Life Changing Daylilies

New Life, New Joy!

When you get to a certain age, you look forward to retirement. If you are happily married, sharing it with your husband becomes a goal. What if the unthinkable happens and one of you is not able to share the dream? A few years ago,this happened to a friend of mine.

I met Judy Sweeney at an AHS Convention in Florida. This was the same place that I met our wonderful gardening manager, Carol Wallace. We shared life experiences as we gathered daylily knowledge.It was like an instant bonding experience.

Finding Her Way

She had always been a wife and also the mother of five children. When her husband suddenly died after 31 years of marriage, she didn't think she had any job skills to speak of. She was broke and had many bills. She had to do something. After four week, a friend gave her work as a Real Estate agent. She knew that the income from real estate was not a steady one. She thought of MacDonalds, pizza delivery, store clerk, but knew that she had to find something that she was really crazy about.

I sent the questions about this life changing event through email. I think Judy tells the story better than I ever could so this is going to be a question and answer session.

Question One: How did you decide what plants to grow?

Judy:

Picture this. My mind was racing like a skier in the Olympics. I would see a flag and have to decide to go around it, under it or avoid it altogether. Decisions were made with little reflection, based not on planning, but on desperation and obsession. Generally, this is NOT the way to make life altering decisions, so I can't recommend it to anyone else. I asked the question, "What niche can I fill?" I picked new plants because I knew collectors would always be out there.

Question Two: What are your favorite Daylilies?

Judy:

Favorites? I love each one like my children--all differently. One day I adore PRECIOUS BEGINNINGS and NIGHT EMBERS. The next day it is ISLE OF ZANZIBAR and DAVID KIRCHHOFF. But there are always these two -- RAINBOW RADIANCE and ULTIMATE DESTINY.

Question Three: What special problems do you have in growing plants, and how do you handle it?

Judy:

My fear is that I will kill them all, but most of them lived. I really need to find out how each plant grows in order to recommend it. I do try to observe each plant's growing habit, but I am going to mulch this winter to allay my fears.

Go To Page: 1 2 3