Don and Nancy Eller (from GA) are two hybridizers on the way up! Nancy in fact won 3 Junior Citations for 2008 as well as one Honorable Mention. Don received 1 JC and 2 HMs in 2008. Don named his 'Lady Duck' for Nancy, and it is certainly a beauty! They are very nice folks - I had the pleasure of meeting them both last fall in Valdosta. Nancy specializes in doubles. I grow two of hers - MEMORIES OF MARY JANE and ARMS REACHING OUT, and they're both great. Her AMANDA'S LITTLE RED SHOES is a gorgeous red double and I'd like to get that one too. Don specializes more in those with the fancy edges. I don't grow any of his but have heard good things about both of their cultivars.

Thanks for the information on them. I like the looks of their intros and some of the names just have to make you smile. "Awesome Quacker" anyone?

Here is a link that might be useful: Don Eller daylilies

I have been seeing some of the Eller daylilies and do like them. How Northern hardy are they?

Nancy's plants have wintered over for the past two years w/ no trouble at all. I'm on the edge of zone 6/7. Don Eller was a twin - his brother ( now deceased ) was named Ron ( Ronald) and he was Donald. That's why he grew up with the name "Donald Duck" from all the kids, hence the names of so many of his daylilies have the name "Duck" in them. Don has also named a daylily after his late ( twin) brother - 'Ron Eller Memorial.'

I went back and looked at his/her past intros and I too liked Amanda's Little Red Shoes. If it was just a wee bit less expensive I'd have it........Very interesting and a little sad about how the "Duck" theme came to be. When I was a little kid I got a white duckling for Easter and became very attached to "Fuzzy" over the years. Ever since then I've had a fondness for white ducks, including "Donald". Glad I ran across his site.

I have about 10 Eller daylilies. All have performed well for me and equally important they look in my garden the way they look in the pictures.

A couple of other up and coming hybridizer to be aware of are Bill Waldorp and Linda Agin.