Wonderful Visitors to the Garden!

Hello Daylily Friends,

I regret that I haven't been posting lately, but Diana and I have been so busy.  Over the past two weeks we have had well over 180 visitors to the garden.  Also, I have been teaching Sunday School the past two weeks.  While we enjoy having visitors, and being involved in many projects, it nevertheless sometimes prevents work on other projects that I also enjoy, like writing on the blog.  Two of our most welcomed visitors this week were Gordon Riggle and David Kirchhoff.  Just before Gordon and David left I took our picture together, but David didn't smile.  So I "tickled" him, and that is why we are all laughing in the picture.  It was just delightful to speak to David about hybridizing.  He is so knowledgeable.

I've also had a wonderful time working with TET. SUNGLASSES NEEDED.  So, here is the story.  I had a new, green edged seedling to bloom in the Greenhouse.  I immediately liked the seedling: first because of its green edge, and second, because its "sepals" were so wide.  So I selected it, and now it is Seedling 2-455.  In fact, I liked it
so much that I took it out of its one gallon bucket, and put it into a 3-gallon bucket.  It bloomed several more times, and then it bloomed as a double.  I was so, so surprised, and so, so pleased.  Then I wondered if it would bloom as a double with any frequency.  The next day there was another double.  Today, there was no double, but there  was plenty of petlaoid material in the center of the bloom.  Although I have converted TET. SUNGLASSES NEEDED, it is difficult to use because I only seldom get any pollen.  The day before David came I took my last bloom of TET. SUNGLASSES NEEDED, and put it in the refrigerator.  I showed it do David when he was here.  I was so pleased with myself for having a "double" that could attract David's attention.  Anyway, I have taken pollen from TET. SUNGLASSES NEEDED, and put it on four blooms of Seedling 2-455.  I just hope and pray that pods form because I do not have any more pollen.

Another fun event that has happened is that our Cobb County Daylily Society, and the Greater Atlanta Daylily Society, had a breakfast meeting together here at our house.  At our last official Club meeting I mentioned that I particularly liked "sausage and egg casseroles."  Well the ladies brought eight (8) sausage and egg casseroles.  Oh what a wonderful breakfast it was with the casseroles.  I should also add that we had our joint breakfast in preparation for our Joint Daylily Show which will be on June 9 at the Galleria Mall.  Our "Instructor" at our Daylily Breakfast was Jim Mullins.  Jim is a tough competitor.  He wins most everything at the Northwest Georgia Daylily Club, and here in Cobb County he is a difficult person to beat, especially with small flowers.  Since Jim is so good at his work, it was most appropriate that he teach us some of what he knows.  Also as a part of our Daylily Show we will also have a "Design Competition."  The Instructor for this Class was Ms. Carin Guzy.  This is also a very difficult competition.  At our Joint Daylily Show everyone has to be ready for "stiff competition."

Thinking back to when David was here, he mentioned that

there were "fewer white" daylilies since that Great Gardener Pat Stamile retired.  I mentioned to David that I had been working with several white conversions, and that I had been incorporating these into Pat's lines.  Two of the whites that I've convered are TET. HEAVEN ALL DAY and TET. ESP.  Then, today, I had a bloom on my new Seedling 2-458.  Here is the cross:  [(Lacy All Over x Tet. Heaven All Day) x Lacy All Over].  What I have done is to take a "dormant" Carpenter introduction, convert it, and then insert it into a sandwich cross with LACY ALL OVER.  I really like this new white.

Finally I want to let you know that I went to visit my good friend Larry Grace in Newton, Alabama.  I left home at about 3:30 a.m., and I arrived at Larry's house at about 8:00 a.m.  Larry had already been in his Garden making seeds since much earlier in the morning.  I stayed in the Garden and in the Greenhouse all day, and looked at everything.  I would like to tell you what I saw, but alas, I can't because there isn't enough room on this blog.  I stayed overnight and then the next morning we were in the Garden/Greenhouse again.  Cindy, Larry's wife, cooked breakfast.  I had multiple waffles, and Cindy also fixed me a big Omlette.  I like breakfast: it is the best meal of the day.  Finally, close to noon, I was on my way back home.  Thanks Larry and Cindy for your wonderful hospitality!

Must close for tonight.

Bill

Barry Mathie's, THE FREAK, is "Converted."

Hello Daylily Friends,

Several years ago my beautiful wife and I were privileged to go to Canada, and speak to those gathered there about our daylilies.  Diana and I sat with Barry Mathie, and Barry told us about his daylily that he had grown and would soon register as "THE FREAK."  Barry's daylily was a diploid, and Barry asked me if I would try to convert his plant.  I agreed that I would try.  Sometimes things do not go as well as I would like with conversion work, but I've just found, through microscopic analysis of the pollen, that I have converted THE FREAK.  So, henceforth, it shall be called TET. THE FREAK.  The picture that I'm showing of the pollen was taken using my camera and my microscope.  As you can see from looking at the picture, the pollen measures about a "15" whereas diploid pollen usually measures from about a 6 to an 11 on the same scale.  There is just no doubt about the conversion.  After I knew that I had the conversion I told Little Lily Rae, and she was amazed!  I've been making seeds using pollen from TET. THE FREAK.

I wanted to also show a bloom that I've had using my 11-234 (See Blog dated May 13, 2011) as the pod parent, and TET. TEXAS KALEIDOSCOPE, as the pollen parent.  I recall having had eight flowers from this cross to bloom, but this is the only plant that I've had with height and branching and bud count.  I now call it Seeding 2-441.  While I would have preferred a plant that looked more like the diploid, TEXAS KALEIDOSCOPE, I am  very pleased with what I have, and I can see that it is a wonderful daylily.  It will hopefully be a good parent.

I've also had a double to bloom from using my parents that have teeth.   I really would like to use pollen from TET. SUNGLASSES NEEDED on my new Seedling 2-440, but I can't seem to get enough pollen to cause this to happen.  There is just a tiny bit of pollen that is extremely difficult to collect and then use.  Maybe, just maybe, I will get an opportunity before all of the buds actually blossom on 2-440.  All that I need is just one chance.

Guess who has just reappeared in the garden?  Yes!  Randy the turtle. He was walking along the edge of the grass, near the daylily beds that are close to the "bridge."  Then, he went marching across the bridge.  Randy is a bold turtle.  He is not afraid of anyone, and he considers all of the property here to be his "hunting ground."  I have noticed that he has been eating strawberries, but he hasn't had any tomatoes because it is too early for them.  Blooms but no fruit that we can see.  Randy does not "duck his head" into his shell when we appear.  He just keeps doing what it is he is doing, and pays us little attention.  Oh, I should add that it rained last night.  Wonderful rain that we badly needed.  And rain or no rain, slugs have been a real problem.  I wish Randy would "eat more slugs."

Bill

Sunday Morning with Beautiful Diana Rae

Hello Daylily Friends,

This morning after Diana returned from Church she went to water her tomatoes.  I must say that Diana does not grow ordinary tomatoes.  On the contrary, she grows heirloom tomatoes, big tomatoes, little tomatoes, and of course the "Porterhouse Tomatoes."  The Porterhouse Tomatoes are the very, very best.  Diana usually grows them to be about 3 pounds each, but this year I expect that the size will increase.  The main reason is that three (3) massive oak trees have been removed, and so there is more sunlight, and the roots of her tomatoes can run very, very deep.  I'm showing Diana using her red bucket to water her tomatoes, and then she is using her green water bucket.  Quite a show.  I can't wait for late June, and the tomato sandwiches and salads.

Back on April 15, 2012, when I posted about Little Lily Rae's Baptism, I mentioned that "I [was] expecting a bloom of a cross between 11-201 [See Blog dated March 24, 2012] and 1-414 [See Blog dated March 10, 2012]."  I went on to say, "Whether the new flower is good or bad, I will let you know what I see."  My daughter Kelley Rae wrote a "comment" a few days ago asking about the cross.  In the intermission, when I was having trouble with my computer, I did not show a picture of the new flower.  So, because of Kelley Rae's question, here is the picture.  I was quite surprised with what I saw.  I am stunned that so much of the green edge was joined together, but of course the "self color" on the petals is not that good or clean.  I now call this new daylily Seedling 2-421.

Another daylily that I have "overlooked" over the past 10 days is a beautiful orange.  It is saturated with color, and here is the cross: [(Varsity Orange x (Lonnie Leroy Carpenter x Kennesaw Mountain Hayride)) x 498-9].  This new daylily is now Seedling 2-434.  I was privileged to grow a new daylily that my friend Larry Grace developed from a conversion, and I simply put the conversion on my own plant.  The only issue with 2-434 is whether it will have any branching because I presently do not see any branching.  However, I am crossing 2-434 with my own Seedling 11-301 [See Blog dated August 15, 2011].  I like 2-434.  I hope that 2-434 has a future in daylilies.

I've also had a yellow toothed beauty to bloom.  I immediately took it out of its one-gallon bucket, and put it into a three gallon bucket.  Wonderful parentage.  You might ask me, "Bill did you cause those sepals to be so obvious and wide?"  My answer is "NO."  I did nothing, and I can see that when the summer heat arrives, this little beauty will present a "big show."  In the next few days I may have more to tell about this daylily, and maybe I will let you know what is is that I am trying to do with it.

While all of this was happening this morning, Diana went into her kitchen to prepare Sunday Breakfast.  I picked strawberries for her to use, and so we had these with our eggs and bacon.  This afternoon Diana is going to prepare a Strawberry Pie with the remainder of the strawberries.  Diana is "outstanding" with her preparation of her Strawberry Pies."  Just outstanding.

More news soon.

Bill

Chris, Alison and Nicole Come to Visit.

Hello Daylily Friends,

I regret that I haven't posted since Little Lily Rae was baptized two weeks ago, but I have a wonderful explanation:  My computer has been on the blink.  I somehow contacted a virus, and this caused my computer to malfunction.  I finally got this fixed, and so today I'm back to posting again. 

This was a wonderful day.  My good friend, Ms. Chris Batley from Wilmington, North Carolina, came by the garden to visit, and we were glad to see Chris.  Last year when Chris visited Diana was away, but today Diana was home, and we walked the garden for hours and hours.  I'm also pleased to say that Chris' daughter, Ms Alison Batley, was with her, and Alison's friend, Ms. Nicole Soileau, also came to see the garden.  Chris especially wanted to see the Greenhouse, and today there was a big surprise.  I have been trying to convert SUNGLASSES NEEDED, and today it bloomed, and the pollen was all Tet. pollen.  The flower was as big as a dinner plate with tremendous substance.  In fact, Chris stood behind TET. SUNGLASSES NEEDED while Alison took a picture of the palms of Chris' hands surrounding the flower.  Later, we all had our pictures taken together on the bridge in the main garden.  What a wonderful adventure.   I was amazed to learn that Alison and Nicole are both Teachers, and that both have degrees in Theology.  It is indeed a delight to meet two young women who have such tremendous educations, and who are committed to teaching our children.  Thanks to Alison and Nicole.

I have to tell you about a new green edged flower that just bloomed.  It is Seedling 2-417, and the cross is as follows: (11-162 {Irish Halo x Fringy} x 11-58 {Irish Halo x Fringy}).  I know that last spring I obviously used these to parents, but I just do not recall their appearance.  However, I do like the green edge on 2-417.  In fact, I like this green edge so much that I have been using pollen from 2-417 on practically all of my green edged flowers.

I have to also say that I had to burn the debris from the garden that has been gathering over the last several months.  The laws here where we live prohibit fires beginning on the day of May 1.  So, I had to get this done.  I must also say that, for the first time, a spark from the fire started another fire close to one of my large trees.  At first I tried to stomp the second fire out by using my feet, but this did not work.  I eventually had to spray the second fire with water.  Thankfully, I burned everything before May 1.  While I was  burning the debris I saw a black snake.  He was just like the snake that I killed last spring in the Greenhouse.  This time I just let the snake go.  He will only do good in the garden: kill mice and other snakes, even poisonous snakes.

Our day came to a wonderful conclusion with our good friends, Camilla and David Arthur, who invited us over for supper.  Camilla prepared a "Pot Roast," and it was just a perfect way to celebrate our friendship.  Camilla knows how to cook!  While Camilla finished making final supper preparations, Diana and I had the opportunity to walk with David around his garden.  There was so much to see.  David has been busy making his garden ready for this spring and summer.  After supper we all played bridge, and I'm pleased to report that David and I completely baffled Diana and Camilla.  They never won a game, whereas David and I won two games, plus the rubber.  Thanks again Camilla for that grand Pot Roast supper.

More news soon.

Bill
        

Little Lily Rae's Baptism.

Hello Daylily Friends,

I knew that this morning was going to be a special day.  It would be the day that Little Lily Rae would be baptized in our Church.  So last night I shined my shoes, I ironed my white shirt, picked out the tie that I would wear, and got everything ready.  Then, this morning I went to the Greenhouse at about a quarter to seven, and cleaned the flowers.  I noticed two that I liked, but they would have to wait.  I went back to the house and got ready for Church.  We sat on the reserved row up front, and it was great to have members of Jeff's family come and be with us.  There was John and Mary, Lily Rae's other grandparents, then there was Stephanie and Todd, and their two children, Cameron and Jack.  Little Lily Rae was so well behaved.  Our wonderful Pastor Matthews carried Little Lily Rae up and down the center aisle so that everyone could see her.  Then, after Church, we took Little Lily Rae to Sunday School to personally see everyone.  Afterwards, we all went to the Marietta Conference Center for Brunch.  Just a great celebration.

After we came home, at about 1:30 p.m., I went to the Greenhouse to see the two flowers that I had seen earlier in the morning.  Both flowers were from the same cross:  (9-26 {Irish Halo x Best Edge} x Irish Halo).  The green edges were good.  I continue to look for improvement.  I decided that Seedling 2-420 was particularly nice because it had such a beautiful green throat.  I crossed it with KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HAYRIDE.  The HAYRIDE has a wonderful green throat, but I've never found anything to cross it with that approximated 2-420.  I even kept pollen so that I can make several more crosses over the next several days.  I crossed 2-419 with Seedling 11-201.  [See Blog dated March 24, 2012).  In fact, I went ahead and cross pollinated all of the other flowers in the Greenhouse, and I didn't finish until about 3:30 p.m.

Tomorrow morning should be fun.  I am expecting a bloom of a cross between 11-201 [See Blog dated March 24, 2012] and 1-414 [See Blog dated March 10, 2012].  Whether the new flower is good or bad, I will let you know what I see. 

Thanks Lily Rae for making today such a special day!

Bill

Pods, Teeth and Turtles

Hello Daylily Friends,

This morning when I went to the Greenhouse I noticed for the first time that the number of blooms were much fewer than I've been used to seeing each day.  I also noticed that there were pods everywhere.  I don't mean just a few pods, there are hundreds and hundreds, and probably well over a thousand pods.  I've crossed about everything with everything.  I have just been really busy making pods.  In particular, on RED SAPPHIRE, which is one of the three plants that I have been using, there is 8-way branching, and I have set 29 pods.  Now this is a lot of pods, especially when you consider that outside the Greenhouse, after a cold winter, I would normally expect to have only about 18 buds on RED SAPPHIRE, and that I would only be able to probably set about half of these.  So, to have 8-way branching, and 29 big pods is a "wonder of the Greenhouse."

I've also started to see some of my seedlings bloom where I was trying to create more flowers with teeth.  I would mention two.  The first is Seedling 2-404.  Here is the cross: (1-336 {Wild Hair x Fantastic Fringe} x 11-84 {1-336 x Dr. Stump}).   The second new bloom is on Seedling 2-415, and here is the cross:  (1-300 {Wild Hair x Fantastic Fringe} x 11-84 {1-336 x Dr. Stump}).  The fact that made me select both of these seedllings is that they both have plenty of teeth that are very noticeable.  Just fine teeth.  I want to "stack the genes" for teeth for several generations so that when I ultimately use one of my seedlings with teeth, that I will easily transmit teeth to practically any new seedling.  Of course, I do not know the ultimate height, branching or bud count on these seedlings because they have bloomed in only 8 months, a very short time.  These seedlings will be planted outside sometime around June, they will go through a winter, and then next year I will know the final numbers on height, buds and branching.

Another new flower that bloomed is Seedling 2-416.  One of its parents is a very big, 7" dormant daylily, and I regret to say that I can't recall the identity of the seedling that I used to create 2-416.  The seedling must not have had a number, otherwise I would not have written "seedling" down in my book and on my tag for purposes of keeping records.  I like the pink color, the contrast in the throat, and then the green eye.  I like the ivory edge.  I like the size of the flower.  Nice, nice and nice again.  Since one-half of the parentage is dormant, I'm sure that this seedling will survive our winters just fine.

I left the house earlier this week and was driving down McDaniel Road when I saw a turtle crossing the road.  I stopped my truck and went to "rescue" the turtle.  He ducked his head into his shell, and made no effort to bite me.  I put him in the bed of my truck just behind a bale of pine straw.  Later, I put him out in my daylily garden.  I'm hoping that he will help me control bugs and slugs in the garden.  Then, Diana found the smallest little turtle on the boundary of our property.  I don't know what type of turtle that he is, but we also put him into the daylily garden so that he can also help control bugs and slugs.  I'm a firm believer in having as many turtles in the garden as I can to particularly help keep the slugs under control.

We are really looking forward to this coming Sunday.  Little Lily Rae is going to be "Christened" by Pastor Matthews in our Church.  What a wonderful day it will be.  After Church we are all going out for Brunch together, and just enjoy this wonderful time.  I'll let you know what happens.

More news soon.

Bill

Today is Easter Sunday.

This morning Diana set our clock so that we would wake up promptly at 5:30 a.m.  The alarm went off, and immediately, I jumped out of bed and ran to the Greenhouse to see what might be coming for the day.  Once in the Greenhouse I stayed for only a few minutes because we had to be at Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m.  We arrived at Church where we had "Sunrise Service" in the Park that is adjacent to the Church.  Rev. Sam Matthews gave a wonderful Sermon, and Little Lily Rae intently listened as Rev. Matthews spoke about cleaning up the sinful "messes" we make in our lives.  Little Lily Rae's Mom and Dad, Kelley Rae and Jeff Whitfield, also attended the Service.  After Church we all went and had breakfast, at Church, and then Kelley Rae and Jeff went "fishing."  Jeff is an avid fisherman, and Kelley Rae is also enjoying this wonderful sport.

Diana and I, and Little Lily Rae, all went home, and before the day proceeded too far along, we had our picture taken together on the couch in the front room.  Little Lily Rae really looks her best!  She was wearing her "Jackie O" outfit, which consists of a dress and then also a coat.  Soon, Little Lily Rae went with us for a walk to the Greenhouse.  Then we came back, and Lily Rae began to jump in her "Jumper."  It soon became obvious that Lily Rae had begun her day much too early because she fell asleep in her Jumper.  When Little Lily Rae falls asleep, she does not whimper or cry, she just tilts her head and she sleeps.  Oh what a precious child.

Diana went about preparing an afternoon lunch for all of us, so that we could all eat together when Kelley Rae and Jeff returned from fishing.  Diana prepared a hot potato casserole, broccoli and cauliflower, and a wonderful ham.  Yum, yum!  Diana boils her ham first, and then she bakes it in the oven.  This takes away the need to drink water all afternoon after eating her ham. 

Well I have to tell you about one of my seedlings that has bloomed over the past several days.  The cross is as follows:  Seedling 11-201 (Irish Halo x Fringy) x Kermit the Frog.  We were privileged to visit with the Georgetown Area Daylily Society in South Carolina back on March 13, 2011, and during our visit Charles and Heidi gave us their new introduction, KERMIT THE FROG.  KERMIT clearly has a green edge, and I just had to use it with my best green, 11-201.  I made five seeds on 11-201, and the first of these five seedlings has been busy showing itself.  First, there was the bud, and it revealed a clearly green edge.  I was excited.

The next morning there was the first bloom.  It was more of a clear yellow color than either IRISH HALO or FRINGY.  It was even more yellow than KERMIT.  Then, there was indeed a green edge.  Green edges can be elusive, and it is difficult sometimes to know if progress has been made.  So I had to wait for the next several blooms.  Indeed, there were more blooms that showed progress, and then this morning, Easter morning, there was real progress.  There were three blooms.  Two blooms were wonderful.  The other blooms was so, so.  I took a picture and you just have to see what I saw.  I believe that progress is being made.  In any event, we have four other seedlings to evaluate with this cross.  Thanks Charles and Heidi for KERMIT, which is sure to have a substantial impact on the world of daylilies.

It is now the end of the day.  We had a wonderful afternoon lunch, and then I watered the Greenhouse.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow.  Little Lily Rae is coming to spend the day.  Spring is truly here.

Hope that everyone had a happy Easter day.

Bill