Iowa Pollen Dabbers meeting

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I want to share with you my trip back to Iowa for the Pollen Dabbers meeting sponsored by the Central Iowa Daylily Society in Marshalltown, IA. Don Lovell and Phil Fass are the two driving forces behind this meeting along with CIDS members who furnish treats and eats.

My trip began early (4:30 am) on Thursday, March 17 when I woke to get ready for a 6:40 am flight from Chattanooga to Atlanta where I had a two hour layover. From Atlanta to Des Moines took approximately 1 hour 45 minutes and the plane arrived at 10:49 am. I grabbed my luggage and hopped in my rental car, the excitement of being back in my home state escalating. I always arrive a day early so I can go back to Colfax, where I grew up and Colo, where Jean grew up.

I always take this opportunity to visit the graves of our parents in Colo and Colfax. I image when we are gone, there will be no more visits to these graves. Jean and I already have our headstone set in the Colfax Cemetery so we know where we are going to end up.

I drive past the Now closed Presbyterian Church where I first saw Jean sitting on the steps one Sunday with a friend, a classmate of mine. The got up and walked to Werick's Drug Store, which by the way is still there and looks very similar to that date in 1954, for a Coke. I followed and wrangled an introduction! Our first date happened about 3 weeks later on May 22, 1954, following my HS graduation ceremony. I even remember where we went on our first date. My cousin, Johnny Runyan, was dating a girl in my class, and we decided to double date and go to Mama's Pizzeria in Des Moines, IA. You need to remember, this was 1954, and a couple kids from small towns had never heard of pizza. Our first try . . . we hated it.

I also like to drive around both towns and remember the homes we lived in and some of the memories associated with them. The 30 miles of Hwys 117 and 65 from Colfax to Colo brings back memories of when we were dating. When I first started the trek, Hwy 117 was about 15 miles of dirt and rock road. I can still feel the washboard road travel up from the tires on my car to my seat! At that time I had a 1950 bronze Ford that when shiny, was very pretty. I would spend hours cleaning and polishing this car only to travel 15 miles on that damn dirt road.

Another reason that I alwasy go a day early is so I can partake of the best comfort food in the whole world, Maid-Rite sandwiches. I spent my first two college years at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, IA. Jean and I were married and she taught in the local school system to put me through college. While there, I met Danny Holtcamp. Why is this significant? Well, eventually Danny purchased the Maid-Rite Restaurant in Newton so I always use the excuse of visiting him so I can eat Maid-Rites. Below is a picture of the restaurant that I took about a week ago and I can't see that it has changed much since I first started going there in the 50s.

You can see that there is a counter surrounding the cooking and preparation area. If you are not familiar with Maid-Rites, they are simply loose hamburger that is steamed instead of fried. Dan purchases beef shoulder and grinds it to his own specifications. In fact, he tells me the secret is to grind it twice. Here is a picture of one of my meals.

Enough memories, let's get back to Pollen Dabbers. I arrived on Friday afternoon and immediately spotted Don Lovell checking into the hotel. He said that Bob Pappenhausen had called from the hotel next door and invited us up for a drink. Well, it got to be like old home week in the bar as others began to arrive. The meeting started on Friday evening with, what would you guess, a Maid-Rite dinner. Don and I went to the Marshalltown restaurant and picked up a bunch of Maid-Rites and milk shakes for everyone to enjoy. In addition, CIDS members brought snacks and desserts. After we pigged out, the meeting started. Friday night is almost always reserved for CIDS members to show their new seedlings and introductions.

Up on the podium, CIDS hybridizers Kathy Larsen, Phil Fass, Don Lovell, Nan Ripley and Barb Pappenhausen amazed the group with their creations. This was Barb's first time to present her hybridizing program and she did a wonderful job.

Saturday morning began with hybridizers Bob Wilson, Lynn Stoll, Gerald Hobbs, Mike Grossman showing their creations and then it was my turn. The morning ended with gary Schaben and Karol Emmerich sharing their images. So much diversity among this group, from dips to tets, and from spiders to bagels.

Moving to the afternoon, one of the guest hybridizer's, Bob Tankesley-Clarke showed their program and the variety in their Missouri garden. Sandy Holmes, another guest, showed us where she has been and where she is going with her unusual forms program. Some exciting things on the horizon. Next, Mike Holmes showed his "teeth" program and where they originated from.

To wind up the meeting, Karol Emmerich and Mike Holmes took us on a tour through the new AHS Portal. It appears that there is nothing this program can't do. Here is a picture of the Pollen Dabbers group taken by Kyle Billadeau on Nan Ripley's camera . . . so thanks to both of them.

The group, almost 40 strong, came together to look at daylily images, but will always remember the people and the friends.

Life is very, very good.

Lee

March 2011 Greenhouse Bloom

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This is an exciting time of year here at Chattanooga Daylilies. We can hardly wait until this time is here and then it seems that in an instant it is gone. Yes, I am speaking of daylily bloom. Yesterday morning, we had four blooms open and could not wait to get the pollen out of the freezer and start spreading. But then, maybe to get things started, I will use live pollen from things that are blooming.

We have three different "layers" of potted plants in the greenhouse.

The first "layer" are the named varieties and the 2010 selected seedlings that we potted last September and they remained outside until early December, when after some very cold freezing weather, they were taken into the greenhouse. They are shown here on February 19, about a month and a half after being taken into the greenhouse. These are the plants that are blooming right now.

The second "layer" are the new potted seedlings. The seeds for this group were made in the greenhouse in the spring of 2010. The seeds were started in 2" X 2" X 3" peat pots in August, then transplanted to trade one gallon pots in September/October. Many of these 8 month seedlings have scaped and will be blooming soon. These are the most exciting to me, since I will be seeing the bloom for the first time. When it warms sufficiently, they will be moved outside. 

The third "layer" are the seedlings growing in No. 38 Seed Trays. Again, these seeds were made in the spring of 2010 in the greenhouse, planted in bulk trays in September/October, and transplanted to the No. 38 Seed Trays in October/November. There are somewhere around 3000 of these seedlings. They are shown here just before receiving a haircut in mid March. The foliage had just gotten too long and when overhead watering it was bending over allowing the water to run off onto the ground. There were a few of these seedlings showing scapes. I did see a couple of them and was able to save cutting them. I can't imagine they will amount to much anyway. These seedlings will be planted outside in April.

One of the plants blooming yesterday was a 2010 selected seedling. Seedling No. 0931 (Elegant Expressions X Unknown Seedling). This is a bi-color with a cream watermark and ruffled edge. I liked the contrast between the lavender rose petals and cream sepals. About a 5" flower.

H. 'Cerise Masterpiece' (Stamile 2003) and is one of my favorite cherry red daylilies highlighted by a white watermark. It has plenty of scape height and is being used in my hybridizing program for reds.

A seedling from Jeff Salter with the garden name of Better By Design. The colors are wonderfully bright and bold. I especially like the eye pattern on this one.

"Where did this come from?" you may ask. If confronted, I will never admit it, but I do like the whimsical cascading daylilies, and particularly, the chevron pattern. This is H. 'Free Wheelin' one of Pat Stamile's creations. I have been trying to set seed on this one for a couple years and contrary to the description stating that it is pod fertile, I have not been able to set any seed on it. I may try it's pollen on a couple things this year.

There, you have it. The first day of more than one bloom open. I hope you enjoyed the blog.

Life is very, very good.

Lee

First cross of the 2011 season

This morning, I made the first cross of the 2011 season. It was nothing spectacular, but one that I really enjoy the color. The seedling, No. 0007 was a cross of tetra. Lavender Blue Baby X (Edge of Darkness X Lee Pickles)  shown at the left. The pollen I put on it was H. 'Get Jiggy'. I am hoping to keep the color that I like and get some interest in the flower. It may take me a generation or two so we shall see.

I am starting to see some scapes in the 8 month old seedlings in gallon pots in the greenhouse. This is exciting, bloom in 9 months. Never happened here before. Exciting times are coming.

We just returned from a week in California wine country, one of our favorite places to visit.

Life is very, very good

Lee

Spring is beginning in the greenhouse

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I am growing all of the pots in the greenhouse this year in water beds (like the famous Tommy Maddox does outside). I found that this system has several advantages for me. In the past, it has always been difficult to keep the seedlings growing in the No. 38 Seed Trays evenly watered. Having to water overhead, the ones in the back would not get water because the foliage would always grow up and fall over causing the water to just run off. Growing in the water beds, I do not have this problem. Also, if I want to leave home for a few days, all I have to do is add a little more water to the beds to keep the plants moist.

Plants in the greenhouse are looking exceptional this year. The foliage is growing nicely, and it is that deep green color that we like. In the last few days I have been spotting a scape here and there. Here is one that I spotted on a second year seedling (Cosmic Sensation X Larry Allen Miller) Salter and Stamile parents.

Here is a picture of the seedlings growing in the No. 38 Seed Trays. Notice that the foliage has gotten long and is falling over causing the water to runoff onto the ground rather than moistening the potting soil. This is where growing in the water beds is very productive.

If you want to check the Lily Auction, Unbloomed Seedlings, you will find some of these listed. They are sold in groups of 5 of the same cross.

 These are some of the hybridizing plants growing in water beds. These particular ones are second year selected seedlings that I will be using in my hybridizing program. Further on down the bench are the named varieties that I will use.

These are some of the 6 month old seedlings that I am growing in trade 1 gallon pots. These seeds were made last spring in the greenhouse and planted in August, transplanted to these pots in September. Because of their size, I expect to start seeing scapes on these plants at any time.


Life is very, very good

Lee 

Region 10 Mid-Winter Symposium

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All images, except as noted, taken by Susan Okrasinski of Kingsport, TN and used with permission.

The 21st Annual Region 10 Mid-Winter Symposium is now history. Approximately 115 daylily lovers from around the country showed up in Nashville, TN January 21-23, 2011. The MWS is the first large daylily educational symposium of the new year, and what a great time we had. It all starts on Friday afternoon with the Wineception where attendees bring their favorite beverage and snacks, which were excellent. Here at the wineception is Chris Schardein talking to David Kirchhoff. Mary Collier Fischer is in the background talking to one of our terrific speakers, Barbara White from Canada. David was responsible for developing this year's program and did an outstanding job.

Mort Morss from Daylily World in Kentucky and Mark Carpenter of the Lily Farm in Texas talking daylilies at the Wineception. Mark recently took over ownership of the Lily farm from his uncle, Jack Carpenter.

The evening festivities begin at the make your own sandwich buffet line at dinner. On the left is Herbie Phelps of KY.  Next to him is Mary Collier Fisher our esteemed AHS president talking to Mort Morss, an artist in the daylily community. On the right side of the photo are Clint and Barbara Barnes, regulars to the MWS who come all the way from Montgomery AL. And in front of them is Glenda Jordan. She and her husband Jimmie worked tirelessly to bring the meeting together this year.

The meeting began Friday evening with Mike and Sandy Holmes from Kentucky showing their hybridizing programs. Sandy is mainly interested in UF's and Mike does the bagels. They compliment each other. Mike also gave a presentation, assisted by Mary Collier Fisher, about the new "Members only" daylily website. Watch for the announcement of this wonderful new addition.

The evening ended with a spirited panel discussion entitled, "Choosing The Right Parent", led by David Kirchhoff. Panel participants were (l to r) Nancy Eller, Terrah George, Larry Grace and Jim Murphy. This image was taken by Lee Pickles.

Saturday morning's highlights included Bob Selman from North Carolina. I understand that this was Bob's first daylily "talk" and what a wonderful job he did showing images of his hybridizing and his gardens in NC.

Always a crowd favorite, Jamie Gossard gave us tips on hybridizing for toothy daylilies which is one of Jamie's favorite forms. Being from Ohio, his cultivars are pretty hard dormant. 

The morning ended with a presentation from Lee Pickles entitled, "Memories". Memories can be of a long term or a short term variety. I talked about how I happened upon  a daylily show in a Chattanooga Mall back in 1986 and saw the cultiver, H. 'Lullaby Baby' which started my interest in daylilies. I then talked about my mentors, Denver Scott of Harrison, TN and Charles E Branch of Piper City, IL. Both of these gentlemen took me under their wings and taught me about daylilies. I talked about the 2010 4" Christmas snow and two weekends later, the 8" snow. I spoke of memories and highlights of the first ten Mid-Winter Symposiums with pictures of some of the speakers and participants. When asked, "How many have attended all 21 MWS, less than a hand full raised their hands. I talked about the famous 1996 MWS which was hindered by the snow and ice storm that covered the south. And, I ended my presentation with an image of my late friend, Bob Carr. Yes, people are important and make up many of our memories. That is what the MWS is all about, meeting old friends and making new ones.

Another of the features of the MWS is being able to meet some of the most famous hybridizers in daylilydom. Here I get to pick the brains of Don Eller of Georgia and Larry Grace of Alabama.

I know I keep harping on this, but daylily bloom only last for a short time, but friends are forever and I count many of you as friends. 


I guess this is about enough for one day, please keep our military in your thoughts because it is them that enable you to have thoughts.

Life is very, very good.

Lee


 

Greenhouse scape and buds . . .

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You cannot imagine how surprised I was yesterday morning to find a scape with buds on one of the trade gallon potted seedlings. It had even had one bloom which must have been one of the days we had snow and I didn't make it out to the greenhouse. The seed for this cultivar was planted on August 15, 2010 and transplanted to the trade one gallon pot on September 11, so this is a 5-month seedling. True, it only has a 10" scape and 4 buds, but, what the heh, it is a scape and buds. The parentage of this seedling is [(Seedling 9034 - Elisa Dallas X Wonder Of It All) X Happy Happy]. Seedling 9034 was a breakthrough for me with sculpting in an eyed and edged daylily of nice clear color.

H. 'Happy Happy'

Seedling 9034
(Elisa Dallas X Wonder Of It All)

You can see the scape and buds on this 5-month old seedling.

Here are the potted hybridizing plants taken into the greenhouse in early December.

These are the potted hybridizing plants as of January 15, approximately one month later.

These are the seedlings started from seed planted July 29 and transplanted to No. 38 Seed Trays starting on September 12.

Seedlings in the No. 38 Seed Trays on January 15.

Trade one gallon seedlings. Picture taken on October 3 after transplanting from seed started in peat pots.

The same 3 pots, picture taken on January 15.






Having a greenhouse is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. If you are going to be gone, you have to arrange for someone to watch that the heat does not go out and that the seedlings are getting enough water. Even with all the work involved, I would really hate to give up my greenhouse.

Exciting things happen to those who hybridize daylilies!

Life is very, very good.

Lee

Winter in Chattanooga

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 The South is in a vise of white. We woke up yesterday morning to about 8" of snow on the ground. This snow was double the depth and more beautiful than the one we had at Christmas. We moved to Tennesse from Iowa in 1974 and snow was an all winter occurrence. I can remember the first winter we were here, we played basketball in short shirt sleeves out in the driveway on Christmas day. Of course, the longer we live here, the thinner our blood becomes and when it gets below 70°, Jean's nose turns red. But now, snow is a treat, especially since we are retired and don't have to get out. We planned ahead and got extra milk and bread. Even our mall, the largest in Tennessee, was closed. No flights in or out of the airport. Same in Atlanta. I remember in 1993, we had 21" of snow here. Paralyzed this area for over a week. Now, we just sit here awaiting dinner time with a glass of Cabernet in our hand. This may be a 2 or 3 glass night. All of this after the local weather guys had predicted a mild winter.

I did venture out to the greenhouse this morning to see if things are still growing. They were. The hybridizing plant are really starting to grow.

Jean had Sara Lee (the lab) and Spikey (the small mixed breed) out in the snow. Sara was jumping, running and just having a good time. Spikey, whose you-know-what was dragging in the snow, wanted to come in. The daylilies in the field look like they are in for a long winter's nap.

Left click on the picture of Sara Lee and you will be able to see the ice on her whiskers. Sara had a great time playing in the snow. She lays on her back and makes doggy snow angels.

Here is a picture of our side yard. The snow was 8" deep, the most since the blizzard of '93 that dumped 21" on Chattanooga.

When we lived in Iowa, I had a 10hp John Deere lawn tractor. The first year I had it, I purchased a blade for the front thinking that I would be able to clear snow from the driveway. I quickly discovered that I couldn't move anything because I could not get enough traction, so I purchased wheel weights and chains. We lived on a dead end road that was not plowed by the county and I was always able to clear the road. I also cleared all the neighbors driveways. Needless to say, they hated to see me leave. I thought about clearing our driveway here with our 18hp John Deere with a bucket on the front but also thought that I would probably not be able to get enough traction. Evidently the tiller on the back gave me enough weight that I was able to clear the snow from our driveway and three of our neighbors. Most fun than I have had in a long time!




Looking forward to seeing you at the 21st Annual Mid-Winter Symposium in Nashville, TN on January 21-23, 2011. Please join us and greet old friends and make new ones.

Exciting things happen to those who hybridize daylilies!

Life is very, very good. Remember, when the bloom is gone, you still have your friends!

Lee