Oh come on Susan, you know you could create more room by tearing out that driveway and garage for more garden space.

Here is a not-so-good seedling from a downfacing orange Cascade seedling x buggy's Starburst. I had this big plan for getting a downfacing lily with orange edge and speckles like Starburst. Wouldn't that be sweet!

I no longer have Starburst (went to lily heaven) so this is the end of the line on this effort. But there are two more seedlings waiting to bloom.

Note that the downfacing lily x the upfacing lily has produced an outfacing lily. I will further study this effect on orientation when planning crosses.

I like that outfacing one a lot. OUtfacing are really my favorites. If I knew how to save and mail lily pollen, I'd get some from Starburst. Would it have to be frozen?

I didn't think about that! Yes, you can send me pollen. Just pick several anthers as soon as a new bloom opens. Lay them on a piece of aluminum foil and allow to dry for say, two days. Shake the pollen off and fold the foil so as to encase the pollen. Let me know of you can do this and I will cmail you my address. No need to freeze; I'll do that when I get the pollen.

Ok, I ran out and got the freshest looking pollen on the opened ones. You're in luck too because there is one bud left to open. Does this look fresh enough. It's about 1PM is early morning a better time to pick?

Susan

Oh those look lovely. I don't think there is any particular time that is preferable. Thanks so much for taking the trouble!

A seedling from Venture...you can tell...

Nice job, mags. Don't you just love lilies that are free or darn near free

Yep. Love it more than you know

My check to NALS for seeds and dated late March, still hasn't been cashed. I know they are having problems but...

Beautiful seedling, Tracey!

I had a credit for all the ones I had on order last year but never got....so it was an even trade. I sure hope someone takes over the seed sale, but in this day and age, nobody wants to do anything, they just want everything. It is too much for me to take on myself. Too bad you didn't live closer pard, I bet we could do it together...and it would be fun.

It's such a worthwhile thing...it really, really is.

It really is a two person job. And I think you have to deal with phytosanitaries and I believe there is also a requirement to have a separate dedicated freezer to store the seeds.

You have to know how to categorize the seeds. Then there is the production of hard copies of the list and the production of the website with photos. Photos really sell the seeds. I doubt if any of my seeds sold as the photos I sent were never put on the site.

And then there is the cleaning of the seeds. I have heard that many, many lots are sent uncleaned. So then the seed chair(s) have to clean them.

The fact that no one holds the job for very long tells all.

I also suspect it is somewhat of a thankless job...

Just think of what would be missed if no one did it. I was sure to remember to thank them each time I ordered. Another time I wish I had a society nearby...they actually recommended that a society take it on.

First of the year trumpet from seed.

Another view and I will have to check and compare to last year as I know some of the seedlings grew, but hadn't bloomed. The seedlings are my most exciting part of summer.

Beautiful...Must add more trumpets:)

Here's year two of the covergirl for this thread, also lovingly known by me as DC #1. Good bud count. Pretty, sweet thing

Yes, a covergirl for sure:)

She's lovely!