I got into daylilies in 1985, bloomed my first bee pod seedlings in 1987 and
was hooked. PINK STRIPES and it's 2 striped siblings were a part of a
small 1986 seedling crop that bloomed in 1988. Even to a rank amateur like
me, it was obvious that PS was unique when it bloomed - there wasn't anything
else like it in the garden or seedling bed. Of course, I didn't know what
I was doing or even what I had at that time - PS was simply a lucky happening.
The only thing I knew about daylilies was what I read in the Wild's catalog that
I got every year and I only purchased the most inexpensive cultivars for my
garden. I'd never heard of Spalding, Peck, Millikin, Henry etc. and Mecca
was somewhere in the Middle East...
I made several new crosses using PINK STRIPES in 1988, however, those seeds were
never planted. Life intruded in the from of a parental illness, I began building
my house and was coaching two sports at the high school level, plus teaching 3
different subjects. Daylilies took a back seat for 10 years...
In the mean time, PINK STRIPES, it's siblings and the other seedlings of that
1988 crop were slowly diminishing in size and vigor as the hayfield they were
planted beside quickly overtook the neglected growing beds. When I finally
rescued all of them in the summer of 1999 PS was 3 tiny grassy fans and the
others weren't in much better shape. However after planting in some raised
beds at my new house, they all 'took off', blooming and multiplying, even though
I did nothing special to help them out.
Then in 2000, I was introduced to the world of modern daylilies when I happened
to find FLOYD COVE NURSERY on the Internet and I was absolutely hooked. In
short order, Jennifer Jackson became and and remains my first mentor, offering
guidance, advice, seeds and plants while tempering my new addiction with large
doses of common sense. After a trip to ASHWOOD GARDEN 3 years ago, Richard
Norris took me under his wing and became a second mentor to me. He's
expanded my vision, challenged my thinking and like Jennifer, helped me develop
my program with seedlings, pollen and seeds. I've been fortunate to have
both of them as mentors, and even luckier to have them as friends...
Last summer, I took my laptop with me on a visit to Ashwood Gardens to show
Richard and Jan some seedling photos and when PINK STRIPES came up on the
screen, Richard said. "WHAT IS THAT?" So I told him the story of
PINK STRIPES, he opined that it was unlike any daylily he had ever seen before,
Jan agreed with him and Richard said it was valuable. Later that afternoon
while walking the seedling beds, I stated to Richard that I knew PS was
unique but questioned it's worth, Richard said - and I quote, "Turn around
so that I can kick you!" Since then the clump of PS has been lined
out for increase, it will be registered, though possibly under a different name
and I project a Fall '05 or Spring '06 introduction date, depending upon demand.
A reservation list has been started. I began getting emails about it
immediately after Richard graciously showed my slides at the Myrtle Beach
meeting this past Thanksgiving.
PINK STRIPES stats. Semi-evergreen to dormant, 32" tall, usually 4
way branching with 22-24 buds- but I've seen 5 way branching and 36 buds.
The bloom is usually 6.5" but first blooms can be much larger, approaching
8". Increase and vigor are average. The scapes lean, especially
when more than one bloom is open, the foliage isn't particularly pretty being a
medium yellow-green, the branching could be better and the edges of the blooms
will start to dissolve in the afternoon when the temperature and humidity are
high. PS is in no way a 'finished' plant - there are a lot of faults to be
corrected - but the pattern is simply spectacular and unique and that is what
makes it such a special break. There truly is nothing like it that I've
seen in the daylily world and the exciting thing is that the effect transfers to
the first generation seedlings.
The first blooms from this PINK STRIPES * JANICE BROWN cross show several
interesting things. One, the PINK STRIPES pattern will show up in F1
seedlings - it's diminished or restrained a little but it shows up. Two,
you can immediately improve the flower form of PS seedlings in one generation.
Three, you can get clearer colors in one generation. Four, you can add
green throats in one generation. Five, you can improve ruffling in one
generation. Six, PS will breed bi-colors and bi-tones with ease. And
take note of the white to green throat and the white edge on all segments of
seedling #8! This is a pretty impressive set of hybridizing possibilities!
BTW, all early seedling blooms last year were affected by a heavy frost on
June 2nd - it was 27 degrees and bloom form and opening characteristics suffered
greatly. I expect much better colors, bloom form and opening this
season - unless it frosts late again (our last frost is usually May 7th!)
This is a cross of PINK STRIPES * INDY SEDUCTRESS. The first picture is PS
* IS #5 and I had no idea that PS would give up it's color to make a white
flower, even when crossed with a white. The color is a very soft ivory in
early morning but lightens slightly during the day. The substance is
wonderful, the size is huge at 7" and the ruffling shows great promise.
What's even better is that the scape is tall and very stiff - there is none of
the leaning that occurs with PS itself. Again, these blooms were
affected by that late frost.
The second seedling may be the best of the four, at least in appearance.
The white base color is overlaid with a slight pink blush and there are white
stripes within the pink overlay. This color and pattern causes the surface
of the petals to seem to shimmer in the light. I've never seen anything
like it. When you see the wide rounded sepals and the consistent, soft
ruffling on all segments, it's easy to see that PS will often easily take the
best from it's partner, improve upon that and add it's own stamp of mystery or
uniqueness to the bloom.
I've made around 400 seeds from PS last year and well over 1000 seeds using PINK
STRIPES this past season. PS was crossed to the 2 sibs (one of which is
just as heavily striped but is a little darker in color and not as floriferous)
and was crossed onto every color and from in the garden. PS pollen went on
SILOAM PAUL WATTS, JANICE BROWN, BIG SNOWBIRD, STARCHED WHITE, CARIBBEAN MISTY
MARTIN, INDY FLOPPY MAMA, STOLEN TREASURE, FORSYTH VIVACIOUS, DEMPSEY RED
VELVET, SUPER PURPLE, EARLY AND OFTEN and a host of other cultivars, including
spiders. I only put sib pollen on PINK STRIPES this past season but will
use other cultivars this summer.
The seeds are very vigorous, sprouting quickly and easily and the seedlings grow
quickly too.
I believe PINK STRIPES offers a totally new direction in the development of
patterned faces on daylilies. Someone will use PINK STRIPES or one of it's
seedlings to develop a consistent starburst pattern on the face of a daylily.
Someone else will get dramatic white or pink stripes on a dark red and someone
else will achieve pink or lavender stripes on a purple daylily. And can
you imagine what we might see when PS is crossed with Liz Salter's or Grace
Stamile's blue eyed cultivars or with Jack Carpenter's LAVENDER BLUE BABY or
ARTISAN'S TOUCH? Or what will happen when PS is converted and used with
tets?
I can envision a multitude of possibilities when I stop and think about it and I
can't wait to see what develops in the next few years in my seedling beds and
yours...
If you are interested in contacting Mike, you can email him at mderrow@access.k12.wv.us
Mike is entirely responsible for handling his own seedlings and introductions.
His information is presented here as a favor for a friend.
Derrow tet seedlings
click here for a view of more of Mike's program
Mike Derrow
1-12-04