After two months, I finally got to talk to Andé Viette. His father, Martin started their nursery business over eighty years ago. He was one of the first to use the Stout hybrids. The first nursery was near Muttontown, Long Island. To escape the high taxes, stress of selling plants for the local surburban market, they purchased 200 acres not far from Waynesboro in the Shenadoah Valley. André has surpassed his father. The name of the business is André Viette Farm & Nursery. This is one busy man. He not only grows beautiful daylilies, but all kinds of perennials. He and his son Mark,teach at the Blue Ridge Community College--10 different classes. They range from Landscaping and Design to the culture of perennials.
His son Mark is also a hybridizer and is listed as the President of Viette Communications, Incorporated. His son, Scoot, is not in the business, but has done some hybridizing. His wife, Claire, slaves away in the office. You know, I wonder how she feels about being out numbered by all those men. I can relate since I, too have two sons, and a husband. I hope she at least has a female pet! Even my black Lab, Boomer is a male!
Oh, yes! He does a radio program about plant questions. There is a partial list posted on the website of the 60 stations that they are presently on. If you have questions about plants, this is the man to call. His stations are primarily in the South East and Maryland.
When I asked him about whether he had heard of the new Spring Sickness, he expressed his strong opinion that this "disease" or environmental stress has been around a long time. He says he hasn't seen evidence yet that it is a pathogen and strongly suspects that the use of evergreens and early freezes may cause this problem. Most of the plants that are affected seem to put out new growth that is o.k. He wants to use only the dormant type daylilies for his hybridization program. He does allow that he has some for their ruffles and edges, but believes that the dormant daylily is more sturdy for the northern gardeners.
He did set up a test garden to test over 20 fungicides, but hasn't completed this test. He thinks tht it would also be a good idea to test for bacteria.
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