?  

We shall see soon enough - just after the fall board meeting in Atlanta next month.  I'll be there!


2 comments:

Isadora said...

These are magnificent ... sooo very beautiful. A glorious vision to behold.

Unknown said...

Are these lilies in the USA or UK?????? Where can u buy them from London?????

 

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