Do you keep a record system? Just curious what type of record systems you keep for your Daylilies. Not necessary for seedlings (but include that if you want). Do you keep bed records? On paper? On computer? Do you use the Plantstep Flower Software, or just garden tags? Interested in what types of systems people use.

You may want to read through this thread.

The thread "Records - keeping track of all your data" in Daylilies forum

I Will.

Keep everything in an Excel spreadsheet. Started keeping the date of first bloom in 2011. Also have seperate tabs to sort in alpha order, by hybradizer, height, bloom time (e,m,l) and location. Works well for me.

I used to use plant step to keep records of everything but since I move/divide just about everything every year I quit. If I had a "look at me" garden and not a hybridizing garden I would keep a garden map just in case some tags got moved or whatever.

What I do now is just plant everything in alphabetical order. The pattern and the teeth go in separate beds and in alphabetical order in those. I have other things in there such as eyes or selfs but I planted them according to if I was planning to mainly use patterns or teeth on them. And then of course I have the dips in a separate bed.

I don't keep records of first bloom or last bloom or how many blooms total and stuff like that as I don't have time to do that and since they get divided/moved (usually) every year it probably wouldn't be accurate anyway.

Like Liz, I have all my plants in an Excel spread sheet with each yearly data. That way I can sort by colour, measurements, foliage etc.

I have a garden map in Excel too.

After trying to using a software program for a while I ultimately went back to Excel. Can't beat having everything on one main page, sortable, with any data cells you want, and unlimited entries and new tab pages, etc. Some tabs get more use than others, but they all record as much or as little info and pictures as desired. And, each year's set of spreadsheets can be saved separately at the end of the growing season. It's great to be able to "go back in time" and see where something was planted two years ago, revisit old wish lists, etc. So far, it has worked quite well for managing about 200 cultivars.

Hmmmm, I don't think I have Excel on my computer. I bought Plant Step a couple of years ago but I barely use it.

I have been using the Plantstep. Not sure I understand all the features yet, lol. I am not great at Excel. Seems never to do what I want it to...UGH! Basically was trying to see what type of info seems to be important to others and maybe pick up a few good ideas.

I've used Excel for years and it meets my needs well.

I do keep a daylily notebook that I record first flower opened dates. I have a picture of the daylily, stats and the year I purchased it. I have been keeping that now for over l0 years. I also have made hand drawn maps of my seedling beds.

@Hemlady yes, I did maps of my beds and where every thing is planted. Seemed to be the easiest, quickest way to keep track.

I guess I am a daylily nerd, because I have had an Excel spreadsheet for many years. I have the hybridizer, registration date, description, location in the garden, awards, how I got the plant, and a few other things. This system has really come in handy for lots of different reasons. An elderly friend who had to sell his house and move in with family had lost track of many of the daylilies, but had an old Excel spreadsheet that he gave us when he was giving away his daylilies. We were able to identify most of them by using his spreadsheet. Excel has been a perfect resource for me!!

However, on another subject, I have one daylily from this friend that I cannot identify and it is making me crazy. I cannot get rid of it because it is outstanding, and probably is a well recognized cultivar, and perhaps an award winner. I would like to post this NOID, but I don't want to open a can of worms, and then everyone would start posting NOIDs. Sorry to get on a different subject, but I would appreciate ATP reader help with identifying this ONE. Suggestions?

Anyway, Excel is wonderful!

In a pinch, I have also used MS Word to do some record-keeping. Really, any word processing program that has a Tables feature would do, and if you don't have one on your computer you can find free program to use online or download. As long as you can insert a table, resize the cells as you like, and do some sorting functions like Excel, you will have a great tool. For example, I've made garden layout grids, with pictures and stats, and also use Word for quick wish-lists or research on related cultivars that I want to learn more about.

Catherine, I track garden performance because I want to be objective when I'm culling cultivars ... I hate to cull, but think it is a sound practice, and that means ranking cultivars according to any number of performance parameters. Each person has a different take on what performance is, though - desired heights, health, early morning openers, attributes and pedigrees in a cultivar's line, clarity of color or so on, and for me that can all be handled easily in a spreadsheet.

I think it just comes down to finding a program that you are comfortable using and then refining what it is that you feel is most important. A home garden hobbyist may have very different things they want to know about their daylilies than a professional hybridizer. Without knowing what your particular goals and interests are it is hard to know which of the many benefits you might enjoy - or whether a plant program, spreadsheet, or paper notebook would be more helpful. Are you looking more for tips on how to use PlantStep? If so, I think there is a built in help program or book, and even a link to discussing the program with others.

For me, though, slowly building an Excel spreadsheet really helps me discover what my most valued goals and needs are with regard to daylilies, often highlighting things I hadn't expected, and focusing me in ways that were a complete surprise (and, I'm sure, very different from anyone else). So, if you are looking for readily available alternative ways that people might comment on, it may help to share what your initial goals would be for your own record-keeping, or mention the goals you have for your garden, and what you want most from record keeping. That way, people may be more likely to think of helpful things to mention that will be just what you are looking for.

@chalyse I still have so much to learn I am not really sure what my goals are, lol. I was thinking about the AHS judges training just to acquire the information and the training to see Cultivars the right way. Does that make sense?

Maxine, I would say post the picture and stats of the flower. We could give it a try anyway.

Yes, that's fine. Post the pic, I don't mind.

@maxxtenn Please do post your picture, but I would suggest a new thread for it. We don't get a lot of NOID posts here, so you aren't opening a can of worms! It's just almost impossible to put a name on the majority of them because there are over 70,000 registered daylilies. It sure doesn't hurt to try though!

I use Plantstep to keep track of the daylilies that I own. Other than that, I just use tags on the plants. I keep more detailed info for crosses I've made, and seedlings that I'm growing.

I use Google Spreadsheets to keep track of all my plants. It's just like Excel, but it's online and free.

I use Flickr for photos of all plants (original resolution photos).

In Google Spreadsheets, I link each plant entry to it's photo on Flickr.

Life is good:)

@Cat It always makes sense to pursue further education, and judges training would certainly help to understand what any organizing body prioritizes, at least for form. As long as you keep your own esthetic vision and your best instincts for how to be a good steward or shepherd of the plant's family intact as you go through a learning process, it should benefit you, the plants, and the community in general.

I remember being very confused about "goals" and how to think about them or set them, too. I used Google to search for "daylily hybrid goals" and found so many hybridizers' sites (hobby and professional, alike) that shared their own educational or research pursuits and early goals. They can help us all see how goals change over time, and how those goals will start to define the contributions that are made and the impact we leave as a legacy. Might give it a try ... once you start writing out goals it can actually be hard to stop, as one step leads to another new layer of understanding. Over time, those goals can become quite discerning and lead you to form your gardening practices in wonderful new ways.