2010 Seedlings

This seedling is a cross between Lemon Berry Frost (Bell,T 200) and Clarification (Norris, R 2002). It has bloomed for 2 seasons in our garden now and at 35 inches tall, with a 6 inch bloom, beautifully spaced branches and an average of 25 buds, it has been selected for future registration. It is an early morning opener with these consistently well formed blooms (exactly as shown in the photo) with a substance that is still firm at close of day.

Daylily bloom season is just about past here, with just a few really late bloomers and a handful of rebloomers still showing off in the garden. We have experienced rebloom on daylily cultivars that have never been observed to rebloom here.This season was unusual, also, in that we had an unusually large number of 'instant rebloom' scapes....those that appear while the initial bloom scape is just blooming. This really shortened our season because they bloomed out quickly.

In years past, we would have a lapse of time between initial bloom and rebloom. It's an interesting observation and one to be measured against other years as to cause....my speculation is that it is somehow rainfall related....especially in regard to heavy rainfall in the later part of last year. We are now in a dry period and it will be interesting to see if there are additional reblooms later. We normally have several daylily varieties that will be reblooming at first frost in October.

Now the garden emphasis is on reviewing performance of seedlings, especially those that had their maiden bloom this season, organizing photos, and beginning the collection of seed pods from our hybridizing efforts. Due to unusually hot temps, I believe our seed production is very much down from last year. I will concentrate on planting the seeds from our most promising seedlings first. We had some that showed some distinction that we want to continue to work with. Although we had some 'faces' that we were pleased with....the real excitement came from some with exceptional branching and bud count. I've traced that consistent trait to one particular seedling....which seems to impart height and good branching both as a pod and pollen parent. I tried crosses of some of these offspring to each other as well as going back to the original parent and working some more from there. Time will tell what comes from all that. That anticipation of 'what can be' is fuel for further hybridizing....it is a powerful motivator....even when weather is not cooperative....and other factors are adverse...like aching muscles and joints!