Hi Rita,

I don't know yet, because this is the first year of my daylily mania. I can contribute some to this discussion after mine bloom next summer.

kay

Hi Rita,

I have 139 registered daylilies, several NOIDS and about 25 seedlings. I have only seen about half of the 139 bloom because they were new this year. My list right now is:

Salter - Continental Holiday
Caywood - DIL Robin Nichols
Trimmer - Jamaican Music
Petit - John Peat
Payne - Lone Star Wagon Wheel
Schaben - North Wind Dancer
Pickels - Tennessee Afterglow
Stamile - Shores of Time
Hansen - Happy Apache

The only one I have on your list is Betty Ford but I wasn't that impressed with her this year. I might move her next spring to a little shader spot. My list may change after I see the others bloom but of course I plan on adding new ones so the circle never ends.

Judy

Rita,

It is interesting to look at your DL's by Hybridizer, especially if you have been collecting for several years. It was amazing for me to see that although I have always purchased my DL's by what caught my eye rather than focusing on a specific hybridizer, when I look at some of my very favorites, I find that they fall into just a handful of hybridizers.

All of my flowers are older intros rather than the most recent, so most have proven themselves wonderful over several years in my garden.

My tops by well know hybridizers:

Carpenter -- PUG YARBOROUGH tried and true, and CHIRENO new this year but wonderful.
Carr -- RAGS TO RICHES
Hansen -- TUSCASILLA TIGRESS
Hanson -- PRIMAL SCREAM
Joiner -- GIFT FROM HEAVEN and PRICKLED PETALS
Kinnebrew -- SPACE COAST BLAST OFF
Kirchhoff -- CHERRY EYED PUMPKIN
Lambertson -- EYES A BLUE
Maryott -- LATIN RHYTHM
Morss -- AESTHETIC BALLET
Munson -- MORTICIA and ETOSHA
Roycroft -- BELLE ISLE LIPSTICK
Salter (hard to choose--many of my best) -- FORBIDDEN DREAMS, HALLOWEEN HOCUS POCUS, PAINTING THE ROSES RED
Stamile -- ORANGE ELECTRIC and SPINY SEA URCHIN
Trimmer - SPICE HUNTER

Julie

Roycroft - Ring of Kerry
Dougherty - Autumn Wood, Indian Ripple
Jane Trimmer - Micro Burst
Dan Trimmer - Gemini Jack, Isabel Maraffi
Stamile - Answering Angels, Frogs Eye
Salter - Cimarron Rose

Here are some of mine.

Emmerich- Woman At The Well, Tim Kornder
Lambertson- Asian Fairy Blue Bird, Bird Talk, Awesome Artist
Rice- Katherine Marin, Mee Ying, Jayne Lough
Gossard- Dragon Fang, Neon Flamingo, Heavenly Bombshell
Morss- Purple Maze, Heavens Declaring, God Save The Queen
Stamile- Blue Lake, Bit Of Blue
Petit- Sailing At Dawn, April Laquinta
Benz- Ultimate Weapon, Vesuvian
Carpenter- Lavender Blue Baby, To God Be The Glory, Warrior Victorious
Smith- Bluegrass Music, Caesar's Head
Brooker- Victorian Garden's Oh Happy Day, Shimmering Red Satin
Salter- Pink Lemonade Party, Happy Halloween, Noonday Dreams
Peat- Linda Sierra, Aurora Blues
Kinnebrew- I Wanna Piranha
Agin- Red Friday, Linda Beck
Wilkerson- Eyes Right Jones, Temptation Eyes
Bell- Living Legend
Abajian- Ledgewood's Calico Blues, In Cahoots, Ledgewood's Sunday Dessert

Linda

Funny how gardens can be so different. BETTY FORD was a star in my garden and I only hope it gets better as my clump matures. I know it sure was a stunner when it bloomed.

Julie- I have AESTHETIC BALLET, forgot it was a Morss. Did well last year and even rebloomed. But it have short smaller folliage and looked funny were it was so I moved it after it bloomed. Will see how it likes its new home. Seems to like it as its growing like crazy. Its right next to MAYLAYSIAN MARKETPLACE now. Another on your list I have (planted in spring) is PRIMAL SCREAM but it did not bloom. Also have GIFT FROM HEAVEN and it did very well.

Linda- I just bought PURPLE MAZE (Morss) from Annette Rice on the Lily Auction for spring delivery. I really hate to buy those southern intros as they can be a mixed bag but I loved the picture so much that I simply could not resist. Does it show that fragmented eye pattern for you in your garden? I always worry that it might not look anywhere near as good as it does down south.

My Abajians have not done very well.

Rita,
PURPLE MAZE is a solid performer here for us. It starts to bloom a little after the Stella's begin to bloom. Everyone asks about it, because it really demands attention. The eye zone bands are always distinct. Here's a couple pics of it blooming in the garden this year.

Linda

PURPLE MAZE

Thanks for posting those pictures. It really does look good. I don't have anything that has that kind of fragmented eye, so this will be very unique for me. I also love that weird color that it is.

I case anyone looks at those pictures and has it have it, Annette (Annettesmagic on the LA) has it listed again right now again on the Lily Auction.

Here are some of my favorite cultivars by my favorite hybridizers.

Stamile - Last Snowflake, Moonlight Sail, Natalie Antoinette
Salter - Wild At Heart, Moonlit Masquerade, Mozambique Nights
Bell - Symphony of Praise
Trimmer - August Frost, Cameroon Night. Crocodile Smile
Lambertson - Cerulean Warbler, Ada May Musick, Turquoise Temple
Hansen - Blazing Saddles, Blue-Eyed Bandit
Hanson - Black Falcon Ritual, Slipped My Disco
Morss - Julie Newmar, Karelia
Munson - Court Magician, Breakfast At Tiffany's
Carpenter - Palace Garden Beauty, Texas Blue Eyes
N. Roberts - Lavender Handlebars, Kachina Dancer
Rice - Sapphire Lady, Me And My Shadow
Carr - Beyond Riches, Charmed Existence, Never Been Kissed
N. Wilkerson - Sugar Magnolia, My Mama Thinks I'm A Star, Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Moldovan - Wizard's Wish, Tiffany Jewels, Lord Of Rings
Reckamp/Klehm - Charlie, Harvest Moth

Debra

You are right Rita -- It is just amazing how each garden is so different. There are so many listed in this post that I am not really familiar with. I think that is why daylilies edged out roses as my favorite addiction. The variety to choose from is so wonderful that each person's garden will be very different, but easily just as beautiful. I hope Primal Scream blooms for you next year... you should love it! Mine didn't bloom my first year either, but since then it has been a stunner. Not too many with that vivid coloring and form around. Aesthetic Ballet is shorter for me as well, but where it is planted is perfect to show it off at it's best.

Linda -- You have so many that I have been drooling over for a couple of years (especially God Save The Queen), but I have been forced to choose between buying several of the older or one or two of the newer each year, and so have chosen quantity so far. Maybe next year... Your pics of Purple Maze are fantastic. I have similar coloring in my Gift From Heaven and it is one of my all time favorites. Just added another to the never ending list!

Debra -- Your favorites include some new ones of mine that didn't do so well this year (Julie Newmar being a significant one), so it gives me hope that maybe next year they will show their stuff. And noticing that several of my Stamile intros are among my top 25 or so, it has doubled my desire to get Last Snowflake.

Julie

Interesting question, Rita! I'm greatly enjoying the responses. To get on my favorites list, the flower must first bloom A LOT over a reasonable period of time. Next, it must make me gasp over its beauty each and every time I see it. My list wound up with many golden oldies:

Billingslea - MOUNTAIN ALMOND 1991
Carpenter - SUNRISE SUNSET BEAUTIFUL 2005
Carr - SHERRY LANE CARR 1996
Ferris - DALLAS STAR 1976
Grace - TOUCHED BY GRACE 2000
Hall - ABSTRACT ART 1965
Kaskel-Trimmer - TWO PART HARMONY 1996
Kirchoff - RUSSIAN EASTER 1992
Munson - CHINA LAKE 1982, RESPIGHI 1986
Petit - FERENGI GOLD 1994
Reed - PLANET MAX 1996
Salter, E - ELFIN ENVOY 2001
Salter, J - ELIZABETH SALTER 1992, PURE AND SIMPLE 1996
Smith, WH - YAZOO VOLETTA PATE 1986
Stamile - VICTORIAN LACE 1999, DELTA BLUES 2002

This is a wonderful post!!!!!!
I haven't given thought to what my favorites were; but I'll try to get to it.
I have so many of the ones listed and also love them.
The newer ones I bought this year in the spring and fall; so can't judge them yet.

I have been buying too much for spring shipment and don't have room in my gardens. I should stop reading this post and the catalogues,,,,,oh and esp the lily auction.

Hello Rita, Thankyou for this post. I have enjoyed reading it. Here is my list so far this year.

Salter: HILLBILLY HEART, LEE PICKLES, MORT MORSS, ROBES FOR THE QUEEN,
Kinnebrew: LIES AND LIPSTICK, S/C COTTON CANDY, S/C CREAM SUPREME
Stamile: STRING BIKINI, VICTORIAN LACE, STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER, PLATINUM AND GOLD, PANTHER EYES, ISLWORTH
Kirchoff: HEART'S GLEE, MARIA CALLAS
Mead: ROMEO'S HEART, DONNA MEAD
Trimmer: JAMAICAN MUSIC, KISSES LIKE WINE
Grace: RAISE THE STANDARD
Nunan: HELENA SEABIRD

I guess I can play too.

Stamile - Taos and Last Snowflake (lots of other nice ones this year including Mystical Rainbow, Elegant Candy, Wineberry Candy and Time Drifter)
Salter - Fairest of Them and Moonlit Masquerade
Gossard - Heavenly Angel ice
Schaben - Northwind Dancer
Brooker - Belle Cook
Emmerich - Faithful and True (although there will be lots of competition next year)
Moldovan - South Seas (another that will have competition next year)
Manning - Lillian's Tears and Roses
Henry - Siloam Little Girl

Rita, I was very surprised that you didn't list any of

Stamile
Kinnebrew
Petit

some of my favorites.

Stamile- CITRIX, ELEGANT CANDY, STRAYBERRY CANDY and WINEBERRY CANDY

Trimmer: KISSES LIKE WINE,JAMAICAN MUSIC

Have hardly any Spacecoasts or Kinnebrews. Three Spacecoasts I have were all bonus plants, I would not have ordered them but the one I did buy was Spacecoast Dreamcatcher. Has not bloomed yet for me.

Don't think I have a Petit.

Begnaud - Earlene Garber
Carpenter - Pink Rocks, Ballerina Beautiful (Hoping that Ellis Powell and Levi Davis will come into their own this next year)
Hansen - Barn Owl, Come See, Hi Ho Silver, Very Berry Ice
Grace - Create Your Dream, Bluegrass Music - has not bloomed as it is new, but growing like crazy!
Kasel - Miami Heat
Kirby - Party Pinafore
Meyer - Going Bananas
Morss - Unvanquished, Vino Brillante
Petit - Half Moon Key, Popcorn Pete
Rice - Lucid Moment
Roycroft - Glenn Fletcher Memorial
Salter - Navy Blues, West Coast Blues
Scott - Topguns Kathy Arthur
Shooter - Eagle Nest
Stamile - Blue Elf, Velvet Eyes
Trimmer - Hollywood Lights
Yost - Itza Pink Teddy

Hi fairysoapgirl,

Technically speaking Bluegrass Music is a Grace-Smith. I have one of those coming in the spring: Felicia Grace, along with an honest to goodness Smith: William Shakespeare. My two Larry Grace introduced daylilies have not settled in enough to show their good stuff yet. They are J T Davis and See His Glory.

Edward

Hi Edward,
Yeah... I was just to lazy to make yet another line... :o) I made sure it is listed on my garden marker as Grace-Smith. Guess I should be more precise when posting so people don't get confused and can't find the right lily! I have only had Bluegrass Music since 9/26, but it looks like it has been in the garden a while. I am not sure if it is a very robust plant, but the seller I got it from (Falcon_g) seems to sell garden hardy (aka not greenhouse) plants with a great root system. It has taken off.

I, like you, have a bunch that are new this year - but can't really comment on how much I like them yet. Next year! I also got Golden Throne as a bonus, a Grace-Smith. It was a single fan, but has popped out a side fan already. I bought Doyle Pierce (another Grace-Smith), but it died right away. I was REALLY bummed. The only TRUE Smith I have is Emma Tomlinson McHugh, and she got planted this spring. Growing well, but no flowers yet.

Seems like you like polychromes?? Felecia Grace and William Shakespeare both have such nice form.

Rita - I really loved your photos of Betty Ford. And, I have been wanting Malaysian Marketplace... so I would love to see your photos next spring. Great post! Cindy Jones has grown into two lovely, strong fans, and Chocolate Cherry Dreams seems to be doing well also. No blooms this late in fall, but I'll be sure to post next year!

Going from zero daylilies to 83+ in 1 year, I can only go off what seems pretty to me. In the end, after looking at so many daylilies & a lot of look alikes, I am now making sure the branching & bud count is there as well. So far these are my totals by hybridizer:

Brooker -1 Since she is so new at the game her's are hard to come by for a reasonable price & plan to get this number much, much higher!

Carpenter - 2 Love the looks of a lot but the B&BC seem to be low.

Grace - 3 Grace-Smith -1

Hansen - 2

Hanson - 4 - I plan to increase this number quite a bit in the future as well. Even his older cultivars sell for a pretty penny. As I run across them at a reasonable price, I will snag them up.

Kinnebrew - 3 - I'll wait to see how these perform here in z5 before getting any more.

Kirchoff - 1 He's got a lot of doubles & I'm not so into doubles

Lambertson - 6 LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his dls...very unique! After hearing they might be muddy this far north I'm trying very hard not to buy any more until I see them outside of a pic.

Mitchell - 2

Moldovan - 1 - I really want to increase this number as well.

Morss - 2 - Gosh, his are expensive as well! I love his dls too & will acquire more as time goes by.

Petit - 5 - From reading his website he seems to go for northern hardy too. We'll see how these fair here before getting more. I can't stand his pics on his website they look so fake. I usually try finding a pic in a natural garden setting before buying it.

Reckamp-Klehm - 2 - Looking to add a few more that are hard to come by.

Salter - 8 - I started late buying these because of the thread that went on about "What happened with the Salters?". After reading that they are finally trying to make things right proved the credibilty back to me & started buying some. Their flowers always seem to have good form, performance, B&BC from what I have read. Now I have just read on this forum that someone doesn't have success with them in colder zones. We'll see...

Stamile - 16 - What can ya say...He's been around forever with a ton of cultivars, most likely one would have a ton of his intros. His dls seem to have the highest B&BC out of all the hybridizers I've noticed. I love reading his notes about each cultivar, very informative. Someone did mention his cultivars have a lot of northern bred hardiness in them & just recently read not so much so with his new cultivars. We'll see...

Trimmer - 2 - No more until I see how they do here.

Next year I will actually have a lot more input of course!

I've been collecting up daylilies by the dozen this year, but I don't have enough experience with them to call them a favorite, yet. So far, I'd vote for these, though.

Soules - Classic Delight
Stamile - Shores of Time and Chance Encounter

Sharon