Great color in daylilies! | Defining what IT is...

<posted May 23, 2013>  I swear the daylily foliage in my garden this year is the best it has ever looked.  Or could it be that my eyes are just so sore for green, lush sights that I am imagining it?  Either way, it is awesome out there.  Im dreaming of the days when the clumps of leaves are covered in an umbrella of bloom.  Dreaming of the days when I search for the sight of the day that takes my breath away - something in the daylilies that makes me whisper an "ah" upon discovering it.  If you need a chart to feel what Im describing, here:

Its usually color that does it for me first.  Saturated, sunfast and sexy color.  Like Bill Waldrop's 'Red Sapphire.'  It means to be pink and it is PINK - not a muddy mauve - but PINK.  Here it is:

Sometimes its clarity of color that strikes me.  Below in Kimberly McCutcheon's 'Baby Pinwheels' or the classic 'Julie Newmar' I see clarity and cleanliness of color.

And again with another Bill Waldrop introduction, 'Kennesaw MOuntian Hayride' (below right) there is a deep saturation that looks like wet paint.  I find that when I go on garden tours of other daylily-centric gardens, if I happen to "connect" or "have a moment" with a particular cultivar, I seek it out to grow in my own yard so I can relive that moment of excitement - that blip on my heart chart.

What I love about Tim Bell's 'Valdosta Again' (below) is not just the dependable pattern, but the chartruese beacon at the center of the flower.  If that were more dull, if it werent so wide and repeated on the sepals, that pattern would not be so fantastic.  This one was my gift plant for attending the 2010 AHS Convention in Valdosta.  What an amazing time that was...

And it doesnt have to be complicated color to be amazing....look at Barrie Matthie's 'Bonibrae The Freak.'  This has Richard Norris' 'Substantial Evidence' in its pedigree.  LOOK AT THAT GREEN!  This photo was taken outside at 1pm in Georgia heat when I visited Kennesaw Mountain Daylilies last summer.

Enough of this...I could go on forever.  But you should go now and think about what it is in your garden that makes your heart chart BLIP!  Im going to continue to enjoy the hummingbirds feeding today during a light rain...

hummingbirds drinking-

the soft rain coating their backs.

they dont seem to mind.

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Daylily Haiku Thursday | Daylily Blog on The Gardening Gospel!

<posted May 16, 2013> In one of the daylily groups on Facebook I recently posted about my reading this back issue of the fabulous HORTICULTURE magazine (2011).  If you don't subscribe, you should.  I am always inspired by the writing.  The final page in this particular issue has a great story about eccentric gardeners that I could read 1000 times.

As you can see, this 2011 issue features daylilies on the cover, so I have it saved with other magazines which highlight daylilies.  I quite often set this stack of magazines out when garden tours come through, or when groups visit that aren't daylily-centric.  

Now, answer this question for me:

I often wonder why so many people who "discover" daylilies for the first time are so astounded with the forms and diversity in the flower.  Looking at the cover of HORTICULTURE, such prime real estate features basically a dark burgundy fulva-ish face.  

"They" have left us in 1950.   

Why would such a magazine leave such a diverse flower so mid-century?  It's not like VOGUE or TIME look so far in the past for cover photos.  They feature today's look and feel and influence the buying patterns of people who subscribe.  They feature today's fashion.

Today's issues.  Today's "prime stuff."  

Why would HORTICULTURE choose to put such a safe face on the cover?  I'm sending a package to its editor, complete with back issues of our amazing Daylily Journal and the Region 2 Newsletter.  They will be so excited.

God Bless the historic cultivars and their place in our space, but its time more general-gardening fanatic folks understand that it's not your grandmother's daylily anymore.

What do you think?  Would a cover be better with something like this?

Let's discuss.

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Daylily Haiku Thursday | Reclaiming Focus

Oh, where has the last month gone?  I don’t think in the history of A Girl and Her Garden have I ever went three weeks without posting.  Especially Daylily Haiku Thursday.  But the last month has taken a special focus that has only allowed me to blog in my head, and not sit to gather thoughts and actually write.

I focused on a trip to visit the Northeast Arkansas Daylily Society at the end of April and even though the visit was accompanied by the fugitive chase in Boston and torrential rain storms – it was a real treat to meet more daylily fans.  Gail Rasberry whipped up a technologically-advanced meeting room at a college, complete with SmartBoard and dual projection screens.  All I had to do was give her the presentation; that was awesome.  Like many clubs, they had great food to eat in a sit-down atmosphere before the meeting.  I spent near 90 minutes talking about my travels to AHS National Conventions over the last five years (couldn’t fit a decade of them in one presentation…)  We had lots of good conversation and then raffled off a boxful of great cultivars I brought to share.  Someone went home with CONCRETE BLOND, OSTERIZED, GLORIOUS AUTUMN and several other good ones.  People like free daylilies that are still priced a bit uncomfortable for their pocketbooks. 

When I got home (I drove the 5 hours) there was no rest, as I was focused on playing host to the FABULOUS Nan Ripley of Walkabout Gardens in Iowa.  She was the featured speaker that night at the Greater St Louis Daylily Society!  Nan presented a “Hybridizing 101” presentation that will eventually end up as a premier presentation in our AHS Media Library.  The presentation is thoughtfully constructed – with information for both the novice and the expert.  Wonderful photographs explain complicated and confusing terminology and I loved the whole thing!!  Nan’s delivery style is light and direct and built for teaching about gardening.  You can hear the passion she has for making great daylilies.  I already grow her LOVE OF RUTH and WINIFRED ESTHER and LOVE OF DADDY OH; I hope to add a few more of hers next Friday at our massive club auction.  I think she’s sending 10 of her intros.  I can’t wait!  If you are looking for a fresh speaker with lots to share, I highly recommend Nan. 

No rest for the wicked…for our son turned 8 the following week and we planned a party for 45 at the martial arts studio where he practices Soo Bahk Do.  Followed by a huge afterparty sleepover at our house.  Let’s just say it was a ton of work and even more fun.  The rice krispie sushi I made was a hit.  (Cool Moms use Pinterest for all the BEST stolen ideas.)

When we woke up from a weekend of parties to celebrate 8, my husband was off to Detroit for several days, which makes work double for me because he does so much around here.  Carter and I were immersed in digging daylily orders, moving mulch, and doing lots of second grade homework.

As if we didn’t have enough parties, I planned a “Second Grade Sendoff” party for the four classes that will merge together at a new school next year for third grade.  I wanted to let the kids meet each other before the First Day next Fall – possibly easing the anxiety of such a big switch.  100 kids in the park doesn’t sound like a good idea on paper, but it was amazing and inspiring to see them bond so quickly, sign each other’s yearbooks and make plans to see each other in the Fall.  Kids are cool.

Daylily shipments are coming in almost every other day; all of the shipments I have received so far in 2013 have been spectacular.  No bad sellers so far this year!  I finally found AT JACK’S and JOSEPH’S COAT to add.  

AT JACK'S (Bruch Kovach introduction from Centerpiece Gardens)
This is northern-born and show-winning!  Here are two more of its awesomeness.

Through Facebook I was able to connect with someone who grew a daylily I have been looking for – BROOKWOOD JULIA SEMON.  This one has been very hard to get my hands on.  Even Leo Sharp (the hybridizer) wouldn’t /couldn’t share or sell a piece to me when I visited his garden in 2008.  Someone saw on Facebook that I was lusting after it and offered to sell me some!  Oh, happy day!  Here it is - flat, flat, flat.  And, oh, the fragrance!

Then there were the Kentucky Derby party (I donated a large basket filled with potted daylilies and garden tools for the silent auction) and two big plant sales and a skin issue for our Boston Terrier (vet visits required) and the skunk issue with our Golden Retriever (vet and groomer visits required) and then finally Tuesday night there was a terrible accident at the house we used to live in (now rent out) in Michigan.  Now we must deal with the challenges of being a “long-distance landlord.”

I needed to dig in the dirt before I was burying someone in it.  I potted up 18 daylilies and dug three orders.

I needed some retail therapy.  So I went plant shopping.  A few times.

A gorgeous Tiger Eye Sumac, some ‘Banana Cream’ Shasta daisies, miniature black eyed susans, several cool sedum, an epimedium (my first), two mini fothergilla, three ‘Caramel’ heuchera, some large pots of ‘Guacamole’ hosta (you can never have enough of this one), and two of the new ‘Big Bang’ series tickseed later, I feel better.

This is what Im doing with all that stuff - filling my new front landscaping with it!  Im going in shades of brown, orange and whites - with lots of green textures and native plants. (Bobbie Brooks, let me know your thoughts!)

Im tucking dozens of different sedums and creepers along my sandstone staircase....

And Ive even incorporated a small pond that will make for awesome atmosphere when enjoying the seating on the front porch...(see it behind the heuchera there in the pic below?  You can see the fountainhead staring at you, waiting patiently for placement.)

There is so much to do and so many possibilities. Mostly everything is still potted and being moved around daily- a game of Gardening Chess that I am happy to play. 

I have been having fun making choices as to which daylilies will be incorporated into the mixed planting.  I've promised to not make it "another daylily-focused bed" so I'm only choosing the best specimen for this area.  I've chosen MARGO REED INDEED, BOUNDLESS BEAUTY, SUNSET GRILL, SUN SCREAM, HOT CHOCOLATE, MATTHEW MARTIN, FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS ONLY and JOSEPH'S COAT.  Here are two pics of the super-unique MATTHEW MARTIN.

It's been quite a KAAAA-RAZY few weeks here and I hope you are more happy about my return than you were disappointed in my absence.  I'm finally feeling my head above water and had to get some words out of my head (at least the ones fit for publishing!) 

Here are links to articles I have written about photography and photographing daylilies.  A few friends have asked me for extended thoughts on this topic, so while I gather my new thoughts, I will share with you these:

MOTION AND EMOTION

FABULOUS AND FALLING INTO FALL

A LITTLE TO THE LEFT

RECAP OF 2012 National Convention

WITH AND WITHOUT AN UMBRELLA

TWO SHOTS, PLEASE

Looking forward to a weekend filled with family time, Mother’s Day, hole digging and smiling. 

No.  More.  Drama. (hey!  That’s a good name for a daylily…hmmmm….) 

Til next time!

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Daylily Haiku Thursday | New ideas for daylily shows?

<posted 4/3/2013> This is the daylily, H. 'Texas Feathered Fancy'

Spring is coming.  Her approach is slow, sure and maddening, but coming nonetheless.  The temperatures are just warm enough for me to be out in the garden, but still too cold to let me do anything on the growing to-do list for Spring Chores.  That means a lot of nervous energy and ideas buzzing through my vitamin-D deprived brain.

I got to thinking about what plants I'll sell this year, and the list was longer than I would have imagined.  Many clumps are now 20+ fans and I could make several pots of many cultivars to sell at my Farmer's Market booth this summer.  I'm only picking two days at the weekly event in Alton - two of their busiest days - to set up shop.  

I'm going to really put on a show, complete with my new A-Frame thingy to display off-scape blooms.  I built two similar to this to have in my booth.  

a feature of an AHS-accredited daylily show by the Southern Michigan Daylily Society

The booth is going to be just as much selling plants as it is talking daylilies and getting people energized about bringing them into their gardens.  I have a great collection of vintage tablecloths that Ill use to decorate, and have some other ideas to stand out in the crowd.  It'll be my most public display of personal daylilies that I've done since moving to this area, so we will see how it goes.  This is a Farmer's Market that is really getting going with popularity, so I think it will be a hit.  The manager of the place wants to arrange some daylily "talks" too, so maybe that will bring in more addicts like us.  

I'm only selling once in June and once in August, and for the June sale I plan to use potted daylilies that I'll dig very soon - maybe 20-30 cultivars for which I have awesome photos and can sell for a good price.  Not the discards.  Not the has-beens.  Not the ones I don't want anymore.  Not the typical $5 lot seen and "wanted" by the general public.  I'm going to step it up, give the daylilies some personality and draw some attention to these gems.  

I find that digging and dividing them this early in the season (like this weekend) disturbs most established cultivars very little.  It also provides for a great specimen for the customers.  Once the dates are set, I'll publish them on my calendar of events, which you can find here.

I know people have been selling at public markets forever, but I'm excited to put my own spin on it.  This is my big "new thing" for the year, and I am very excited!

The Central Illinois Daylily Society is also planning a sale/show that I hope to be a part of again the first Saturday in August.  Last year was so much fun!

I also got to thinking about daylily shows (of course.)  And what kinds of "new things" AHS could think about infusing into the traditional show procedures.  What do you think about these things?

• A local section for Multi-Bloom Exhibits ON THAT DAY?
• Adding points to the Scale of Points for "presentation?"
• Add an AHS-mandated section for "historic" cultivars?  (1982 and prior registration years)
• Ask the AHS Membership or Public Relations Committees to publish a "Show Day Information Kit" for local clubs to duplicate and hand out to interested visitors?

There is always time to think...and to change.

Til next time-

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Daylily Haiku Thursday | Pink and Orange

<posted March 28, 2013> This is the daylily, H. 'Wide Wide World'

I love pink and orange together.  On my shoes, in my swimsuit, and splashed around my garden - EVERYWHERE!  It is a wildly reckless color combination.  Check out this Pinterest board; your eyes could possibly fly from your head with glee when they see what's there.  She even has some daylilies featured on her inspiration board.  Pretty cool.  It also reminds me of Easter, so this picture jumped out to be featured in today's haiku.

Anyhoo, I wanted to remind you of a few stories from my past four years here that I enjoyed reading again.  According to Google, these are six of your most-visited stories, too.

Skin In the Game - A post on "getting better."

Speak Up! - A post on presentations and the audiences who sleep through them.

Eliminating the Mediocre - A post on collections.

Collection of (for) me - Another post on collections.

A Little Bit of Strategy - A post on getting your seedlings considered for AHS awards.

What's Overrated - A post on keeping up (or not) with the Joneses.  

Enjoy today, and enjoy this upcoming weekend with your families- whether they be formed by law, by blood or by good old fashioned love.

Til next time-

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Daylily Haiku Thursday | Much ado about Branching...

<posted March 21, 2013>  

Here is the AHS definition for branching.  

Branching is not a trait that can be used as a ruler across all cultivars in an exhibition show.

There.  I said it.

Something historic, which may only typically have two branches but the clump puts up 14 scapes, should be equally appreciated on the show bench as a cultivar which may show 5-way branching, but it is the only scape that the same-size clump produces.

Here's the scenario:

A panel of judges approaches these two scapes on the show bench. 

Exhibit A: two-way branching, with 18 buds

Exhibit B: five-way branching with 18 buds

Observes Exhibit A: Sees one wispy scape with only terminal Y branching and perfectly spaced blooms. Takes 5 points off for branching (half of the allowed points earned for branching) because “It just isn't there.”

Observes Exhibit B : Sees beefy scape with 5-way branching and perfect blooms. Scores perfect points for branching because it looks stunning in the vase as a single example.

The first one, registered with 2 branches, is doing exactly what it is supposed to do.  Branch 2 ways.  Should judges take points off for branching because “it isn't there?”   In my opinion, no.

I am lenient (yet observant) on branching, until it gets to the head table.  Then, I ask classification for registration information on branching if my Best In Show scores are close.  (NOTE: I've taken to using my iPhone/iPad during the show to access the AHS Database so I can get the information myself.)

The branching points aren't to be used to measure what we would like to see the branching be…it is what it is.  Of course I’d like to see every cultivar have wonderfully spaced 5 way branching, but that isn't reality.

  

We cannot translate garden-value judging to the exhibition-value judging.  Those are apples and oranges.  

Exhibition Judges should use caution when taking off points for branching simply because it is scant as it appears on the table.  You aren't asked to judge whether you think the cultivar has good branching, you are judging whether its branching is showing as it is registered.  You might think that cultivars that only branch with a terminal Y are "scant", but if that's how it is registered, then it is not "scant" it is "as registered."  


While judging sections, unless I see something that is not proportionate or strange that causes me to check the registration data for branching and bud count, I do not tend to deduct much for branching and bud count.  But that's just me.

On the right is a wonderfully branched scape of H. 'Holy Water' from Frank Smith.  This was observed in one of his shade houses during the 2009 National Convention.

MORAL OF THE STORY: A registered cultivar should only be expected to perform to the standards indicated in its registration data, which is provided by the hybridizer.  

While judging an exhibit, judges should never say, “Well, look at the branching on THAT one,”  pointing to the exhibit that is showing somewhere else in the section.  That is an inappropriate comparison to make since registered cultivars are only judged against others in its name class until it reaches the head table. The exhibit competes against itself and its registration data- not other cultivars in the section.

I think some exhibitors are under the impression that only a beefy scape with high branching and high bud count should/could/would win the show.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  Using the AHS Scale of Points correctly, any daylily from any year, any hybridizer or any grower could win Best In Show.

What do you think?

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Daylily Haiku Thursday | Daylily Blog about a Blank Slate!

<posted March 14, 2013> 

This is the daylily H. 'Cave Creek Canyon.'  I just love its edge, which seems to stand erect off of the petal, and not just sit on the outskirts of it.   Its tightly sewn, showing off the brilliant gold-metallic coloration!

Here is the spring project, friends.  The boulders and the sandstone stairs are finally in and placed just so.  It's a blank slate for the start of our real front yard.

Will it be round or spiky; tall or short?  Wispy and full of motion, or organized and tidy?  Evergreens, trees, boxwoods, hosta, hydrangea, daylily, daisy, canna, sage, plumbago, phlox, wooly thyme or roses?  YES!

My neighbors are as curious as I am as to what it will become...

C'mon Spring!

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Keep Calm and Exhibit On... | Daylily Blog about Daylily Shows

<posted March 11, 2013>

Many clubs have met for the first time of the year and plans have started formulating for the year’s activities.  A topic of much discussion at the local level must be an accredited AHS Exhibition Show, as I have received three emails from three different states in the last 10 days.  Generally, their emails all ask the same question – how can I get my club fired up about having an AHS-accredited show?

The theme is generally the same around the country – “we don’t have the money”, “we don’t have the energy/manpower”, or “we don’t like what the competition brings out in our members.” 

Often the “WE” is a loud minority, who has been-there-and-done-that and isn't interested in going there again.   

I could write a novel about jaded, controlling, bullying behaviors in hobby clubs, but I won’t go there today. Where I will go is to tell those who are just discovering daylily shows, and those who have the desire to host such an event – MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR GRAND PLANS DESPITE THE RESISTANCE.

One club in my region is struggling with how to get enthused about such an “old-fashioned” thing to do.  I created a new colorful, informative PowerPoint presentation for that club.  

It is filled with my photos that are meant to stimulate discussion, enthusiasm and encouragement around accredited AHS Daylily Shows.  It is also peppered with some educational information to get folks excited about doing a show.  I’m offering it here to you as well – just in case you need a bit of ammunition to get your club talking.  And smiling.  And having a good time bringing in new daylily fans.

Click here to download the presentation. This presentation and the photos contained within remain my personal property, for your private use and not for mass distribution by you to any other forum such as Facebook.  Mind your sharing manners, please.

I was also asked a bit ago to provide my personal perspective to some frequently mentioned ideas around why folks aren't personally enthused about a show:

1.)  "I don't want to waste a whole scape to bring it to the show."
That's a common feeling.  If it’s a new cultivar, or its one you are using for hybridizing, then don’t cut it.  But, on a clump that is surely going to produce multiple scapes, you won’t miss one - I promise.  The feeling of contributing to the public education of daylilies is much greater.  There are over 70,000 registered daylilies.  You have plenty that no one has ever seen before.  Cut one, clean it up and bring it in.  Once you try it, you will wonder why you never did it more in the past.

2.)  "I don't need a 'judge' telling me my flowers are pretty.  I can see that for myself."
Exhibiting daylilies isn't about the 'prettiest' flower, it is about STANDARDS.  Judges look for traits such as scape height, flower texture, flower substance, grooming, flower color, flower size, growing conditions, etc.  Pretty only goes so far.  Judges are judging on a defined set of criteria for each individual flower.  The standard the judge’s use is the hybridizers registration information.  For example:  EL DESPERADO is registered at a certain size.  If an exhibit is shown growing smaller than the registered size, points are deducted.  If it is registered as a bright yellow and is shown as a muddy cream, points are deducted, etc.  Remember, the judges aren’t judging YOU, they are judging flowers to the registered standard.

3.)  "I don't like competition."
That's okay.  The mission of an accredited American Hemerocallis Society Exhibition Show is PUBLIC EDUCATION - not competition.  There are only about 70 shows held each year and being a part of that is a great thing.  Not too many clubs can say they hold an accredited show!

4.)  "I don't grow any new or expensive daylilies." Year, cost or hybridizer does not matter in exhibition shows.  The average year of introduction for section winners in the last decade+ is 1988.  Any daylily can win.  And does.

(H. 'Brookwood Black Kitten' - one of my favorite flowers to exhibit.  This is a very tiny flower.)

I also gave some ideas about how to get exhibitors enthused about exhibiting in the show:

1.)  Get tags early from AHS and distribute.  Have a quick learning session on how to fill them out correctly and completely.

2.)  Offer a raffle prize of good value (a new introduction, AHS coffee table book, 3-year memberships in AHS, etc.) to all exhibitors.  Offer them one chance to win for every scape they enter. 

3.)  Have a grooming clinic given by an AHS judge a couple of weeks before the show.  Groom real scapes.  Bring real tools and let folks use them in this clinic. 

4.)  Add a Photography Contest.

5.)  Add an off-scape section. 

6.)  Add a design section.

7.)  Add a novice section that allows "first-timers" to enter without too much fear. 

8.)  Carpool to nearby shows to see what's being done.  The AHS website contains a list of all accredited shows in the country! 

9.)  Provide a clear picture to your members about what to expect on show day and what the procedures will be.  Informed folks are happy folks.  

The purpose of a daylily show is to get people inspired about daylilies, and we can’t do that if our members don’t bring in a few to share.  I promise, if you bring scapes to the show and participate with an open mind, you will have a GREAT TIME.  How long has it been since you HAD A GREAT TIME doing something different?  You will have connected with the club, you will have connected to the national organization, and you will have connected with other daylily fans like yourself.  

(L-R: a seedling of mine and H. 'Worthy One' - both my exhibits)

(L-R: H. 'Mexican Magic' and H. 'Threshold of a Dream' - both my exhibits)

Having a show for your local gardening public IS WORTH THE EFFORT.  It’s your responsibility to take the daylily to them – to the nurseries, to the libraries, to the malls, to the state fairs, to the farmers markets – in a way they have never seen them.  Getting them to the show will get them to your gardens, and will get them to your club meetings.

Who is hosting a show this year and what are you doing to get your less-than-thrilled members fired up about it?

Keep calm and exhibit on.  This is a tradition worth the effort.

All photos taken at the 2012 Southwestern Illinois Hemerocallis Society Exhibition Show in Alton, Illinois

Click here for some great resources for exhibitors and clubs.

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