Loon Song Gardens Introductions
All propagation takes place in the great outdoors of our USDA hardiness zone 4 gardens, and supply is limited. Click on a thumbnail image for information and additional photos.
Previous Intros |
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| Ambrosia Rows $75.00/df; $45/sf |
Love and Dazzle $90.00/df; $45/sf |
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| Minnesota Sunshine $75.00/df; $45/sf |
Grape Kiss $35/clump |
Kathy’s Hybridizing Highlights
My hybridizing interests include unusual forms (UFs), spiders, eye patterns, and doubles. One of the reasons I enjoy daylilies is the incredible variety they offer to the gardener. I work with all sizes, from miniature to extra large, and use diploids as well as tetraploids.
The overall theme here is hardiness in cold climates. Good branching and bud count, as well as healthy foliage, are other primary goals.
Northern breeders are making good progress in rebloom, especially in what is called instant rebloom, meaning that new scapes emerge while the initial scapes are nearing the end of their cycle. While we cannot rely on rebloom for most daylilies, 'Grape Kiss' has instant rebloom and so does ‘Ambrosia Rows’.
I like a wide range of colors, and like other hybridizers, another top goal is to improve color clarity in daylilies. Color patterns in daylilies offer endless possibilities for the hybridizer, and — because patterns are often affected by heat and/or humidity — provide a special challenge in our climate.
Hose-in-hose doubles, cascade and crispate UFs, toothy and fringed edges, and symmetrical round flowers are some of my favorite forms. Extra large flowers can be very dramatic, so they are also fun. I am working on miniature spiders and small unusual forms, but progress in the colors I want has been remarkably challenging! To learn about daylily forms, see More About Daylilies.
Doubles are another challenge for northern breeders. In some cultivars, the doubling trait is seen mostly or only on rebloom, but with limited rebloom in our climate, we need doubling to occur on initial scapes. I work with both diploid and tetraploid doubles, and one of my first introductions, ‘Ambrosia Rows’, is a diploid double. We will introduce a new diploid double in 2010.
In the end, if a seedling meets my overall goals for hardiness and performance--and it's pretty--I'll keep it!
Please get in touch if you have any questions or comments!
All the best,
Kathy