DAN PATCH - 2nd generation of bearded daylily forms - "A New Age in Daylilies" by Brad Best

DAN PATCH (BEST 2010)    MICHAEL'S SWORD (BEST 2005) Over the past few years, there has been much curiosity over one of the newest and most cutting edge forms in daylilies - ‘consistent’ bearding. Within this presentation of data, I’d like to take the moment to discuss the attributes and merits of the bearded daylilies we hybridize and grow here at Rainbow Hill Daylily Farm. However, I must say, before the bearded form (not to be confused w/sculpting) even became reality, I spent years of research and effort hybridizing in order to get the first consistent 3-way full-bearded daylily introduced - before any definitions related to this particular raised petal tissue effect were in the making. Thus, in 2005 we registered and introduced MICHAEL’S SWORD and a New Age in daylilies began to unfold! In the beginning: Years ago while some were focused on hybridizing for eyes, doubles and bubbly edged daylilies (also favorites of mine) I decided to begin hybridizing for something that didn’t exist with consistency. As an avid daylily collector and ‘entry-level-hybridizer’ I was told by a favorite hybridizer ~ it’s best to be focused and go after one form and do it with determination vs. going in all different directions (and so I did!). In the mid-1990’s I saw a few flowers that caught my eye that occasionally sputtered what some were calling crested forms, but these flowers deceived even the most scientific minds and veteran hybridizers with barbed appendages that bridged over the midribs and were NOT crested.  We ended up using cultivars in our bearded daylily program that had appendage effects that were were not crested/midrib forms (ie:  BEE'S BETTIE SUE & LAVENDER BLUE BABY). However, none of those two parents had consistent plant habit. And most all of them rarely sported their extra petal tissue effects on all three petals (3-way) when present. Thus, I began my quest for a new daylily form with very few options for parents. I repeat - VERY FEW OPTIONS. I had no formulas or past history to go by, only a prayer and a vision in my mind. Another well known hybridizer once told me the trait I was seeking was most likely recessive and suggested my chances were “slim to nil” for getting consistency - but in the same breath told me not to give up hope! Miracles can happen! Obviously, I didn’t give up! Thus, I spent several summers keeping my eyes open for anything that might offer hope for success! I began working with BEE’S BETTIE SUE (P. DOWNIE ‘97) in the '90's along with a few other daylilies in my quest for a true and consistent, but indescribable form w/o a name. A name that was always right on the tip of my tongue. I began promoting our Rainbow Hill Daylily Farm: “Home of the newest & most exciting bearded daylilies” - (ie: Winter ‘05 DAYLILY JOURNAL publication - see page #428 Rainbow Hill Daylily Farm color ad/Picture Gallery pg. #458). Ever since then the bearded namesake has caught on like wild fire. More background history: As far as we knew, along with others who were in the know before and after 2005, MICHAEL’S SWORD was the first stable flower of it’s kind on the market in 2005 as per it’s consistency with the ‘bearded’ effect. This effect came about by using BEE’S BETTIE SUE as a pod parent with LAVENDER BLUE BABY (Dip) as the pollen parent. Consistency was the result of breeding two parents having recessive plant habits with a raised petal tissue effects. However, if the effect is not present on all three petals, we do not consider such inconsistent examples worthy of registration for our customers. Flowers with inconsistent raised effects are more or less a hybridizer’s bridge plant to use for trying to get what we've already discovered in ‘true bearding.’ Thus far, all our consistent “forked-bearded” hybrids with their two-pronged raised petal tissue effects look similar in silhouette - including those which are inconsistent seedlings. Those which are only part-time performers without a 3-way forked-bearded effect will not be registered for the sake of meeting our customer’s expectations. In contrast to the traditional crested effect, the bearded growth effect straddles the mid-rib like a "forked-beard." For simplicity sake we call it “bearding” vs. a more refined terminology: “forked-beard.”  Cresting vs. Bearding: The bearded formation does not resemble the typical 'mid-rib cresting' of previous registered daylilies that were for the most part inconsistent (ie:  BEE'S CONNIE SHARON). BEE’S BETTIE SUE is approx. 0.01% stable bearded and has never shown cresting.  BBS played a most important part in our early bearded hybridizing efforts.  The growth effect we have now defined, related to our 'true bearded' forms, is different in placement and form vs. that of traditional cresting from the mid-ribs.  The look of a Bearded daylily lifts above the petal surface vs. that of carving (relief) of 'traditional' sculpts. Differentiating crested vs. bearded forms is critical to learn before newcomers begin hybridizing endeavors in bearded forms.  More about Mikey: Shortly after MICHAEL’S SWORD was introduced, we were getting more and more consistent bearded wonders to grow and flourish in our gardens. To date our personal ‘bearded’ daylily program appears to be quite exclusive and unique as we continue our original goal of creating more and more amazing bearded wonders! I must admit, it has been a slow process along with failure and disaster losing seedlings due to uncontrollable planting issues along the way. But the positive results have been worth the sweat and tears! Attached throughout this article are a few examples of our bearded daylilies. To date we have only allowed introduction of MICHAEL’S SWORD - our first 99% consistent 3-way full-bearded form.  All other bearded seedlings, from MICHAEL’S SWORD, exhibiting a 100% 3-way bearded formation are continually being used exclusively within our bearded hybridizing efforts as the future unfolds with new bearded wonders! Although we are in the infancy of something incredibly new and exciting, only time will tell what the future will hold in this New Age form of daylilies! THE DEBATE - ‘Bearded’ forms vs. Sculpts: The defining traits as I’ve outlined throughout this article distinguish the differences between ‘bearded’ daylilies vs. sculpts. Some may prefer to declare bearded & sculpted daylilies belong within the same grouping/classification - but it’s obvious the traditional carved, attached & ribbed sculpts (w/flat surface effects) do NOT perform like a consistent 3-way full-bearded formation with an effect that dramatically lifts off the petal surface. Thus, we are presenting some data developed over time for future generations of daylilies to come that will perform with ‘stable bearded’ plant habit vs. the traditional attached, ribbed or carved petal surface effects (or flattened effects) currently accepted as sculpted forms. For the sake of comparison and contrast, I prefer to call the attached, ribbed or carved surface effects being referred to sculpts as “flattened effects.” Which is a good qualifier label to use and helps differentiate between the lifted effect of the bearded daylily vs. the flattened effect of said sculpts. We do need to differentiate between the two and opposing classifications is the only answer to help educate this distinct new look. With the backing of fellow daylily enthusiasts, I believe the “bearded daylily” will someday become a common gardening namesake like other bearded plants in botany that are described as bearded. Both flowers (bearded irises & bearded daylilies) share bearded ‘growth effects’ in the artistic sense as per the basic beard-like look at hand. However, after research and some debate the term “beard” in the verb sense has literally taken hold so to speak. The bearded flower form ‘opposes and defies’ all traditional daylily forms since the beginning of the daylily species.  Thus, as per the noun definition. what we have with this new form in daylilies is certainly “a growth like a beard.” And in the artistic sense, a bearded daylily has similar plant habit like other bearded-barbed appendage plants. More on Bearded forms vs. Sculpts: Never have we considered or thought of our bearded daylilies as sculpted forms within the history of our bearded hybridizing efforts. Most people I’ve spoken with agree. Sculpting or cresting have nothing to do with the development of stable bearding in daylilies.  Hopefully, in time bearded daylilies will have an exclusive and deserving classification all to it‘s own. For now, we are obligated as originating hybridizer to call these ‘unknown and undefined effects:  “bearded “in daylilies with credit to past publications, promotion/marketing and for the sake of our customers: people who work hard for their money and want to enjoy consistent performing bearded daylilies from Rainbow Hill Daylily Farm.  There is no better term in use today to describe ‘the created’ growth effects of ‘true bearded’ daylilies)! Traditional sculpts will always be simply just that for most of us here in the daylily world. There is really no evolution involved getting bearded forms from traditional sculpts.  Only the addition of a few more definitions over time while bearding was in it’s earliest stages of infancy makes it appear that way. Either we can make ‘bearding’ a unique aspect for the daylily world, or it can simply be diluted by blending it in amongst other variations of forms and those with inconsistency that will not do it any justice.  As the first to register a bearded daylily with consistency, our family has been blessed having first hand experience in the creation of the ‘true bearded’ daylily phenomenon! I only feel it proper to offer a bit of guidance on what constitutes a bearded daylily vs. what does not constitute a ‘true bearded’ flower form. It is in my sincerest hopes the consistent bearded forms will prosper in number and grow in a spectrum of colors, patterns, golden edges & other variations we can only imagine going into the future. In the meantime, as this unique flower form begins to evolve, may bearded daylilies create more breakthroughs as a New Age of daylilies continues to grow like a Cinderella story! Thanks be to God for all the wonderful creations He has blessed us with! We indeed have a new and exciting creation in daylilies with MICHAEL’S SWORD and our future pending ‘bearded’ introductions to come! Enjoy the photos and shared data! - Sincerely, Brad Best & family MICHAEL'S SWORD (Best 2005)