Thanks so much for the interesting info on Lambertson. It is always nice to know the story behind the hybridizer; it makes it easier to understand their work and why they do or don't have certain types of intros that others have. Jan G.

Yes, Thanks for the insight. Did he mention when these 09 intros may be on his website. I love this time of year. Daydreaming helps me make it thru the cold months.

Thanks again
Bob

I envy you being there to hear his presentation, wish I could have been. :) Thanks for sharing the info.
Jan

Thanks for the info on his presentation.
Question I would have is since he is growing/hybridizing dl's in FL, how would these grow in your (or anyone elses in WI) zone 5 garden?

Julia

I didn't even think to ask when his website would be updated because we had the opportunity to see them already. I really wish I would have because I wrote down a few that I really wanted & since we saw soooo many of his seedlings that day I want to reconfirm why I wrote these down. One of his new ones is going to transform into all sorts of reds & amber colors that will progress thru the season. Another that I just loved was one that looked like it had white lightning bolts thru the petals. I wrote so fast my handwriting was a little sloppy & can't make out the names. The amber progression one has kaleidescope in the name & the one with lightning bolts is Paradise Pattern?

He also said that he lives pretty much a stones throw from Gunda Abijian & has used several of those cultivars for crossing. I really wanted to ask him what is up with them since they haven't updated their website & if they still plan on selling & making new intros. I didn't think it was appropriate. I read on this forum a while back that they are sick?

After looking at my notes, I wrote down Blue Hippo!! He uses it a lot in his crosses. We saw a seedling where he crossed it with Abijian's Tony Likes It & it is just gorgeous. Blue Hippo really gives a blue eye. I can see why it still sells for big money even though it is an older intro.

In his color theory he was talking about using warm & cool colors & how using cool colors just makes things pop. He said it was very important to use a cool white to set off the eyes. He uses his intro Elma Tipton.

I also forgot to mention what he has been using in his diploid experimentation! He is using Aldersgate, which is a 20" flower(!), to get bigger blooms.

Julia, someone in the crowd did ask him that & he said feedback. He has people ordering his cultivars from Canada, NY, OH, etc. & said that people report back to him on how they are doing. If you should have any questions about a certain cultivar he could let you know. The only feedback he wouldn't have, obviously, would be on his new intros. There was a guy at the meeting that collects A LOT of his intros & not 1 word about any of them not being hardy. This guy has purchased 10 of his '08 intros so if you are interested in any of those I can find out if this guy has them & report back to you in spring. I have a few myself:

Ada May Musick - purchased from a z6a nursery
Blue Gold Macaw - '08 no one knows I can let you know in spring
Crossfire Hurricane - same nursery as above
Raptor Rap - purchased from a z5 nursery
Shamrock Shores - '08 no one knows I can let you know in spring
Tooth Tower - '08 no one knows I can let you know in spring

I think if you can find his cultivars being sold in a cold weather area I would definitely say they are hardy. I base a lot off of what is being sold at Cottage Daylilies, zone 5a, & Harts Nursery, zone 6a. Harts has a lot of his '08 intros in their display garden this year so they may be a good resource for you as well.

Julia,

The ones I have of his grow great. I went on the "Mecca" trip a couple of years ago and was able to convince my group of non-spider people to stop at their gardens. Great place.

While everyone else was buying their bagels with ruffles :>) at the other gardens, I saved my money for the Lambertson's.

Pam

I heard Luddy a couple years ago at Lilyhemmer. He was awesome! Someone said at this year's Lilyhemmer (yesterday, I think) that armadillos had gotten into his garden and done some terrible damage. I hope it isn't so...

His flowers are wonderful, but you really do get a new appreciation for and insight into them when you meet him. He's a fascinating person....as are a lot of daylily folks!

You guys should always try to go hear someone when you have the chance. Always something new to learn!

Thanks, lalalandwi...it's so nice of you to share his visit with us!

You are so welcome, but truly, I have been so excited about this I had to share with people that I knew would get excited with me.

He didn't mention any losses from armadillos! He did mention a few losses as I mentioned above, so would assume he would have mentioned the armadillo incident? I know he doesn't have as many intros coming out this year as last. I just contributed to the fact that it is just he & his wife doing all this work & if he had more it would wear him out. He said last season his son helped him out & now swears he would never do it again because it is a lot of work.

You aren't kidding about meeting fascinating people! There are a few hybridizers that belong to the club which have a few being registered. Met a couple that has 2000 dls!! Geez, & they both have full time jobs! Everyone was really super nice & went out of there way to introduce themselves to us newbies. We were invited to come to the hybridizers meeting in a few weeks & going to try like heck to make it. We were also invited to join a society for the SE region, closer to home, & got invited to come see Margo Reed & Jim Murphy in 2 weeks. We are definitely going to that one! It falls on a Sunday which works out better for us.

We've stopped at Luddy and Rachel's place the last two years and I always save some $$$ to purchase a plant or two from him. He does have a hard time understanding why folks like his plants...try as we may I still don't think he understands *-).

Last Spring we saw his new Dip seedlings and 2 were to die for. I wouldn't be surprised if they won't be out for a couple years as I'm sure they will be coverted before they are released as dips.

Planning the trip home from Florida already (we drive my moms car home for her). Luddy's and Hansen's gardens for sure this year and of course farther north to Memory and Bob Jordan. Dreaming already!

Lala and Pam: Thanks for the info.

Julia

Sounds as if you thoroughly enjoyed yourself. His daylilies are so unusual looking. I personally do not have any but you never know what I might do in the future. If you decide to get any for yourself, be sure and let us all know how they do for you in your zone 5 garden.

I imported some of Luddy's plants this year to the UK and I can report that they have responded extremely well to a cold, wet, North-of-England summer. I realize that temperatures are different here from Zone 5 but I can vouch for the fact that they cope well with rain (so far anyway--I'll give you all an update in spring/summer!!)

Nikki

lalalandwi:
I see you have Ada May Musik in your zone 5 which is one of the ones I'm thinking about getting for next spring.
Do you have any pics of your Lambertson's? Would love to see how they perform in zone 5.

Pam: Which Lambertson's are you growing and do you have any pics?

Thanks
Julia

lala, thank you VERY much for your detailed description about his talk!
I was just about heartbroken that I couldn't go when the Lambertsons were here in Oregon this Summer,
and all I could get out of those that did attend was "He was great"... LOL
Gratefully, marea

Man, I was so thrilled when Luddy agreed to come to our regional, and I can't say enough good things about him and his wife Rachel! She is a delight to deal with by e-mail, and I was very lucky to be able to sit with him for a little bit while he was here.

He's the tops in my book.

Hi Julia, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I was out of town. I am brand new to dls this year so I can't comment on how well it will do. I bought Ada May Musick according to shive's recommendation. She spoke to Luddy & he mentioned Ada May & Awesome Artist as being northern hardy. I wish I would have had the opportunity to talk to him to find out more. I planted mine at the end of summer so didn't see it bloom. I will definitely let you know how it goes thru winter & post pics next summer.

I will be going to see Margo Reed & Jim Murphy on 11/9 & if the gentleman that has all those Lambertsons is there, I will get his feedback on as many as I can & report back here.

lalalandwi: Thanks.
Lucky you to have a visit with Margo and Jim. I have only two of their cultivars - actually Margo's (Eggplant Ecstasy and Brown Witch), so would be interested in reading about their presentation too.

Julia