Larry, I am obsessed. For day-to-day records, I keep a bound notebook from Target. I put a written mail label on the top of a page for each daylily. Take this into the garden so when I see something--first and succeeding blooms, how many scapes, who has rust, new fans, etc. There is a place to record this information. Last couple of years recorded earliest new scapes, but not this year. Too much data--first bloom is more important. As I cut scapes, I count bloom scars and record them. Do you need to? Only you know.
At the end of the year, I count scapes/blooms and record the info on an excel database. I keep this info for 4 or 5 years. This way I can make a realistic decision to keep or rehome or toss. Can also compare performance year-to-year. Example: Barcode did very well for me--grew well, limited rust, fairly high bud count. Two years ago I wrote that his blooms became tissue by 2 p.m. Followed up the next year, yep that was true. Tossed.
I also use the information to determine if the garden's colors are in balance. Used to have a bunch of doubles, but after David Kirchoff left the region, my doubles are few and far between, but lots of pinks, reds, need more purple, lots of yellow, need more patterns. That way I can get as carried away with blooms as I want, but when they are done, I can become more analytical. Can you believe I was trained as a financial analyst? I can analyze almost anything. It gives me something to do when they quit blooming.
Good luck, but have fun too. That's what it's all about!!!!
