Lessons from the Slope of Possibility

Join the Greater St Louis Daffodil Society on Sunday, February 23 when we welcome our esteemed speaker Marcella Hawley, who will talk about "Lessons from the Slope of Possibility".

This presentation is the story of the creation of Marcella's garden, which began as a tangled front yard of vines, and she transformed in a few short years into a verdant, ever-changing playground of plants. There are peonies, hostas, and tulips galore, but the stars of the show are hundreds of varieties of specialty daffodils. The garden is a tribute to the life of her mother, Susan Smith, an awesome gardener herself, a passionate spreader of joy and delight to everyone she met, as well as one of the founding members of the Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society.

Remembering our Daffodil Friend and Mentor

Dave Niswonger remembered as hospital leader, renowned iris, daylily, and daffodil breeder.

O. D. (Dave) Niswonger (1925 – 2022)

By Jim Morris with input from Charles Pickett and Jason Delaney

Dave Niswonger, 96, passed away February 2, 2022 of natural causes surrounded by his family at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  I knew Dave for over 60 years and he more than fit the description of a great person.  He intended to impress no one and impressed everyone.

The “son of a preacher man,” Dave was born December 6, 1925 at Patton, Missouri, on his grandparents’ farm.  His father was a Methodist minister, and the family moved all over central and southeast Missouri in Dave’s youth.  His interest in gardening was stirred by helping his grandparents raise chickens, onion sets, sweet potatoes, etc.  He began raising his own tomatoes at age six, and by age twelve he had “branched out” to grafting cherry, walnut and pecan trees.  The stately English walnuts and pecans which grace his property today are a testament to his years of work.  Perhaps this is where he developed the patience to wait the required five to seven years to see his daffodils bloom from seed.

Prior to WWII Dave began pre-med training at age 16 at Central Methodist University.  Two years later he was a medical corpsman in the U. S. Navy stationed at a hospital in New York state.  After the war he returned to Missouri, attended and graduated from South East Missouri State University (SEMO) with a BS in Biology and a minor in chemistry.  He began employment for the Missouri Division of Health as a County Sanitarian inspecting milk dairies for adherence to state sanitation requirements.  

He applied for and was awarded a scholarship to the University of North Carolina where he received his MS in Public Health.  Later he worked for the American Heart Association (AHA) as a regional consultant over 25 Missouri counties.  Next, because of his medical background of working with cardiac doctors in the AHA, Dave joined the SEMO Hospital in Cape Girardeau.  He was the hospital administrator there for 30 years, retiring in 1991.  His stellar career at the hospital included building an open-heart surgery program.  When he retired the hospital’s leadership created the O. D. Niswonger Spirit of Southeast Award in his honor.  Karen Hendrickson served as chief nursing officer during Niswonger’s tenure, working alongside him for more than two decades.  She said the Spirit of Southeast Award resonated within the hospital community.

“That became a very coveted award, and when people were deemed worthy of receiving it, it was one of the highest honors any employee would receive,” said Hendrickson.  “It didn’t matter if you were a physician, a housekeeper, a nurse, someone who worked in the support services – anyone was eligible to receive that award, and they accepted it with great pride.”

A past president of the American Iris Society (1996-1998), Dave is noteworthy for receiving two Dykes Medals (the highest award in iris hybridizing), and the premier award from the British Iris Society, the Sir Michael Foster Memorial Plaque in 2000.   He won many other awards for his iris hybridizing and was internationally known as “Missouri’s Mr. Hybridizer.”   His decade’s long hobby enriched his life.  “I’ve developed a lot of friendships around the world while developing iris,” he said.  “This iris has gone a long way from when they were discovered as wild flags in the mountains of Europe.  They are now 25 to 30 generations away from the original species, and friendships in the United States, Russia, Germany and many other countries have been cemented because of them.”

Niswonger focused many of his efforts on creating specifically colored flowers and giving many of them names of good things to eat. 

Encouraged by wife Marie’s love of daffodils – and with advice from his long-time friend and fellow hybridizer Sid DuBose, and daffodil giant Grant Mitsch – Dave began hybridizing daffodils in the late 1970s, with his ultimate goal being a brilliant yellow-pink daffodil that would perform in the Midwest, manifesting the same richness of color and plant stamina found in cultivars originating in the Pacific Northwest – many of which often failed to withstand our climate extremes.  Though this goal was not fully realized, the byproducts of such endeavors created a wealth of truly “weatherproof” decorative large-cupped daffodils with stamina, colors, and ruffles to spare, predominately pinks, and always “favorites of the ladies.”

His large-cupped pink daffodils are flamboyant and die-hard exhibitors and even many breeders of exhibition daffodils have overlooked Dave’s hybridizing work. While his ‘Traveling On’ (2000,  2YYW-WWO) is probably his best exhibition daffodil, the bouquet of pinks shown here in the photo are stunning in the garden.  He used a Mitsch seedling #7 in the beginning along with ‘Ice Follies’ (1953, 2W-W), notably an older variety although a Classic and Wister Award winner.  Every true gardener who grows any of his daffodils immediately notices Dave’s fine contribution to the daffodil world through his vigorous clumps of varieties that perennialize beautifully, returning year after year.  And for those who like ruffles, hooks, knobs, teeth and flecks – akin to those found on modern daylilies, another of Dave’s hybridizing successes – his early work with ‘Ice Follies’ unlocked some of the “toothiest” genetics yet seen, manifesting ruffles like barracuda or shark’s teeth on corona edges in the second and third generations, all on plants with the same vigor and robustness of ‘Ice Follies’.  Dave’s ‘Dangerous Dentures’ (2011, 2W-Y) and a seedling, under the moniker “With Teeth,” are a testament to the success of a plant breeder who paves his own path.  In total Dave registered 30 daffodils from 1993 to 2018, and several more are being bulked for future introduction.  His daffodil seedlings are now being grown by Jason Delaney in Flora, Illinois.

Dave and his late wife Marie had two sons, David III and John, and a daughter Mary Dee.  They were at his side when he passed.  Dave’s good nature and hearty encouragement will be missed by many.  Yet he will always be remembered each spring when his flowers bloom.  Our gardens are all the richer thanks to Dave Niswonger’s many fine accomplishments.

Review of - Lilies…Try Em…You’ll Like Em

On November 9th, Lynn Slackman took us on a journey from discovering Lilium at a local Lily Show to appreciating, nurturing, and finally spreading the joy of these beautiful cultivars with other garden and bulb enthusiasts.

Lilium (members of which are true lilies) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, with prominent flowers. They have been around for hundreds of years, growing as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as the sub-tropics. There are native species that thrive in the North Eastern and Western portions of the US. Many species are also native to China and the Balkans.

Lilium bulbs are composed of fleshy scales, without a protective outer surface. So they need to be kept fresh and moist. In addition to the basal roots at the base of the bulbs, they also have stem roots. Both root systems supply food and stability to the plant. Lilium flowers are varied in size, shape, and color, but always have 6 tepals (petals & sepals) and 6 anthers. Lilium are never truly dormant, so they need to be treated as a living perennial.

Are Lilium Edible?
Lilium bulbs are starchy and edible as root vegetables, although bulbs of some species may be very bitter. The non-bitter bulbs (L. lancifolium) are grown on a large scale in China as a luxury or health food. Lily flowers are also said to be effective treatment for pulmonary (lungs) affections, and may have some tonic properties.

Are Lilium Toxic?
Asiatic hybrid, Easter, rubrum, Stargazer – all are highly toxic to cats!  Even small ingestions (such as 2-3 petals or leaves) – even the pollen or water from the vase – can result in severe, acute kidney failure.



Some Species from our gardens:
 

Lilium Regale is a trumpet flowered lily, whose flowers form a 'highly scented' umbel at the top of its 4 to 5 foot sturdy stems.

L. pardalinum’ is one of the native California lilies that grow outside of its native environment. It has bright orange-red petals that are splashed with golden leopard spots. Its leaves form a whorl around each stem…similar to the Martagon and American Hybrid lilies.




The Graceful Martagons:
The specific term Martagon is a Turkish word which also means turban or cap. It has a widespread native region that extends from eastern France east through northern Asia to Mongolia and Korea.

Martagons have been cultivated for centuries. L. martagon was used in hybridizing with L. hansonii at the end of the 19th century by Mrs. RO Backhouse of Hereford, England.

Martagons have stem-rooting and they are 4 to 5 feet tall and have a wide range of flower colors; pinks, mauves, scarlet and wine reds as well as white, yellow and orange. The flowers are usually lightly scented, and numerous flowers are borne on each plant...sometimes between 40 to 60 flowers can be found on vigorous plants. Martagon lilies are very cold hardy and flourish as far north as the Arctic Circle.

The Delightful Asiatics:
Asiatic Lilium is by far one of the most popular, easiest to grow, and readily available lilies. They're very hardy, need no staking, and are not particularly fussy about soil, as long as it drains well. Well-drained soil is an absolute must! Asiatics can have Up-facing, Outfacing or Pendant flowers.

The Dependable LA’s:
These hardy and easy to grow hybrids are derived from crossing L. longiflorum (Easter Lily) and the more familiar Asiatics and add a wide splash of color between your Asiatic and Trumpet bloom times. They multiply well, and bulbs left undisturbed for several years can reach a large circumference. LA’s are perfectly at home in the Southern Garden, and also perfectly at home in the cold winter climates with the severe climate zones that thaw slowly in the spring and go directly into summer.

The Lovely Trumpets:
The lovely, trumpet-shaped flowers of this group of Lilies are borne on long, graceful and strong stems. Their intoxicating scent can perfume an entire garden and are often especially night-fragrant. The flowers generally bloom after Asiatic Lilies and before Oriental Lilies.



The Magnificent Oriental Trumpets:

The last group of lilies to bloom in my garden is the magnificent Lilium of Oriental and Trumpet parentage. This hybrid inherited the best traits from both types of lilies. Orientals give them outstanding fragrance and a full range of beautiful color. Trumpets gave them the ability to withstand hot St. Louis summers and add height to the cultivar. The "OT” hybrids thrive in our St. Louis gardens.

Daffodils make great Companions for Lilium...
It turns out that Lilium make good companion bulbs for daffodils.  They like the same sort of soil composition, the daffodils act as a camouflage when the Lilium are just emerging from the ground, and they provide gorgeous blooms throughout the summer.  So I was pretty happy with these newly found bulb companions.

It starts with the soil…
Lilium like to grow in soil that is filled with organic material and has good drainage. They need oxygen and nutrients in the soil to grow and survive. Adding Turface to the soil will add oxygen, monitor the moisture content, and reduce compaction.

Water for the Lilium…
During the growing season at MBG we add about one inch of water per week to the Lilium in the Bulb Garden. In my own garden I tend to water less than MBG, and do more concentrated watering where l can provide individual amounts of water for each group of Lilium.

Staking Lilium…
Lilies with huge heads of blooms sometimes need staking. Tie the stems naturally and gracefully . . . don’t strangle them!

Digging Lilium...
Lilies will usually thrive for years in the same spot, especially if well cared for.  The clumps need to be lifted when many spindly short stems indicate crowding. Carefully pull them apart, and plant them elsewhere.  If you must replant in the same spot, replace or reinforce the soil first with additional fertilizer and organic material.

Mulching…
Mulching is one way of conserving moisture in between watering and it keeps the soil cool and loose. (Cool Feet Hot Head!) Mulching also delays soil freezing and allows roots to continue growing longer. It insulates the soil against fluctuating temperatures, delaying the emergence of frost-tender shoots in spring.

Disease Prevention…
Many of the troubles that beset lilies can be prevented by proper planting. Good drainage will forestall bulb rot; Good circulation of air will help eliminate fungus diseases and even infestations for aphids; Proper placement and mulching may prevent frost damage.

The right location for Lilium… 
Lilium, like other living cultivars, need the right location. At MBG the Lilium bulbs have been shared with other areas at the garden. As a result, some bulbs have thrived outside of the bulb garden, but fizzled-out in the bulb garden environment. Read about the characteristics of the Lilium you are planting and do your best to meet those requirements.

Try growing Lilium in your garden...

 

Collaboration Produces Colorful Palette

Do you sometimes catch yourself wondering, “Would a massed daffodil planting work there?”

I was caught up in this thought several times when departing the parking lot at the Gasconade County RII School, where my Master Gardener classes are held.  Directly across from the Owensville High School, on MO Hwy 19 stretches a very nice, slightly sloping right-of-way, which ironically happens to be comprised of very good soil not typically found in Gasconade County.  What a perfect location for a mass of daffodils.

Upon contacting the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to discuss planting this area, I was informed that such a planting met the criteria for a MoDOT Growing Together beautification program.  So, I met with our local MoDOT road supervisor to discuss the current mowing practices and schedule, the feasibility of such a planting and where a sign could be placed to recognize the planting,  should it occur (currently, MoDOT has a mandatory seasonal mowing of 15ft from the road’s edge by May 31, with the remainder of the right-of-way getting mowed after  July 1, to provide the necessary habitat for ground-nesting birds).  The delayed mowing area was an ideal location for the planting site, as it would provide the daffodil foliage ample time to mature for next year’s bloom.  An application was submitted and eventually approved, the site was planted, and a sign was erected honoring the Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society, the Gasconade County Masters Gardeners Association, and the Owensville High School horticulture classes, each of whom played an integral role in the endeavor.

Fulfilling a community outreach clause in our organization’s by-laws, the Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society provided the bulbs used for the display, procuring them from local Midwest daffodil growers Oakwood Daffodils, in Michigan, and PHS Daffodils, in Missouri.  The Gasconade County Master Gardeners Association also has a goal to support the local community through volunteering. The hours earned by planting were eagerly put toward maintaining the Master Gardeners’ required yearly hours.  And Ms. Sherry Byrnam’s horticulture classes at the Owensville High School provided much enthusiastic support with students planting and working very efficiently to complete the project (as it turned out, a day out of the classroom to plant daffodils was really a lot of fun!).

Everyone involved enjoyed the project, and the community now reaps the benefits with a colorful palette of springtime daffodils for many years to come.

Bloom results from planting

For more information on how you can support the roadside planting, please contact the Greater Saint Louis Daffodil Society (www.stldaffodilclub.org) or the Gasconade County Master Gardener’s Association.

This article also appeared in the 2013 Summer Edition of The Daffodil Rave newsletter.

By Cindy Haeffner, President, Greater Saint Louis Daffodil Society
Member of Gasconade County Master Gardeners

Kentucky Daffodil Road Trip

This year we had the opportunity to visit with Tim and Heather Brown, in Wickliffe, KY at their 343 acres of property in 3 tracts on land. Daffodils and other horticultural plants have been planted on all 3 tracts. Most of the daffodils are located on the farm, where Tim and Heather reside, but a decent amount of daffodils are also planted on a second tract close by. Their 3rd tract of land was acquired 2 years ago.

Daffodil plantings are small by comparison, as his property has been mostly landscaped for the use of deer and turkey. In general Tim has planted loads of trees and shrubs for wildlife, including ornamental, as wells as fruit and nut production.

There are 7 fishing ponds on the property along with 4 more ponds, mostly for minnow production. The Brown’s started planting daffodils in the fall of 1999, and stopped counting them once they hit 30,000.  They estimate approximately 650 different varieties are planted on the property. 

We really appreciate that the Brown's took the time to show us around their carefully planted property that is full of amazing horticultural wonder.

Our First Blog Post

Welcome to the first blog post for the Greater St Louis Daffodil Society!

The Greater St Louis Daffodil Club was officially organized during February of 1998 by 13 charter members.  By October of 2000 the club elected it's second president, voted to publish a newsletter, and approved placing a bid to host the American Daffodil Society Convention during 2005.

Our initial small club was enthusiastic and experienced membership participation.  The club has grown to be known as the Greater St Louis Daffodil Society and is recognized as a contributing society by the national American Daffodil Society.

Our future continues to shine and our membership is growing. The Greater St Louis Daffodil Society is looking forward to teaming up with the Northern California Daffodil Society to host the 2016 World Daffodil Convention in St Louis, MO during April of 2016.  Daffodil enthusiasts from around the world will converge in St Louis to discover daffodils in the heartland of the USA.