Posted: January 03 2005 at 11:37am | IP Logged

What a wonderful gesture!

This is what Richard says about BELLE OF ASHWOOD on his website:

 *BELLE OF ASHWOOD seedling T01-32 (CHANCE ENCOUNTER X WILLIAM AUSTIN NORRIS) X PEARL HARBOR 5 ½" DOR 28" EM RE This may be our best all around plant yet. It is the clearest and smoothest of pinks with an exciting gold edge. The day does not phase BELLE OF ASHWOOD as she looks exactly the same at dusk after a 95 degree day or a rain. Heavy budding and rebloom keep the show going for several months. The babies are marvelous and show some of the best off season foliage in the garden. Fertile both ways and one of our for most important breeders the last several years. This was one of those seedlings which we knew from its first bloom that it would be an introduction. Seeing the blossom last perfectly until dark sealed the decision. The strong rebloom on heavily budded scapes was the icing on the cake. There are other gold edged pinks available but I doubt highly that there is another with the sterling combination of plant qualities of BELLE OF ASHWOOD. It is a complete package. Walking the newer seedling beds in spring last year we noted that the BOA babies were the darkest green and the healthiest. They were easy to spot for their extra vigor and beautiful foliage. This places BELLLE OF ASHWOOD in the lofty ranks of CLARIFICATION, ASHWOOD HEARTHSIDE, and MOMENTUM as giving the most outstanding plants throughout the season. There are many who are beginning to recognize that the new frontier in daylily breeding is plant quality. A pretty face is not hard to come up with in daylily breeding,     Single $125

Posted: January 03 2005 at 1:46pm | IP Logged

I just wanted to chime in here to echo what Mike Derrow has reported about the performance of BELLE OF ASHWOOD kids. After years of hybridizing and struggling to get beyond the pretty face and to see the whole plant, I recognized the special attributes of Belle Of Ashwood and put her at the top of my 2005 wish list.  And the added bonus is that it has a pretty face too!  Seedlings from BOA were real standouts of foliage color and vigor last spring.  And with the beautiful face she has, the flowers are going to have to be lovely as well.

Richards wonderful gesture only makes this cv more special.  See, individuals can make a difference... but then if you knew Richard, you wouldn't be surprised...

Michael Lyons the jollygreenthumb, Parkersburg, WV

Posted: January 04 2005 at 6:56am | IP Logged

I am SOOOOOO excited to see that ASHWOOD RINGS OF SATURN, and ASHWOOD SMOKEY JOE have been released!!!!!!!!!!  Gosh, I hope Richard has some available.  Christmas isn't over yet is it??   Doesn't it come again in May?

I'm also VERY proud of Richard and Jan for donating the proceeds from the sale of BELLE OF ASHWOOD to the tsunami victims.  Touches my heart.  They are such generous and caring folks.  And when Richard says a plant is a great performer, you can be sure it is A#1 since he's soooo picky ummmm, I mean "focused".  Wish some of that "focus" would rub off on me.

I saw a BUNCH of cherry-eyed seedlings at Richard's last summer.  I wonder if those were coming out of his MARDI GRAS BEADS??  Will have to ask.  I purchased Dan Trimmer's MELANIE MAY last season at Richard's recommendation for cherry-eyed babies.  Haven't had a chance to work with it yet.

Becky

Posted: January 04 2005 at 10:03am | IP Logged

Becky,

You are correct. The cherry eyed seedlings you saw here were out of MARDI GRAS BEADS. I have not touted the seedlings above which is out of MARDI GRAS BEADS X MELANIE MAY because the photos do not begin to do it justice. In person it is the most impressive eyed edged I have seen i anywhere.  I will be offering some seedlings of the same cross on the Lily Auction this year. The cross was excellent across the board with seedling T04-13 (not T04-3, Mke) I don't need the seedlings as I have several hundred sibs. I just thought they would be fun for someone else to grow out to see what they get. The eyes are a very bright shade of a cherry red with a slight pinkishness. This is the kind of thing I am getting out of the CLARIFICATION grandkids.

I want to thank those who have contacted me about BELLE OF ASHWOOD. Almost 1/2 of the available stock is now spoken for. It will give me great pleasure to write out a check to Oxfam for the relief effort. I don't recall a time of greater need on a world scale. Daylily lovers are doing themselves proud. I would haope there is another hybridizer somewhere who will dedicate the proceeds of an introduction to the effort. If you an introducer of daylilies, consider this a challenge.

Richard

Posted: January 04 2005 at 4:40pm | IP Logged

Richard!  Shame on you!  Where do you hide all these pretties like JANICE NORRIS when I come to visit?  I should be pretty upset about now...driving 5 hours south, getting dizzy on that twisting-spinning road, and not get to see Janice's namesake.  Certainly has the beautiful round overlapping form you love, gorgeous edging, precious pink eye.  Quite yummy.  Congratulations on your future introduction!  And please spill the beans, or give us a hint when the seedlings will start to appear on the auction.

Becky

Posted: January 04 2005 at 8:57pm | IP Logged

I HAVE to chime in here again.  T04-13 aka JANICE NORRIS, is to date, the most beautiful daylily I have ever laid eyes on.  I know it sounds cliche' but it is true.  I literally got chills at the sight of it.  I have never been so moved by the beauty of any flower.  It is perfection!  The colors and the harmony of them are again perfection.  The flower to me had a powdery satiny finish as though viewed through a sheer curtain.  It is the epitome of beauty and feminity.  I've seen a lot of daylilies through the years, and in my humble opinion, this one is unsurpassed.

Michael Lyons the jollygreenthumb, Parkersburg, WV