March 21, 2012

First flower in the greenhouse, March 21, 2012

Left click on image for a larger picture.

I was gone for several days in early March and have not watched the greenhouse like I normally do. While I was enjoying California and Iowa, the scapes really came on and today, the first flower opened. It was a 2011 seedling that I had taken in the greenhouse to hybridize with. The seedling is No. 0119 is a cross of (Crazy Ivan X Tempest Keep) H. 'Crazy Ivan' gives the dark edge and eye that I like. The seedlings normally have plenty of height and good branching.

Seedling No. 0112
(Crazy Ivan X Tempest Keep)






Scapes are beginning to show on the new seedlings. These seeds were made in the greenhouse last year at this time, placed in ziplock bags and put in the refrigerator. The were planted on July 23, 2011 and transplanted to 1 gallon pots on September 14, so they are around 8 months old.




 

Each year in March, I attend the Pollen dabbers meeting in Marshalltown, IA, sponsored by the Central Iowa Daylily Society and staged by Don Lovell, Phil Fass and Nan Ripley. The majority of the CIDS members hybridize daylilies and most show images of their program on Friday night. Those of us from out-of-town show our images on Saturday morning along with usually two guest presenters.

Another reason that I like to attend this meeting is my addiction to Maid-Rite sandwiches (They are an Iowa thing) which simply are ground beef cooked over a steam cooker and it ends up like loose hamburger meat similar to what you might get in a taco except with no spices. The meat is served on a hamburger bun and you can get most anything you want on them except real Maid-Rite shops discourage using catsup. In this image, taken by Nan Ripley, you can see me, Don Lovell and Selwyn Rash enjoying Maid-Rites at lunch on Saturday. Selwyn looks like he is really enjoying his. Thanks, Nan, for this wonderful memory.

This is an exciting time of the year.

Life is very, very good.

Lee