Hi All - its been a while since I was on this site but I would just like to share information on Florida Mecca 2016 with you all.

We hope some of you will make it down this year to visit the beautiful gardens of the Hybridizers of Florida. There are many activities to join in on and many gardens to see in both central Florida and northern Florida.

There are websites and Facebook pages with information and a schedule of events. These can be found at www.daylilymecca.com or www.distinctly.on.ca/Daylily_Mecca/ or Facebook page Florida Daylily Mecca. The central Florida club will be hosting an Ice Cream Social on Friday night 7.00 - 10.00 (please note the new start time) and we will be having a BBQ the same night 5 - 7pm. We hope you all will consider making the trip to see the daylilies as they bloom in Florida.

If you need information on locations and accommodations please just let me know - I have some information prepared.

Hope to see you in May!

Oh, how I wish I could make it -- but alas...
But hopefully someone here in the forum will be able to make it and enjoy those beautiful daylilies -- and take pictures to share with us later...

Hi Karen, it sounds like a good time, even though I'm sure I won't be able to attend.

You can also put this on the Calendar of Events here at ATP. Just go to: http://garden.org/apps/events/

This does sound like fun! I keep promising myself I will get to Florida for the Mecca weekend someday.
Last year we had a few threads with images from the 2015 Mecca. Here are the links...

The thread "A few from Nicoles" in Daylilies forum

The thread "Floyd Cove flower pictures/Mecca 2015 part 1" in Daylilies forum

The thread "Floyd Cove part 2" in Daylilies forum

I am coming down! I was hoping I could get some hotel suggestions on the coast-becuase of course I am going to the beach while I am there too

I live in Florida and would love, love, love to go. But alas .... not good timing for me this year! Maybe next year. I do hope someone here on the forum goes and takes lots of photos! I'd love to see photos of this wonderful event.

My hybridizer teenage son has been wanting to do this trip for the past 2 or 3 years and I never really thought that much about it except for his bugging me at that time of year. Well, I am planning a May vacation in Florida and Ashton will get his wish. We will be making our way around the gardens this year.

Karen, for certain you are on Ashton's list of have to visit places. And Emily, we Okies have to spend some beach time as well. My wife and girls are not so much into all the dayliles and hybridizing so we will see if they tag along to the gardens or make a beach vacation. (probably some of both)

How fantastic for you guys, and especially for Ashton -- and it sounds like everyone will have a great time! And I hope you guys ask Karen Pierce about the minis they may be introducing next year too -- and I'd really love to see some pictures! I just love the minis!!!

Thanks Betty,We have been collecting lots of minis so we will be interested to find out.
I have this idea to get one of my daughters interested in hybridizing. I get a great collection of minis and start crossing them and get one of the girls to work with me and then introduce our new minis as Marissa or Mieryan's Mimis. Since both of their names start with M it works nicely.
We will take pics and share our Florida trip.

Terry

Oh, I bet it will be awesome. I am planning on attending the Nationals this year. I am in Kentucky, so I will be close to home. Florida's Mecca is on my bucket list of things to do. Have a great time!

Teresa

with Teresa, a definite bucket list item.
Its too bad I live in FL and still will not get to attend this year... I still haven't found a way to subsidize my income, so I can afford all those pretty faces...

Stan - I would love to go to just look and actually see other's daylilies (in person) besides what I grow in my yard. Unfortunately, I do not have a reliable car that will get me the distance and back where this Mecca is held (about 4+ hours away from me). It's on my bucket list too along with visiting Butterfly World in south Florida.

Becky, why don't you take a page from our book?
Our car is reliable, but it is 12 years old and has a lot of miles on it. So, when we attend a tour of historic homes in North Georgia every year in May, we rent a car for a day or two. It isn't that expensive, and provides great peace of mind when traveling to spots a day's drive from home.

For me, economic reasons are why I have not done that. You have no idea how much I would love, too, though!

Becky understand your dilemma... I am fortunate and blessed that I do, but just cant seem to fit it in my schedule. I am sure there will be shared pictures, but nothing replaces being there for such a spectacular bloom. One day...

Becky, as one who lives on Soc Security (yes, it can be done), I understand economics. On the other hand, if I want to do something badly enough, I can usually find $50 for a day's rental. I don't do it often, of course. Never more than once a year.

Doris and David will be there this year. One of the club's we belong to is trying to get up a bus tour, but are short of people to help pay for the bus. If it doesn't make, we are going anyway. The bus tour we took with them a few years ago was great with fellowship and not having to drive. But in your own car you get to pick the gardens and how long you stay at each, which is a good thing. So we will win either way. If you can OD on DLs, Mecca is the weekend to do it. You meet so many people you have "met" online, but seeing them in person is so much better. Two years ago Doris met two from ATP DL forum. We have pictures of them all together. Go when you make yourself a chance. David

Ill be there....camera in hand.

Ohhhh - Thank you thank you!

Becky, if you cant get to mecca, and you find transportation, Dan Hansen is about two hours from you.. If you can get over to his bargin basement bed, you will be in heaven. He has a spot for them, bigger than some others garden. It can be a fun day, and still get to take something home. Even if you dont take something home, you will never ever regret a walk around Dans garden, just shootin the breeze about daylilies, and daylily stories. This year I want to stop by Nicoles, especially since she has had no catalog, or intros for a year. See some new. Second is Floyd Cove, its more in the shade, pretty on the lake, and after that,....(of course I have to take a picture of every flower :blinking:) , Im whooped, and back to gainesville it is.