Yesterday I received my first order of 2012, from Bell's Daylily Garden. I ordered five daylilies: CHARIOTS OF GOLD (new intro), MUCH ADO ABOUT MAGIC, MALAYSIAN MARKETPLACE, and two HARVEST SKY (one is for my sis). I just mailed my order within the last two weeks, and the plants arrived in beautiful shape through USPS Priority Mail. And my bonus plant was MAZIE FARR! I had listed it along with a couple of others as a suggested bonus plant, but I didn't really think I would get it -- and they sent me a beautiful triple fan. So needless to say I am thrilled with my order!

I had ordered from them a couple of years ago so I knew I would get great plants, and these are huge!

Very nice plants Betty.

Thank you! Totally thrilled here!

Oh, those look so healthy. Don't you just love getting those packages in the mail?
Exciting stuff.

So glad you posted the pic of your new plants. Now I'm excited as well.

Two weeks wait. Wow.

I didn't think sellers started shipping till late March or early April from the south. Those are wonderful looking fans.

How exciting, Betty! The fans look FANtastic! I ordered from Tim Bell for the first time this year. Now I am REALLY looking forward to receiving my order. Thanks for sharing and getting us excited about spring orders.

First order of the year is so exciting and they are fantastic looking. Spring is here for you. Have fun and keep us posted when they get planted.

OOOHHH!! Makes me want mine. Our pretty weather has flown away. Last week it was in the low 70's. This week it's 51 for the high, cloudy, rain for 2 days and still cloudy. None of last weeks sunshine at all. Yuck! So, I'm going to wait another week or 2 or maybe longer before I ask for shipping. I'd rather they stay warm and grow than to get here and get stunted with cold. I just looked and they are saying 20 degrees for Saturday night. That'll hurt!! At least it's supposed to be above freezing before and after so maybe it won't hurt too bad.

I love your huge, very green plants.

Many blessings, Mona

Julia, shipping really depends on the growing environment the seller has. If I had a greenhouse or I had the frost covers like some I've seen then I could have shipped things out in Dec. or Jan. and the daylilies would be a good size. But with the daylilies out in the cold (then hot, then cold, then freezing, then hot) I really don't want to ship out until April. I will be shipping some in March because people have requested that, but they will be smaller. Some of the daylilies are big now (never shrank and the cold didn't affect them), but most are still on the smaller side and the dormants have only about 3"-5" of foliage.

Those are really extra nice, Betty! What a difference in weather. It is still winter here (although a very mild one). Way much too early certainly to be planting anything out in the garden.

Michele: Sounds like our weather here for the up and down temps. Very mild winter here this year but this weekend promises to bring flurries and very cold temps again (low 20's). We've been enjoying 50's and 40's every couple of days which is very untypical for this time of year here. Not much snow either so far this winter. We've had more rain than snow.

Yes those are great looking plants. If you don't have a GH I think it is best to give them a chance to grow. Even if I ship to the southern states I don't like to send them to early.

We have such crazy weather here, it may be in the 60s and then get a big freeze and kill back the foliage in Spring

Seems really strange that daylilies are being shipped in March. Is that the norm or is it because of our mild winter??? It's supposed to turn cold here today with 2 to 3 inches of snow later in the evening.

Cynthia- I think most people wait to start shipping in April (or more northern in May and June ) but most deep south hybridizers will start in Feb and anyone that has warmer climates, greenhouses, and such can start shipping earlier as well. I got mine from Larry Grace last month. He has an unheated greenhouse, but it still protects the daylilies from the cold and the sun heats it so the DL will continue to grow. Any other ones I'm getting I've asked to get end of February or early March where possible since I can pretty much plant anytime here, so the earlier the better for me.

Most of the ones I'm shipping in March, the people say their area heats up pretty quickly so they want to get them planted before it gets hot.

Oh you are so lucky to get some beautiful ones now..... I am jealous. I requested no shipping until May ~j

Thanks. Now I know why a customer in Louisiana told me to ship as soon as I am able to.

Michele, I don't know if I requested March shipment, but I sure would like it as soon as you feel comfortable in March if possible. Bakersfield can easily get up to the 100's by April, although usually it will then go back to the 80's or 90's, so the earlier the better for me.

The weather here has been unusually warm for early to mid-February -- was 77 yesterday and expected to be that warm again today. Then we drop by about ten degrees after that. But at least our low's are in the mid to high 40's now. I hate lows in the 30's because I need to bring cats in for the night. And since I have seven cats I'd much rather have them running around outside than in the house all night!

I'm expecting my next order anytime now, from the Trimmers. And I just got an email yesterday from Karen at Floyd Cove, who was about to leave for Australia for two weeks, requesting they postpone shipment until Feb. 27th, which is fine with me. Then on March 5th John Shooter at Marietta is supposed to ship my order. I have quite a few smalls and minis in my Floyd Cove and Marietta orders, and I'm still working out where those will go, so I'm actually glad to wait a couple of weeks more on those.

Betty, I will make a note of that.

The weather here is just wacky. We have been in the mid-upper 70s here during the day and high 50s- low 60s at night. And of course we are going to get freezing weather again; 28 tomorrow night and 32 Sunday night. The poor daylilies

They just told the weather on tv. We're suppose to get down to 19 with wind chill in the single digits!!! This is for Sat and then Sunday is about 22 and chill about 15!! I've got hundreds of daylilies that are putting up about 10" to a foot of green. I wonder if it would help if I turned empty pots down over the top of the pots of daylilies???? We haven't had any sunshine in 4 days now and it's been steadly getting colder so I'm pretty sure that all the green will freeze if I don't do anything. It wouldn't be a total impossiible act since I have several hundred 3 gallon pots that aren't being used. I can not cover all the pots but the ones with the most new growth I could cover. So anyone please give me your opinion please???

Blessings, Mona