I used to look forward to Stamile's the most, but since he's retired, it isn't anymore. I was interested in all Stamile's forms: bagels, patterned eyes, unusual forms and spiders, and doubles. Lambertson used to be a favorite, but his newer intros don't perform well for me. The Frank Smith and Jack Carpenter intros were favorites too, but they're out of the game now. I would say there are at least a dozen hybridizers whose new intros interest me. The ones I've had good luck with are highest on my list: Rice, Dan Hansen, Curt Hanson, Judy Davisson and Nan Wilkerson. I really love my Trimmers, so I would be willing to more of his. Some newer hybridizers to watch are Sandy and Mike Holmes, Fred Manning and Bill Waldrop. I've seen photos of their seedlings, and they have some incredible things in the pipeline.

Debra

Mine evolves. I still like Lambertson because his tend to do really well here. Trimmer has always been a favorite. I like Paul Owens too. Generally enjoy Wilkerson, I have a couple more of hers in pots. And Divitos are intriguing now.
Like to see what Emmerich has out.

kay

Well, I didn't even know Stamile had retired.

Debra, I ordered for the first time from Dan Hansen. He said his evergreens are guaranteed in the north, and he tests them out before putting them on the market.

Kay, what's a Divitos?

DeVito is Nicole DeVito, nee Harry ("Nicole's Daylilies").

I look forward to whatever plants from a couple years back people are having good experiences with, regardless of hybridizer! I have more Maryotts and Stamiles than anything else right now, but I'd prefer to diversify rather than collect a certain hybridizer.

Nate

I don't really look at the hybridizer until after I find a flower I like and am looking up info. I couldn't tell you most of the time who made mine. I am trying to do more northern grown just for climate reasons, but don't always follow that either. I do find myself liking Kirchoff and Trimmer. I like many of Bell's but can't afford. They few I have have been given to me or sold at discount by fellow gardener.

Chris - I believe Curt Hanson field tests a lot of Dan's seedlings. Cindy may know more about that. I think it's great that Dan only wants to intro plants that will perform well everywhere.

Debra

Debra, I agree (and he was very nice to deal with). I'd also heard his plants were tested in Curt's gardens first.

Dan Hansen is indeed great at standing behind his lilies--whether his own or others. However, as he noted a few years ago in a catalog, his goal is not to be a hybridizer for the north. Many of his plants are tender evergreens. I doubt whether most of his plants are fully tested in the north before introduction; if so, he certainly would note that in the description. I look forward to see how yours do, Chris. The most you can lose is some space for a few years.

You're right, mantis -- I didn't go overboard and order new intros or anything. I kept finding that many of the edge-no eye daylilies I admired were his intros, which was why I contacted him. I'll keep you posted.

Pat and Grace Stamile sold Floyd Cove and moved to CA but both are still hybridizing. However, part of their agreement in the sale was that they couldn't introduce anything for a period of years. They ARE finding it a challenge to hybridize on the Pac. coast - blooms don't open as well, etc. But I look for them to have some introductions over the next couple of years. What they are doing now is on a much more limited basis than the big operation they once ran, however.

I too LOVE almost anything from Judy Davisson, Curt Hanson and Jamie Gossard, I also grow a lot of plants from Reg. 3 hybridizers because they were hybridized locally and do well here : Margo Reed, Jim Murphy, Pat Cochenour, Don Herr, all have great plants that perform like troopers in my garden and I never hesitate to add their plants. I do grow quite a few plants from Reg.2 hybridizers in recent years - have enjoyed some from Bret Clement,Sandy Holmes, Gerald Bushong and others. Lots of great hybridizers out there!

I will say (and it has taken years of growing daylilies to learn this) that in recent years I have shied away from some of the Southern grown plants in favor of those which are grown in similar climates. Some of those beauties with the big edges for example, never look like that here, and I'm tired of the frustration of trying to grow a Southern belle that will never be happy here.Some Southern plants that generally do well here on the edge of zones 6/7 are the Ellers plants and Nan Wilkerson's.

Thanks for the info, Floota. I'm not familiar with a couple of the hybridizers you mentioned, so it'll be fun to look up their intros.

I'm not a fan of the huge edges in daylilies, so I tend not to order them from any hybridizers, but I am leary of those daylilies that will just sit in my garden and be one or two puny fans for years (e.g., Citrix and many Carpenters). I'm glad there are so many more northern hybridizers to choose from now.

Larry Grace intriques me. I can't afford any of his new intros, so will have to be content to wait until I can. I've seen garden pictures of the ultra expensive Dr. Stump and the bloom pictures at least look like what Larry is showing in his catalog. Don't know how the bloom ages or how the plant grows of course as I don't own it. I'm interested to see what he produces in the future...Trimmer is another one that has me tuned in. He's introduced quite a few oranges lately, and that's a trend I'd like to see explored. I know that the push in rose colors has been towards yellows and oranges lately, and others in the horticultural field say that orange/bright hot colors are the wave of the future. Who knows, but I find myself gravitating more and more towards orange. 10 years ago I wouldn't have thought that possible.......Maryl

My favorites are Hanson, Hansen, Hanson and Hansen, LOL. What can I say?
I often go by the daylily first. I have some from Lambertson too that do well here. It is true that many of Dan Hansen's are grown in Curt's fields in Northeast Ohio. I have several of Dan's that he sent, and he send a few in late October ( sigh ), but told me he did that with great intent! He wanted to see just how hardy the plants would be. They all made it, with one exception. I do like his edge no eye daylilies. I have many of the Hanson's, and my collection grows every year, and will be growing again.
I will be going to Curt's this week coming up, and Dan will be there once again. I know I will be bringing several home. I have my eye set on bringing home Wayne's World this time.
Cindy

I hope you get some great pics to post. Didn't you have some from last year of the guys sitting around a picnic table or something, maybe with a third hybridizer in the photo?

I'm anxious to see how my new Hansens do next year. I don't think I'll get any "preview" blooms this year.

Chris - You didn't tell us which Hansens you got. I'm curious.

Debra

I ordered Mandarin Cowboy and Forbidden Kiss, and received Beachin' Babe and Raspberry Flambe as bonuses after listing them as suggestions. Very generous!

Well, since Stamile is gone from the scene, I suppose Trimmer do better here. Lambertsons do well but I really don't like a lot of his. I do like Abijians and most do well here!! Ellie

Chris - I wasn't familiar with Mandarin Cowboy and Forbidded Kiss, but I looked them up. They look like great ENEs! You must have been in a pink mood. The bonuses are gorgeous, and I was familiar with them. None of these were on my wish list. With Dan's I go more for the UFs with patterned eyes, his toothies, his pinchers and his reds.

Debra

If these end up doing well, I'll have a long list of his to add to the garden. Mandarin Cowboy was one I noticed a while back but was too leary to order. I just realized that Raspberry Flambe is a Chris Rogers intro, so I hope it does okay here. I only have her Julianna Lynn, which is struggling this year (along with most of my daylilies).