spunky1 asked me
"Could a forum be created to post comments and photos of the daylilies we receive this year so all could see the size of the plants that come from different parts of the country"
I have thought about this all day. I understand the desire to show a really great box of plants. I really do.
Everyone loves to open a box of plants and have it bursting with big, lush plants.
BUT - I want to caution newbies that plants grown in the north, especially field grown, are not going to look like plants grown in the south.
Here in the north, if I get a shipment of plants that are leek size, with enormous roots - chances are that it is going to decrease in size over the next year. Another grower sends me northern grown plants, that are half the size with smaller roots. By the time a year or two goes by - both will be the same size... or the plant that was shipped as a huge plant will be smaller than the one that was shipped smaller.
Spunky1 sent me a photo of a shipment of plants. The only northern grower I have ever had plants like that from was John Rice - and they were greenhouse grown.
Also, remember that the type of daylily is going to make a difference in size also. Dottie Warrell's field grown diploid spiders are ALWAYS going to look puny compared to Stamile's or Frank Smith's big tets. But, that does not mean that her shipment is in any way inferior.
Keep in mind it is not fair to compare the two.
Also keep in mind that most growers I know are going to send their biggest plants to their repeat customers. If you buy from someone every year, and spend some money with them... if they have a double fan and a triple fan of a cultivar, the triple is going to go to the best customer.
And, I do not think it is good taste to say what you got for bonus plants. Back when I was selling, I had certain customers who always bought from me every time I had a list out. Some bought hundreds of dollars worth of plants every time. I gave them generous bonuses. If someone was a repeat customer, but they only bought one or two $10 plants every year or two... they are not going to get the bonus that the other customer would. So - if you got fantastic bonuses, and someone else didn't who bought from the same grower, they are going to feel slighted. When I was at the end of my selling as I was clearing out my sales garden, I sold with a list that very clearly said "NO BONUSES".... even though I stated that I was not going to send a bonus because I had very few plants left. Instead, I discounted the plants heavily and I paid shipping. I got complaints from a couple people that I did not send a bonus.
With this said - Spunky1 would like to see photos of everyone's shipments. Many in the north have plants shipped in late April or early May.... so there might not be many postings to this thread until later in the spring.
