The Humble Hemeroholic

In this episode, I had the great privilege to sit down with Karol Emmerich from Springwood Gardens in Jordan, MN. This award-winning hybridizer has not only been awarded the coveted Stout Silver Medal but has also earned the very high honor of the Bertrand Farr Silver Medal for all of her incredible accomplishments in hybridizing. She has been hybridizing for many years, and her amazing cultivars stand out in gardens throughout a wide geographic area. 

Mike Grossmann from Northern Lights Daylilies. Mike’s program is much different than his wife, Kathleen’s program. He has been hybridizing a long time, and has quite a few amazing introductions out. He is exceptionally picky in how he determines the cultivars that will be introduced. Something that I think is essential to a strong hybridizing program. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much I enjoyed sitting down and having a conversation with him.

I sat down with Kathleen Nordstrom from Northern Lights Daylilies in West Concord, MN. Kathleen has always been a fan of flowers, and by chance ended up loving daylilies. She is relatively new to hybridizing daylilies, but her introductions are spectacular. Kathleen is a quality human and is absolutely perfect for this podcast. I hope you enjoy listening as much I enjoyed sitting down and having a conversation with her.

I sat down with Will Marchant of Druid City Daylilies in Douglasville, GA. Will and I both share two of the same passions-education, and daylilies. He is a principal that gives 100% to his children, he is hilariously funny in person, and his daylilies are pretty phenomenal. I have had several encounters with this witty man, and I hope you learn something that you haven’t known before listening!

I was able to spend some time with Bob Faulkner of Natural Selection Daylilies from Dayton, OH while attending the Region 2 Winter Meeting. I didn’t ask him many specific questions, but rather just let our conversation go where it needed to go. Bob shared his passion for daylilies, his beliefs in how to present oneself, and a lot about his program My hope is that you enjoy this conversation with a true hybridizing leader in patterned daylilies.

I was honored to talk with Mike Holmes of Riverbend Daylilies in Ohio, and Larry Grace of Graceland Gardens in Alabama. Both of these gentlemen are happy to share their love of daylilies, but their programs are difficult to see as neither of them travel very often. During our chat, they shared how they became interested in daylilies, some of their favorites, and a lot about color changer daylilies. This episode was a fun conversation between two friends that I felt I simply was able to listen in on.

I sat down with Mandy McMahon, an incredible hybridizer from Michigan. Mandy is as humble as they come During our chat, she shared how family is always first, her love of feminine daylilies, why it is important to evolve, and even a bit about her roles in her region. This episode continues to focus on the people and the beautiful friendships forged because of the genus Hemerocallis. Sit back and enjoy this conversation between two friends that both believe in humility and service to others.

I sat down with a long-time member of the American Daylily Society, Doris Stonska. Doris has led a peripatetic life, but always found KY to be home. She shared her travels, some historical perspectives, and how she became so involved with daylilies. This episode focuses on people and the beautiful friendships that form because of the genus Hemerocallis. Sit back and enjoy this conversation with a woman that is the epitome of humility and service to others.

I sat down with American Daylily Society’s Webmaster, Jacob Braun.  Jacob is extremely knowledgeable and incredibly service driven. He volunteers and gives more to the society than many! As a self-admitted technophile, I knew I had much to learn! Sit back and enjoy this conversation that I was fortunate to have with a man that I consider myself lucky to call a friend.

I was able to enjoy bending the ear of the American Daylily Society’s Registrar, Elizabeth Trotter. Elizabeth has always been kind to me and is a very private person. When she agreed to sit down with me, I was honored. This was very much out of her comfort zone, and I am so incredibly happy to have received an insider’s look into the role of registrar as well as learned more about this sparkly, tiara-wearing, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable woman!

I was able to steal a few moments of Scott Elliott’s time. Scott is the current American Daylily Society’s Vice President, Judges Education Chair, and Region 5 director. We discussed his many roles in the ADS, his passion for daylilies, and his love of exhibitions. It was an honor to sit down with someone who dedicates so much of his time to the society and his passion and commitment to daylilies shines throughout our conversation.

Jim Cruise, the American Daylily Society’s Photographic and Videographic Awards Chair is my guest this week. He is a very humble man. We started getting to know a bit about him, his passion for double daylilies and exhibitions, and then he shared some of the roles that he holds at the national level (ADS). I was honored that he “agreed” (he was forced!) to sit down and have a conversation with me.

In this episode, Nikki Schmith, most recent past American Daylily Society’s President and current ADS CFO shares about life outside of ADS, her passion for conversational daylilies, how Nikki found her way to ADS, her love of exhibitions, why joining ADS is beneficial, and other fun tidbits along the way! Also, a discussion about her legacy passion project will help you get your daylily podcasting fix. The more you know, the more you’ll grow…and as always, be humble and kind!

As an admitted “hemeroholic”, I welcome you to enjoy conversations reminiscent of fireside chats from some of the people that have inspired me in my daylily journey. I believe that the more you know, the more you’ll grow. As always, choose to be humble and always kind! Your host will be me, Rhonda Veroeven, president and newsletter editor of the Wisconsin Daylily Society, and Co-Chair for the 2019 American Daylily Society’s National Convention in Madison, Wisconsin.