Michele, you have given me a hint to determine dormancy in my garden. I whipped out there and took a look. Nobody without a lead. That's good news for me. I have seen them without leads and wondered what that meant. I do think SYMPHONY OF PRAISE has an undetermined amount of dormancy in her. Last year I saw her without a lead. This year she has one, but our lowest has been .... um, 49F I think. Love that plant, but if she drops the lead, she's out of here. She doesn't grow well--I've had her since mid-2010 and she hasn't added a fan. Yes, I do know what that means, but she bloomed quite well last year. What a slippery slope!
I'm done planting, so she can stay another season. Maybe. On the other hand, this afternoon .......
And I have an open bag for garden waste. Maybe I can move someone else to that location. Maybe not.
Anyway. About the different kinds of dormancy. I purchase plants, now mostly from the auction in the late fall. I may have missed something, but have never seen a southern hybridizer who differentiates between different kinds of dormancy in their stock. So, it doesn't make financial sense for me to purchase from hybridizers who I know use even a smidgen of dormancy, no matter how beautiful the bloom. Yes, I am entranced by a beautiful face, but if it doesn't thrive here, why do I need it? Why should I buy it? In this garden, there is a longer list of "do not buy" growers than there is a list of "who to buy from". That's why for the past 24 mo. I've expanded into the smaller hybridizers to find the gem I need to continue replacing plants. Communication is the key when you live in one of those "difficult" locations--too hot, too cold, too long a cold season, and no cold season. There are areas in this wonderful country that challenge our lovely daylilies! And I'm in one of them.
I've been a Garden Judge for the AHS. I'm also a Master Gardener. Also a Financial Analysis. Durn, that makes me a tough customer to please!! But I LOVE my daylilies!
