spunky1 asked me
"Could a forum be created to post comments and photos of the daylilies we receive this year so all could see the size of the plants that come from different parts of the country"

I have thought about this all day. I understand the desire to show a really great box of plants. I really do.

Everyone loves to open a box of plants and have it bursting with big, lush plants.

BUT - I want to caution newbies that plants grown in the north, especially field grown, are not going to look like plants grown in the south.

Here in the north, if I get a shipment of plants that are leek size, with enormous roots - chances are that it is going to decrease in size over the next year. Another grower sends me northern grown plants, that are half the size with smaller roots. By the time a year or two goes by - both will be the same size... or the plant that was shipped as a huge plant will be smaller than the one that was shipped smaller.

Spunky1 sent me a photo of a shipment of plants. The only northern grower I have ever had plants like that from was John Rice - and they were greenhouse grown.

Also, remember that the type of daylily is going to make a difference in size also. Dottie Warrell's field grown diploid spiders are ALWAYS going to look puny compared to Stamile's or Frank Smith's big tets. But, that does not mean that her shipment is in any way inferior.

Keep in mind it is not fair to compare the two.

Also keep in mind that most growers I know are going to send their biggest plants to their repeat customers. If you buy from someone every year, and spend some money with them... if they have a double fan and a triple fan of a cultivar, the triple is going to go to the best customer.

And, I do not think it is good taste to say what you got for bonus plants. Back when I was selling, I had certain customers who always bought from me every time I had a list out. Some bought hundreds of dollars worth of plants every time. I gave them generous bonuses. If someone was a repeat customer, but they only bought one or two $10 plants every year or two... they are not going to get the bonus that the other customer would. So - if you got fantastic bonuses, and someone else didn't who bought from the same grower, they are going to feel slighted. When I was at the end of my selling as I was clearing out my sales garden, I sold with a list that very clearly said "NO BONUSES".... even though I stated that I was not going to send a bonus because I had very few plants left. Instead, I discounted the plants heavily and I paid shipping. I got complaints from a couple people that I did not send a bonus.

With this said - Spunky1 would like to see photos of everyone's shipments. Many in the north have plants shipped in late April or early May.... so there might not be many postings to this thread until later in the spring.

Jules and I decussed this subject for several days so it could be done without making anyone feel like there daylilies did not come up to par. I think Jules did a great job of wording the instructions. I recieve daylilies every year from all parts of the country and there is a big difference in the size of the plants,but like was stated above they will all be about the same size in a short period of time unless you have the same setup as the seller like a greenhouse,injection system,or no winter. With that said the flowers here are GREENHOUSE grown from Bill Waldrop in Georgia. The base of some are larger than a coke can. They will not remain this size because I have no greenhouse and they will only be fertlized once a week with a liquid 25-5-20.

Will leave Thusday(Mar 11) morning for Florida to pick up plants. Will post photos when I return.

This is some of the new ones I picked up in Florida, the ones in front are Trimmers. None were greenhouse grown.

Fred, those plants look very happy!

I have a question about your tags. Do you stick your markers down in PVC pipe? I have never seen it done that way....

Yes, thats 1\2 pvc 24 inchs long. I don't have to hunt the tags in the middle of the box or the beds. I do the seedlings the same way.

That's a great idea Fred. Would save the ole back too.

I get daylilies from all over, the ones that come as huge leaks always shrink down to normal northern size. So when I receive a box of big ones I am certianly not excited anymore as I know they will become smaller and stay that way! I have noticed the smaller fans (now I am not talking tiny here) do seem to grow and put out more blooms the first year.

"...And, I do not think it is good taste to say what you got for bonus plants. Back when I was selling, I had certain customers who always bought from me every time I had a list out. Some bought hundreds of dollars worth of plants every time. I gave them generous bonuses. If someone was a repeat customer, but they only bought one or two $10 plants every year or two... they are not going to get the bonus that the other customer would. So - if you got fantastic bonuses, and someone else didn't who bought from the same grower, they are going to feel slighted. When I was at the end of my selling as I was clearing out my sales garden, I sold with a list that very clearly said "NO BONUSES".... even though I stated that I was not going to send a bonus because I had very few plants left. Instead, I discounted the plants heavily and I paid shipping. I got complaints from a couple people that I did not send a bonus. ..

I totally agree with you.

Regarding receiving bonuses: I never expect a bonus unless the seller states that they send them. My personal preference is always for extra fans if possible. More of what you wanted is always better in my book than a plant you might not want or have room for in your bed(s).

I had never thought about the bonus plant issue that way before: not telling people what you received. It has a lot of merit.

No one has any pix of daylily shipments this year? Mine haven't started arriving, yet.

Neither have mine. Any day though for me.

I just got my first shipment on Thurs. It was from an LA seller, Rondas. Sorry no pics I forgot to take them. Anyhow I would highly recommend her. I buy from her every year. They are always nice fans with big healthy root systems. They are also almost always selling at very reasonable prices. ( I may regret putting this out there when I have more competition bidding this fall, Oh Well.) She usually doesn't send a bonus plant. She does usually however give extra fans if they are available. I like that a lot. I have in the past bought double fans and received clumps. They all survive too, so far. I'm in zone 6, Mid-Atlantic area and her plants are from the gulf coast. They do fine for me and acclimate very quickly.


Kim

I'm sorry, but I guess I've never noticed this thread before -- and now I feel bad because I think I've talked about my bonus plants that I've been so thrilled to get. I simply didn't realize how it might be perceived -- my bad! And I've also received several shipments that I could have photographed -- darn! But I will be getting a few more and will try to remember to photodocument and post them. I promise I'll be good from now on.

I received my daylilies from Maurice Gardens, Kip Schreifer yesterday. I had ordered 8 daylilies from him over the winter. Some were only listed as single fans. Two large boxes arrived yesterday! Each of the 8 that I had ordered were clumps! He is an awesome seller!
Betty, Did you ever order from him?

Oh shoot, I keep forgetting about this thread. I've received four shipments within the last week and all were big, fantastic fans in beautiful shape. The orders came from Mary Jane Meadows at Westbourne Daylilies, Keith Miner at California Daylilies, Robin at Earlybird Daylilies, and yesterday I received a fantastic bunch from Bob Selman at Blue Ridge Daylilies. I would not hesitate to highly recommend these nurseries to anyone wanting to order daylilies.

And yes, Becky, I did receive my order from Kip about a month ago. Fantastic newer daylilies, really popular ones that are usually quite expensive, at absolutely incredible prices! I think I will always order from Kip at Maurice Gardens each year now that I've discovered him -- actually, I found out about his nursery because I won a couple of daylilies from him on the LA last year, and early this year he sent me an email about his regular nursery -- and away we went!

And now that I've touted these vendors I feel I should mention the others that I've received fantastic plants from this year: Water Mill Gardens (Trimmers), Floyd Cove Nursery, Art Gallery Gardens (Lambertson), Marietta Gardens, Browns Ferry Gardens, our own Fred Manning (Spunky1) through the LA, Gaskins Daylilies, Gold Coast Daylilies (the Holleys), Klehm's Song Sparrow Nursery, and Lyle at Daylilies In The Desert. And all were fantastic plants in terrific shape.

The only plants I had problems with were those from Ladybug Daylilies, and I think that was because I ordered too early and they shipped right away (beginning of Feb.). Some of the leaves were almost mummified, and that kept continuing as the months went by and I totally lost one. But the others have since recovered, and I will still order from them again -- just a couple of months later. Learned my lesson on that one.

Oh yes, and I still have one big order to come near the end of June -- from Maryott's. And I know that one will also be a fantastic order!

Becky - When you ordered from him, where did you order from? (ie LA or a specific website?)

I got some this year from Mary Jane Meadows at Westbourne Daylilies, Carol Emmerich, Maryott's and Robin at Earlybird Daylilies... all I would highly recommend as well!!!

I should be getting some soon from our own Fred Manning (Spunky1) and from Northern Lights Daylilys (Mike Grossman).... then I should be done for the year!!

Christine, I purchased the daylilies from Kip's website- Maurice Farms. I have won auctions from him before, so I knew he sent great plants. But this was even more than I could have hoped for!

I also received great plants from Fred, Mark Sattelmeier, John DeMory, Calvin Becton, Rogers Gardens. It has been like Christmas around here!

Dont you just absolutely love it when the UPS guy pulls in and honks!!! I go running out there to greet him with BIG SMILES . He even brings treats for the dogs when he comes.

I keep telling him they are plants and he gives me this weird look I hope he knows they are "legal" plants!!!

Anyways, I tell him I rush out there to get the plants so my DH wont know!!! That makes him even more suspicious!!!

Oh well -- so far soo good.... and the DH has lost count!

Too funny!