I just got in their website to check something, and I discovered they have their Fall 2011 introductions posted, and also a note that they are now under the ownership/management of Pete Harry. Here is their link:

http://www.franksmithdaylilies...

I got the email a couple of days ago, guess he decided to hand over the reigns to someone else.

Do you think Pete Harry is related to Nicole Harry?

I have as yet to try a Frank Smith daylily here. I am not sure if they would be hardy in my climate.

Pete is Nichole's father.

I am surprised that Frank let them keep his name on the operation. Or, that they wanted to.

Maybe that will eventually be changed.

I have a few of Smith's and they are doing fine.
Frank's Star Of Bethlehem
Front Porch Swing
Gilded Scarlet
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
One Way Home


Gilded Scarlet 2010

One Way Home 2010

Stephanie, those are such beauties! I really love both of them.

Thanks Betty. Frank Smith really has created a lot of Hardy Hems that are beauties. Do you have many of his in your area?

Cindy you really need to check out hisDL as he does have some great ones and so many would do well for you.

Mr Harry is Nicole's father and both have worked with Frank for several years. Frank and Pete have been in the orchid business for many years and are good friends.

I guess that explains keeping the name, if they are all friends. If I was taking on a business that had someone's given name in it, I think I would want to change the name. But, that is up to them!

Thanks Stephanie. I guess I will have to check his daylilies out. I have always admired Front Porch Swing and I'm sure now you can get that one at a reasonable price.

Well I went to Frank's website and I just realized by looking over the list of plants that I already grow 4 of his and they are doing pretty well here. I grow American Freedom, Caesars Head(just got that one this spring), President Ronald Reagan and Seagulls Heaven.

I just scrolled through his list of previous introductions and discovered I have at least seven of his! Didn't even know it, although I did just get HAPPY HAPPY, which is why I got into his website to get the details on that variety.

I only grow two Smith Intros, LAVA FLOW and MIDNIGHT SENSATION. Got these back when I was still buying southern intros. They really are pretty daylilies but while MIDNIGHT SENSATION does well, LAVA FLOW has about 6 buds per scape and that is the way it has been for years. I really should get rid of it but the flower is so pretty that I never do.

WAH!! They're expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanted to see if they have evergreen daylillies, but I'll have to catch my breath before I look around some.

I mostly am "in" Adeniums right now, does he sell seeds?

Melissa, if you check out other nurseries on the web I'm pretty sure you can get most of his previous introductions for less -- usually quite a bit less. I've even discovered that if you check out the general listings of some of the other big hybridizers, like Water Mill Gardens (Trimmers) and Floyd Cove Nursery (Stamile/Pierce) you can sometimes get multiple fans of other hybridizers' daylilies at a huge savings from the actual hybridizer's price (like half price or even less sometimes). You just have to shop it out to get the best price. But of course if you want one that was just introduced or introduced the year before, I think you'd have the best luck at the Lily Auction -- although that would probably be a single fan. I know Spunky1 (Fred) has offered some fabulous daylilies by other hybridizers on the Lily Auction, but you have to be prepared to bid competitively if it's a hot one! Oh yes, and the Lily Auction sells seeds too. You're probably already familiar with the Lily Auction, but if not you should check it out. I've just gone crazy over the last couple of weeks with purchasing Westbournes and some of the toothy daylilies, as well as some newer ones plus one of Fred's seedlings!

Oh-oh, I just noticed you're not in the continental US, so shipping might be tricky. So check out the seeds!

The best place to get seeds is the Lily Auction. Also do you have rust in the VI? If not you don't want to introduce it and there are probably even have plant restrictions. Once you have rust in that tropical climate you have it forever as no winter to kill it.

The Florida hybridizers all spray for rust but that only stops the outbreak of the signs of rust, It does not cure the desease.

Wow, good advice Rita! I haven't noticed much rust here and our hot, dry summer weather seems to kill it anyway. But in a tropical climate...

Question: Can you get rust from seeds? I would think not, but maybe just an inclination toward being susceptible to it.