Oh my, do I ever remember the first time to see 'Ed Brown! ' It was in 1999 and it was in Van Sellers Iron Gate Gardens in a special display bed for his newest plants. It was a round bed near the gift shop they used to have. We could tell it was a new plant because it was only 1 or 2 fans, and only one bloom ( with one scape) was open that day. Van had just gotten it from the Salters the year before. This one was quite revolutionary when it came out, as it had the largest gold edge on it with that ice pink color that anyone had ever seen to that time. We were entranced! I remember several of my club members standing there for quite a long time , looking at it almost reverently, as it was on everyone's most desired list and we'd only heard of it by reputation to that point. This plant was probably the most sought after plant for a year or two back then.
So that day I naturally decided I HAD to have it ( although it was quite difficult to obtain for several years.) Single fans were going for around $150 or more , which was steep for the time. I didn't take copious notes back in those years( was still working) , so I can't recall what I paid for it and when I got it. I became a Garden Judge in 2000 and by the time this appeared on the Stout Medal Ballot in 2006, I'd grown it long enough to know I wouldn't vote for it.
Back in those days, the internet was a lot newer than it is now, and the email robin was still quite active. A lot of discussion went on when it was time to announce the AHS Awards each year. Quite honestly, when this was awarded the SSM, there were quite a few unfavorable comments from garden judges, because ( as some of you are discovering) this cultivar doesn't thrive as well in zones 6 and lower.
Back during these years, Florida was considered the only "Mecca" for daylily lovers ( as opposed to the northern mecca that is now quite active) and many judges, growers or any robin members with opinions spoke out that this cultivar shouldn't have won the Stout because it didn't do well in northern climates after the award was announced. Of course, this talk died down after a while, and more people from more northern areas were inspired to become garden judges so that they could feel votes were more equally distributed between southern and northern judges. Nowadays, just as many ( if not more) cultivars from northern climates will win awards as those from the deep south. It has definitely equalized, if not turned in the other direction!
'Ed Brown' grew here for maybe 9 or 10 years, but it limped along during rough winters and I finally ( after donating a piece to my clubs Stout Medal bed) moved it out about 5 or 6 years ago. I only kept a couple of pictures from the years it grew here. These were taken around 2005. Pretty, but as one becomes more discriminating, one comes to realize that life is short, why not grow plants that survive and thrive and give you joy without having to being nursed along in difficult winters and give you only a few blooms? (well, that's my choice at least.)
