2nd try on a pic of the back beds...

What color background would you prefer Alex ? I think it is lovely but then I like peachy colors . It looks like a great big heart in the middle of the bloom

It is pretty, Alex.. Looks like a large seedling bed with lots of seedlings

kay

Heather - it's too uneven in coloration for one, but I guess I'd prefer a lighter shade - more cream to accent the eye. I'll see what the other seedlings offer. :)

Kay - I went kinda crazy with the seedlings, since I received more seeds from Celeste and from another hybridizer who had started too many, as well as those of my own crosses and some I bought online at the auction. I have promised myself I will NOT start this many next year. :)

Oh Alex, what a bunch of seedlings! I bet you don’t keep that promise!!! Do you still do your zinnias?

Like your seedling, how many seedlings are you growing now?

Sherry

Kate and Sherry - last year it was 368, and I only lost a handful. This year I started around 900, but to be honest, I'm not sure how many I have planted because I ran out of space in the new beds I'd cleared, plus I haven't done a count check on the ones I direct seeded - I'm going to say 700.

Actually, I did have more space cleared, but I wanted one bed for the zinnias and a little space for peppers and tomatoes - the only veggies I started this year. Yes, Kate, I'm still doing the zinnias, but I'm not going to keep records anymore about crosses. I'll just save seed for replanting as it suits me. They're so pretty and give "instant" gratification - lol.

And I am serious (yeah, right) about limiting the number of seedlings next year - this was a lot of work for just me. And I have a picture in my head of where I want to go with the hybridizing; I need to focus my energy (and garden space) on crosses that lead in that direction, rather than this willy-nilly crossing everything that blooms. But then, I had to start somewhere.

Alex

The eye on your seedling shows a nice pattern. It will be neat to see what the siblings are like.

Debra

First of all, I am envious of all that land I see in your photos! And second, I see a LOT of HARD WORK involved in those photos! I feel guilty having sent you those bee pod seeds since now that I have gotten into seed starting I realize all the work involved. (All the seeds were obtained on the LA over the winter because I started this hobby on a whim. This year I intend to cross my OWN daylilies and have actual goals in mind.) You will probably not get many worthy ones, if any, from those seeds I sent since the bees crossed them, but I hope you get a winner for all your efforts. Your seedling has a pretty pattern and it must be exciting to start seeing 'new' faces from all you've started. I do not have any usable land left so to plant my 'babies' I had to have trees taken down, loam bought and trucked in, and then I had to spread it all myself and build a rock retaining wall to contain it. It really gave my shoulder a work out!

Don''t Fret ! You never know what you will get from those seeds . Mother Nature is a much better hybridizer than eny of us will ever be and has been doing it much longer LOL!

Celeste , so glad to hear you are even able to use your shoulder after your fall last year.

signet, thanks! I was still having pain in my shoulder when spring came and didn't think I would be up to gardening again this summer but I decided I was going to push through the pain.....and boy, did I have pain! But the more I use my shoulder, the better it is feeling. It still hasn't been a year (August 2 for the surgery, July 21 for the accident) and the rotator cuff never got surgery, but I feel I will be back to normal by the end of summer. Having a titanium collarbone, I don't fear it will break again....lol.

Nancy - I want to thank you and Bob again - and you, Celeste (and everyone else!!!) - for all the seeds (and plants) you gave me. Whether I get anything wonderful directly, I now have access to a plethora of genetic material only for the price of waiting several months to use it. The cost for all that otherwise would have been prohibitive for me.

And Celeste - I have to tell you, before you gave me the seeds, I had already "won" 108 other seeds for the cost of the postage from an online hybridizer who was sending his excess to the first people who responded. But here were yours as well - oy vey! How could I say no? LOL. I started indoors those of yours which most appealed to me, and then direct seeded a good portion of the others in November. And the direct seeded ones all sprouted!!!!! I was amazed. This is definitely something to remember. And let me add how happy I am that you are out there gardening after your accident. You must be some kind of wonder woman - lol. Well, with a titanium collarbone, maybe I should say the Bionic Woman. :) You will LOVE hybridizing your own babies.

Heather - Destined to See is getting ready to bloom; one of the ones I very much want to see and make use of. :)

Alex

Wow, Alex, I had no idea you could direct sow in the fall in cold climates. I am surprised they sprouted so well, but then, if you think about it, that's what Mother Nature has been doing for centuries. And I'll bet they are vigorous, having gone through the elements and not being coddled indoors. So in a way, my bee pod seeds served as an experiment, so even if they don't turn out to be keepers, they taught us a little lesson about simplifying things:)

Your seedling looks very nice to me. I am looking forward to seeing what you get from your seedlings. Seems like you are getting really good germination!

Celeste - I had read about the direct seeding at the FB hybridizing page, and figured I should give it a shot. This could work for you, as well, if you can carve out a little space in your beds - lol

Nancy - thanks! Yes, germination has been good for the most part.