Viewing post #497601 by daylily

I am putting out this edition of the Series a little early because.....
Melanie has generously donated a box containing some of her previous introductions as one of the prizes for the Not-a-Raffle-Raffle. You will need to get your tickets SOON as the deadline is Monday Oct. 12, 2013 at 6 p.m. Central time. Here is a link http://garden.org/ideas/view/d...
Thanks so much Melanie!

also....
Melanie was interviewed for the ATP Podcast #39, which should be out on Thursday Oct 17, 2013. Watch the ATP Home page for the announcement.

Edited later to added... Here is the link to the podcast with Melanie...
http://garden.org/ideas/view/d...
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ATP Series: The Daylilies of Melanie Mason
North Country Daylilies, Saratoga Springs, New York
zone 4, AHS Region 4

I looked up the location of North Country Daylilies, as I am not familiar with the state of terrain of this area of New York. Located just east of the Hudson River, and just west of the Green Mountains of Vermont, it looks like a lovely area to live. Surrounded by many lakes, National Parks, forests, and Historical Sites.

photo used with permission

photo used with permission

Coming out of college thinking she would make a career in fine arts, Melanie found herself teaching for a few years. After a couple years in Alaska with her husband, she returned to school for a degree in ornamental horticulture. Settling into running a landscape business on Long Island for many years, she realized that daylilies were tough plants that performed well. It wasn't long before she stopped in at Floyd Cove and met the Stamiles. Soon, she was buying from them, and joined the AHS. She began ordering plants in the mail, and dabbling in hybridizing.

A little later in their life, Melanie and Bob moved to Saratoga Springs, closer to their farm. She began amending the soil, moving plants. The farm started with 75 acres, but grew to 450. They raise Angus cattle, and many of you on the AHS Robin will have read her reports about mamas and calves.

photo used with permission

photo used with permission

Even though the farm was less than an hours drive, they eventually moved to the farm. Now, Melanie could get up in the morning and go right out to hybridize and walk the seedlings. Like many hybridizers, she started out crossing everything, but has since narrowed her focus working exclusively with daylilies that have the qualities she looks for in her seedlings and ultimately in her introductions. Outstanding vigor, bud count, branching and flowers that open well. This has limited the number of parents that Melanie has available to breed with, but from careful selection, she has developed a line of beautiful daylilies with a great plant under them.

When I hear Melanie's plants being discussed, or read about them - their performance is always part of the discussion. I have recommended her introductions to people living in difficult and northern conditions. I haven't grown any of Melanie's intros, but have a couple friends that do, and I've always admired the flowers and the plants when I see them.

Melanie has registered over 100 daylilies and many have won awards. In 2012, she won an Award of Merit for 'Mabou,' which won the Honorable Mention in 2008. On her website, Melanie says 'Mabou' may be the best daylily she has introduced to date. Consistent, with blue-green foliage, 4-way branching, 25-30 buds, and "sinfully pod and pollen fertile."


She has been the winner of 11 Honorable Mentions since her first in 2004, when she won with 'Bordello Queen.'


In addition to 'Bordello Queen' and 'Mabou,' recent HM winners from 2011 are 'Dangling Participle,' 'Longlesson Orchid Thief.'



She has stated that 'Mrs. London's Apricot Tart' is one of her favorites, and that she is fond of watermarks, especially on pastels.


Lake Tear of the Clouds - photo used with permission


'Gypsy Rose' and 'Nantucket Navigator' are two with edges that open well in northern gardens.


In the Daylilies in the Great Northeast newsletter, Vol. 5, Issue 2, Fall 2012, there is a very informative article by Melanie Mason. Plant Hardiness: Which Way's North? One of the things she explains is Growing Degree Days, Heating Degree Days, and Cooling Degree Days, and how we can use that information when selecting daylilies. There is a chart that lists the numbers of each for various daylily hybridizer's gardens around the U.S.

I visited the robin archives and read how Melanie shared a room with Ellen Hizer at a daylily event. Ellen showed her photos of a litter of her Labrador puppies…. and this was the beginning of one of Melanie's hobbies. She wrote of doing agility with her Labs, and although I didn't ask if she was still doing agility, when I spoke to her on the phone, one of their dogs had a little of pups recently.



I spoke with Melanie last week, and she gave me permission to post images from her website, and use information there. Thank you Melanie! Although I have met Melanie before, I just have to say what a warm and friendly person she is to talk to.

For more information....
website : http://www.northcountrydaylili...
email : [email protected]

Big Hearted Jim (2013)
photo used with permission

photo used with permission