Crossing plants has been an on-and-off interest of mine throughout the
years. I've grown the older type daylilies for many years, all variations of
orange and yellow, with one that had a tinge of pink. They received no
care at all, just left to do their thing which they did every year.
Then lo and behold, I spotted a roundish red daylily somewhere, and just
had to know more about them. I bought a few very inexpensive ones with
the initial intention of crossing them. Just to try it out, you see, as I didn't
know what or if my efforts would produce anything desirable. I found
daylilies to be the easiest type of plant to cross.
Initially I crossed a few, and was somewhat pleased with them, but the
desire for more gripped me. I needed a greater number for variety, so the
next year I did some serious planning and became a human bee. I enjoyed
planning for the crosses I wanted to try during the winter months.
With the greater number of crosses, I was overwhelmed with mostly hugh
bloom colors that I didn't even buy. Each year I buy a few newer plants to work with.
I haven't gone to the expense of buying introductions yet, but I may get there.
We do so enjoy seeing new blossoms each year as it is very exciting.
Can't wait to wake up and run outside with the camera. That is mostly
why I cross flowers, but I also want to someday see a flower perform
well enough to register. Kinda want to leave something behind for the
plant world that has given me so much pleasure. I love trees, shrubs,
flowers, and veggies.
The goals I have set for myself have changed as I learn more and more
about daylilies. Now, I am fairly sure of what I want to see in a seedling;
the problem is getting there. It does take patience, and a lot of practice
in seeing what each flower's genes will likely produce, or which ones
are likely to surprise you.
I haven't sold anything yet, but hope to at least give it a try next season.
Would like to sell some plants to buy better parents.
My only regret is that I didn't start out with this one piece of advice that
I read somewhere. "To buy the very best you can afford even if it is
just two or three plants for crossing, instead of buying many at lower
cost." That probably would have saved me a great deal of time and effort
in the attempt to realize goals.
