Why do you think you'll get beat up?? Puzzling. Questions are good. I don't know about your particular club, but clubs in general are run by volunteers. It helps to remember that. If your club is particularly active and has a lot going on, then there are folks who are working hard to support it. I belong to three clubs because there isn't one particularly near me. For me, I enjoy the company of others who are just as into daylilies as I am. I appreciate the opportunities to hear and learn from speakers. By 'free', most club meetings are free and that includes speakers. However, depending on the speaker, he/she may have traveled some distance and someone needs to pay for that. Generally, clubs have something to offset the expenses or have sales or auctions to raise money...just so members can enjoy more of these things. It all goes back to the club, but, really, what's free? Someone somewhere is paying....one way or another... Many speakers ask only for expenses and often donate plants (to be auctioned) to offset those expenses. It benefits everyone and often enables members to purchase very expensive plants at bargain plants. (This for some of those who see pricey plants and think they can't afford them...also, some clubs have programs where members can earn credits to be used toward buying plants....which is a very good reason to join a club....pool resources, work a bit for the club and come away with some fine plants...) But, the bottom line is you get out of it what you put into it. I suppose there are some who get benefits others have provided, but for the most part....like anything, a lot depends on your attitude. Banquets are usually a fun activity. Members share a nice meal and hear a good speaker. People usually like these type of things. And, again, most speakers bring really nice plants along. This is generally appealing to daylily lovers. (Most hotels don't provide free food...grin...so, expect to pay for your meal...) I'm sure there are a few bad apples around, but really, most folks have good hearts and do a lot to promote their favorite flower. The AHS doesn't promote businesses. Many daylily people reach a point where they would like to recoup a bit of their investment and eventually sell some...so, there are all types of businesses (daylily-wise). Being a member of the AHS means...as far as I know...that you love daylilies, have a desire to learn as much as you can about them and enjoy the company of others who feel the same. As to costs for events, I find they are quite moderate for what is provided. Often, this is because of the hard work of club volunteers who help keep the club's finances in good order. There can be bad experiences in anything you involve yourself in...but, on the whole, my positive experiences far outweigh the bad ones. As to plants, some plants are better than others. Some people are better growers than others. Like anything, you need to learn where the best suppliers are for you. There are many fine growers who provide wonderful plants. That's probably why you hang out here...to find some of those...and that's fine. As to that, the recommendation is always to try to see a daylily in person. If you have growers within driving distance, jump on the opportunity to see the flowers in bloom. Go to the AHS website and find a display garden in your area. Oh...and clubs are for everyone...wherever you are on the daylily circuit. I think I recall seeing, by the way, the info for the regional in Wisconsin this past year. It sounded wonderful and if I lived nearer, I would have loved to have participated. Lilyhemmer is coming up here and the price is very fair for the number of speakers, a dinner (banquet)...and, of course, an auction. Hotel expense is only is you don't live close enough to drive. Our region is large and wherever a meeting is held, some folks will have a long drive. I don't know that I've ever paid for a tour...only as part of an event...and I don't begrudge that. It's an enormous undertaking to put on these tours and have the gardens look superb. Mostly, the fees are to pay for buses to ride on...which is so nice. Often, gardens that are on tour are not open to the public and so it is a rare to chance to see them. If you intent is to get free plants...well, there are, I suppose, plenty of opportunities for that. I'm overwhelmed with plants, so I relish just choosing certain ones, at this point. In sum, for me...the benefits are great and I recommend joining a local club and the AHS.

Ordered from them last spring (2010). I expected small plants, but some of these were a little TOO small. The Fallugia shrub (larger pot) looked fantastic. The two Scrophularia weren't as great once they were unwrapped. The root systems didn't even go halfway into the small pot, the stems were rather weak, and some of the inner foliage was yellow. I will agree that the customer service was wonderful. And they did PROMPTLY send replacement Scrophularia after calling to let them know about the plants (in case they didn't make it later on...was willing to wait to see how they did but the lady was sooo nice and said she would send two more). The new plants were a bit better, though none of them grew much over summer. The Fallugia shrub took off and did great by fall though. I like their policy of sending out replacements. I like the looks of their catalog and how many unusual things they offer. But I think I will look elsewhere first before buying any more from them... CMK

I thought it was an 80s thing, but I guess not. My mom moved into an upscale duplex (S. CA) that had been "flipped" by the previous (temporary) owner. Mom may have actually chosen to forgo the knobs/pulls, but it drove me nuts. I can't tell you how many times I tried to open a cupboard from the hinge side, which is hard on the fingernails! When we chose the hardware for our new kitchen we were very much aware of the issue DIY2Much2Do mentioned: snagging clothing. We were careful to choose pulls with sleek ends that don't snag pockets on the way by and the knobs are all on uppers. Not this one, but this type:

For the purpose of this thread, it would be best to stick with your original quest of the 1-acre garden if you still have interest in it. The 10-acre project should be a separate thread. But in order to develop 10 acres for a complex use that would have many sub-parts, in addition to discussing it here, you would need to hire a landscape architect to do the design work. Developing such a project would require study of the land, the "neighborhood," legal and logistical issues, and then require brainstorming and exploration of ideas in order to come up with solutions that work and make sense. Landscape design is a process involving many steps. They must be performed and completed in order for there to be a good result. (That's why there are so many built places in the US that are beautiful ... because we do all those things in preparation for the finished product. As an example, look at the work that went into reconstruction of the World Trade Center site in New York City. There are many videos online that document this effort. While your project is of a much smaller magnitude, the WTC project would give an idea of what kind of thought and effort goes into developing something nice.) In regards to the 1-acre, I did some exploratory brainstorming for a similar project a while back. (The purpose was to explore "what could this place be?") The primary result that evolved was a commemorative garden with the potential for fairly high-intensity use ... (as a place for events, celebrations, gatherings, etc.) Its brief description is as thus ... it was a rectangular/square block of land surrounded at the perimeter by a fence-like evergreen screen (created of vines, which was supported by tall (12' height) and substantial, decorative posts with a traditional, classic architectural style, spaced at intervals. Within that perimeter was a 12' wide circular strolling path which spanned the whole acre. This path was lined on both sides with 20' height palm trees spaced such that the path was almost completely in shade (as it was a hot climate location.) All along the path were park benches for seating. As well, there were alcove-like spaces just off the path with more private seating. Spanning the circular path were other strolling paths arranged in a pattern as one would slice a pie in 8 pieces. At the center of the pie was a paved, slightly elevated, circular (40' diameter) stage-like area entirely surrounded, except where the walks intersected with it, by timber bamboo. The the outer circular path intersected with the 8 radial paths, one could easily see directly to the central area of the site, and how to get there. The site overall was private due to the screened perimeter. Inside, it was urban park-like. I think it had the capability of evoking spiritual-like sensations from the users. Of course, it was highly botanical and floral with planting beds in many places like what one would expect in a major theme park like Disneyland.