NCDS Newsletter Summer 1999

NCDS Newsletter Summer 1999 Officers of the Northern California Daffodil Society: President: Jan Moyers, 102 Picnic Avenue, San Rafael 94901 (415) 453-5261 jmoyers@marin.k12.ca.us Vice President: Mary Smith, 3910 Alhambra Way, Martinez 94553 (925) 228-6098 Secretary: Nancy Tackett, 066 Green Street, Martinez 94553 (925) 372-8083 nancyt@netvista.net Treasurer: Anna Rawls, 973 Florence Road, Livermore 94550 (925) 449-4415 annar@netvista.net Director: Wayne Steele, 1777 Spruce Street, Livermore 94550 (925) 447-5261 steelew@netvista.net Director: Anna Fine, 322 Yosemite, Livermore 94550 (925 447-8211) Show Chairman (Livermore Show): Kirby Fong, 790 Carmel Avenue, Livermore 94550 (925) 443-3888 kfong@alumni.caltech.edu Show Chairman (Mother Lode Show): Bob Spotts, 409 Hazelnut Drive, Oakley 94561 (925) 625-5526 Sad News for the NCDS and the Daffodil World We lost two very special friends during the Spring. In March we learned of the death of Bob (Robin) Jerrell. Bob was one of the founders of the NCDS. He was a hybridizer and introduced three cultivars (Eileen Squires, Mae Gibson Foster and Windhover). Anne Kadarauch and Bob Spotts organized the rescue of Bob's seedlings during the summer. The "Bob Jerrell Bulb Saving Committee" was established with Anne as chair. The committee of diggers was comprised of Anne Kadarauch, Bob Spotts, Jan Moyers, Nancy Tackett and new member Mike Larmer, who was a superb digger! Others included Anne's cousin Vivian and friend Margarita and Nancy's exercise buddies Laurel and Juanita. They each dug for hours in the sun to be sure that Bob's hybridizing contributions are not lost. You should have seen the maps of where every bulb was planted on the property! Nancy Wilson, Anne and Mike will be growing Bob Jerrell's seedlings. Then in early May we learned of the death of Ben Hager. The NCDS has an award named in his honor for a collection of five red or orange cup standard daffodils with yellow perianths. He was also a hybridizer and registered several daffodil cultivars (Euphoria, Ranchero, Taco Tio, and Tamale Pie). At the Livermore show this year Stan Baird staged some of Ben's seedlings that Bob Spotts had picked for Ben, who was ill. Ben's D439 2Y-YYO was truly outstanding and won the Rose Ribbon for best seedling, Best American Daffodil, Reserve Champion and was in his winning "Ben Hager'/Purple Ribbon composed of his own cultivars! At the Mother Lode Show at KIV Ben's Sdlg D441 2Y-R won the Gold Ribbon, White Ribbon, and Rose Ribbon. This group of three, staged by Kirby Fong, became known as "The Best of Everything!" His cultivar "Flora Brava" was Reserve Champion. Ben's beautiful red and yellow daffodils will continue to be grown by Sid DuBose and released through Steve Vinisky at Cherry Creek Daffodils. Daffodil Dates for 1999-2000 NCDS Bulb Auction/Raffle/Potluck - Martinez - October 24 Alameda County Home and Garden Show - Pleasanton - February 2000 California Daffodil Shows NCDS Annual Spring Show - Alden Lane Nursery - Livermore - March 11th & 12th NCDS 5th Annual Mother Lode Show - Kautz Ironstone Vineyards - Murphys - March 18th & 19th (Part of the World Tour 2000) Fortuna Garden Club Spring Daffodil Show - Fortuna - March 25th & 26th (Part of the World Tour 2000) World Daffodil Convention - Portland, Oregon - March 31-April 2, 2000

The Mother Lode Show will again be held at Kautz Ironstone Vineyards in Murphy's in 2000 in conjunction with their Spring Symphony. If you would like to know more about Kautz Ironstone Vineyards' Spring Symphony, they have a beautiful web site at http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/. The WORLD DAFFODIL CONVENTION will be held in Portland, Oregon on the weekend of March 31April 2, 2000. The Convention will be preceded by two weekends of daffodil shows and festivals in California (Murphys and Fortuna) and a ten-day bus tour of the sights and scenery between San Francisco and Portland. The World Daffodil Convention 2000 You are cordially invited to Portland, Oregon on March 31-April 2, 2000 for the World Daffodil Convention. The Convention will begin with the ADS World Daffodil Show, which should bench nearly 3000 blooms. The special feature of the show will be the hybridizers' competition. Special rules permit hybridizers to grow and cut their blooms in any garden, so there may be competitors from down-under joining those from the US and UK. Convention judging teams will have international composition. A unique feature of the Convention will be field trips to Grant Mitsch Daffodils (Elise and Richard Havens), Oregon Trail Daffodils (Bill and Diane Tribe), Cherry Creek Daffodils (Steve and Heather Vinisky) and Bonnie Brae Gardens (Jeanie and Frank Driver). There you'll walk among the best of daffodils - new and old. You'll see your favorites, new introductions and the seedling selections still awaiting names and registration. In the comfort of the Hotel you'll be offered programs such as: historic daffodils worldwide renowned hybridizers and geneticists sharing their knowledge miniature daffodil specialists sharing their insights on the tiny ones comparison of judging worldwide Mitsch & Havens accomplishments in Divisions 5-7 One-evening during the Convention-the dinner and entertainment will be-aboard a7riverboat on the Columbia River. In the evenings after dinner you'll enjoy the Welcome from Elise Havens on opening day, the Keynote Address by John Pearson and the Farewell from Lesley Ramsay on our final day. On the last day of the Convention, there will be a real treat: a luncheon with John Blanchard, where John will speak on his "Wild Wanderings". In addition to the above, attendees can also join optional day or half-day tours. There will be three different tours: the Oregon Coast (during and after show judging); Portland City and Gardens (immediately after show judging); and Mt Hood and the Columbia River Gorge, including lunch at the famous Timberline Lodge (the day following the Convention). If you are not yet a member of the American Daffodil Society and plan to go to the convention, you may want to join the ADS now so that you receive the journal with the registration forms. Membership information is available on the ADS web site (http://www.mc.edui adswww/). Contact the Executive Director, Naomi Liggett at Nliggett@Compuserve.com or write to her at 4126 Winfield Road, Columbus OH 43220-4606. Bulb Raffle, Auction, and Potluck The annual bulb raffle and auction will be Sunday, October 24 at Mary Smith's home, 3910 Alhambra Way in Martinez. If you have bulbs to donate or can help set bulbs on the tables for the raffle, come at noon. We will start at 1:00 PM with announcements followed by the raffle, a bulb auction and a potluck.you are asked to bring an appetizer, dessert, salad, main dish or vegetable dish. We have decided not to limit what you may bring. There always seems to be a balanced menu even when everyone brings what they choose. The NCDS will provide bread, beverages, cups, plates and utensils. The NCDS Board and Steering Committee (the officers, Directors Wayne Steele and Anna Fine and Immediate Past-President Kirby Fong) will meet at Mary's at noon. The NCDS raffle is an opportunity to pick up quality bulbs at bargain prices. There will be hundreds of bulbs. Bob Spotts reports that we will have bulbs from Nancy Wilson, Bonnie Brae Gardens, Mitsch Daffodils, Oregon Trail Daffodils, Oakwood Daffodils and Brian Duncan in exchange for a small donation. The more tickets you buy, the more blooms you will have to enter in the NCDS shows in the

spring and take to Portland for the World Daffodil Convention. Raffle tickets are a dollar each or twelve tickets for ten dollars. Choice cultivars are selected for the auction. The raffle/auction and our membership dues are the sources of income for the NCDS. Directions to Mary Smith's home (3910 Alhambra Way, Martinez 510-228-6098): Take the Alhambra Avenue exit from Highway 4 and go north. Alhambra Way in Martinez parallels the Highway 4 (freeway) exit street, Alhambra Avenue, a block to the east. The map should help those of you who have never been there before. 41 sr '..SI,f,102"`.. sawss ( "111 mit, OM& hsil w SI.1../.1;51111. 1-. Turn on Alhambra Way.0. JP, Alameda County Home and Garden Show Wayne Steele once again performed miracles by refrigerating bulbs and forcing them to bloom in time for the Alameda County Home and Garden Show in February. Wayne has once again volunteered to operate a booth at the county fairgrounds in Pleasanton in February 2000. If you are able to spend 2-3 hours at the booth to answer questions for the public, please contact Wayne at (925) 447-5261. NCDS on the Web The Northern California Daffodil Society web page is located at http://www.daffodil.org. Nancy Tackett has spent numerous hours taking pictures and posting them with information about daffodils and the NCDS with links to other daffodil information and organizations. You will also see examples of Kirby Fong's fantastic photography. If you do not have Internet access at your house, please go to your public library and take a look. If you have come to any NCDS activities, you may even find a picture of yourself! Member Participation The NCDS needs more members to get involved. There are too few of us doing too many jobs. A great way to get involved and learn about daffodils and judging is to help with the Livermore and Mother Lode shows in the Spring. We need hosts to staff the information table during all hours that the shows are open. We need clerks to be with the judges to place ribbons and record entries and winners in each class. This is a great way to learn about our favorite flower. If you would like to be a host or clerk at one of the shows

in the spring, contact Bob Spotts (Mother Lode Show) or Kirby Fong (Livermore Show), using the contact information at the beginning of this newsletter. Welcome new Members! We have new members that we have yet to meet. When you come to any of our NCDS activities, please introduce yourself as a new member and find yourself a mentor. We want to help you stage some blooms and win some blue ribbons. That's how we all got hooked. NCDS Lapel Pins in the Works The NCDS is about to be pinned! Yes, at the last meeting, the Board of Director's agreed that it would be nice to have a pin specially designed for NCDS members. The plan is to use a photo of one of Sid DuBose's beautiful pink daffodils. Look for this pin to be available for sale (maybe as soon as the Fall Bulb Auction). Spring 1999 Daffodil Season There were three shows in Northern California during 1999. The results, including pictures and additional names of cultivars in collections, are posted on the NCDS web pages. NCDS members made entries and participated as judges in shows in Oregon and the ADS National Show in Pittsburg, PA. 1999 NCDS Livermore Show Results (March 6-7) There were 195 horticultural exhibits with 580 blooms from 23 exhibitors and 19 artistic arrangements from 13 exhibitors. Gold Ribbon: Casterbridge 2YYW-O - Kirby Fong White Ribbon: Rapture 6Y-Y - Wayne Steele Mini Gold Ribbon: Hummingbird 6Y-Y - Bob Spotts Mini White Ribbon: Hummingbird 6Y-Y - Bob Spotts Rose Ribbon: Seedling # D439 2Y-O - Ben Hager Junior Ribbon: Patsy 2W-P (Spotts unreg.) - Megan McQueen Intermediate Ribbon: Brooke Ager 2W-P - Wayne Steele Small Grower Ribbon: Miss Prim 2Y-Y - Jan Moyers Historic Daffodil Ribbon: Minicycla 6Y-Y 1913 - Kirby Fong Standard Container Grown Ribbon: Sportsman 2Y-R - Kirby Fong Miniature Container Grown Ribbon: Quince 12Y-Y - Dian Keesee Species Container Grown Ribbon: N. jacetanus 13Y-Y - Kirby Fong Silver Ribbon (for most blue ribbons): Kirby Fong with 42 blues Purple Ribbon: Red/Orange Cup collection - Ben Hager (his own seedlings) V218 2Y-O, B5W4 2Y-R, D441 2Y-R, D439B 2Y-YYO, D218 2Y-O Lavender Ribbon: Kirby Fong Mite 6Y-Y, Charles Warren 1Y-Y, Lilliput 1W-Y, Bird Music 6Y-Y, Adorable Lass 6Y-Y Red-White-Blue Ribbon: Sid DuBose S48-4 2W-Y, Resplendent 2Y-R (Mitsch), S48-5 2W-Y, P21-9 2W-P, R32-1 2Y-O Green Ribbon: Wayne Steel Bittern 12Y-O, Loch Hope 2Y-R, Head Hunt 2Y-O, Broadway Village 2Y-YRR, Hitch-Hiker 1Y- Y, Max 1 lay-yyr, New Penny 3Y-Y, Akala 1Y-Y, Swift Arrow 6Y-Y, Bravoure 1W-Y, Pops Legacy 1W-Y, Rapture 6Y-Y Carey E. Quinn Ribbon: Kirby Fong Areley Kings 2W-GWW, Altun Ha 2Y-W, Pink Valley 2W-P, Creag Dubh 20-R, Flash Affair 2W-Y, Glenfarclas 1Y-O, Pacific Glow 1Y-O, Castle Regiment 2W-Y, Chortle 3Y-W, Lady Diana 2W-W, Wild Women 1Y-Y, Tucana 1W-Y, Rubicon Pink 1W-P, Beaulieu 1Y-Y, Aintree 3W-O, Mary Robinson 2Y-Y, Conestoga 2W-GYO, Magic Moments 3Y-YYO, Alacabam 6Y-Y, Elizabeth Ann 6W-GWP, Indian Maid 70-R, Fortescue 4W-R, Explosion 8Y-O, Mary's Pink 2W-GWP Special Awards included: Hybridizing Trophy: Ben Hager for red/orange cup collection Ben Hager Award: Ben Hager

Pink Collection Trophy: Kirby Fong White Collection Trophy: Kirby Fong Yellow Collection Trophy: Kirby Fong Murray Evans/Grant Mitsch Memorial Vase: Ben Hager for D439 Reserve Champion Trophy: Ben Hager for D439 Bill and Rosemary Roese Trophy: Kirby Fong for 'Mary's Pink' White Daffodil Trophy: Bob Spotts for 'Sea Legend' Southern California Daffodil Society Trophy: Kirby Fong for 'Swift Current' Novice Trophy: Deb McQueen (the Girl Scout Junior Troop leader) for 'Mel' Betty Fawkes Trophy: Dorothea Tinkler Show Chairman Kirby Fong reports: "The show was held in a tent specially provided by Alden Lane Nursery at the nursery. The nursery also put a big banner atop their building to advertise the daffodil show. Between the nursery and our publicity chairman we got the word out and drew more people to the nursery than would otherwise have been there. The local garden club was active in organizing artistic design classes. They had an accredited judge give them a workshop on arranging with daffodils the day before the show, and Sid DuBose graciously donated 30 dozen daffodils for their use. This allowed them to do designs with a lot of red cup and pink daffodils, not just yellow ones." More comments, results and pictures are posted on the NCDS web page. The Girl Scout Junior Troop leader Deb McQueen and family came with pot entries that the Scouts had planted from Spotts seedlings. They had some lovely entries and won some ribbons and awards. They returned on Sunday and helped us take down the show. Thanks for the help! 1999 NCDS Mother Lode Show Results (Murphys - March 13-14) There were 398 exhibits, 821 blooms and 16 exhibitors. Gold Ribbon, White Ribbon, and Rose Ribbon: Sdlg D441 2Y-R - Ben Hager Intermediate Ribbon: Sdlg 99-48-1 2W-WWP - Bob Spotts Small Grower Ribbon: POPS Legacy - Nancy Tackett Junior Ribbon: Quail - Miranda Fay RWB Ribbon: (Sdlgs E6-2, T76-2, S14-14, E22-21, Geometrics) - Sid DuBose Purple Ribbon: English Collection (Glynde, Tehidy, Clouded Yellow, Magic Moment, Aintree) Bob Spotts Green Ribbon: (Homestead, Mate, Creag Dubh, Grafitti, Williamsburg, Loch More, Bouzouki, Castanets, Puppet, Lavalier, Beryl, Rapture) - Wayne Steele Quinn Ribbon: (all seedlings; color codes 1Y-Y, 1YYW-Y, 1W-WPP, 2W-P, 2W-YYP, 2Y-O, 2Y-YYW, 2Y-Y00, 2Y-Y, 2Y-YYO, 5W-Y, 5Y-O, 5Y-Y, 6Y-Y, 6Y-Y00, 8Y-O, 12WWG-Y) Bob Spotts Standard Pot Ribbon: Falstaff - Richard Hunt Mini Pot Ribbon: Tete a Tete - Kirby Fong Species Pot Ribbon: N. bulbocodium nivalis - Nancy Wilson Historic Ribbon: Orange Queen - Kirby Fong Mini Gold and Mini Rose Ribbon: Sdlg 15-86-1437 10W-W - Nancy Wilson Mini White Ribbon: Kokopelli - Bob Spotts Lavender Ribbon: (Kokopelli, Moncorvo, N. jonquilla, Junior Miss, Sundial) Bob Spotts Watrous Ribbon: (Sdlg 15-86-1437, Wells 1495 10W-W, Fresh Season, N.bulbocodium, Snipe, Heidi, Little Emma, N.cyclamineus, N. assoanus, Quince, Wells scxso 10W-W, Elka) - Nancy Wilson Silver Ribbon: Bob Spotts with 40 blue ribbons Reserve Champion: Flora Brava - Bob Spotts Show Chairman Bob Spotts reports: "The cooperation and effort of NCDS members requires special mention. Maureen and Tom Handley from London England (yes, England!), Nancy and Gene Cameron from Newberg Oregon, Jan Moyers of San Rafael CA, Jane and Rich Hunt from Plymouth CA, Anna Rawls and Anna Fine from Livermore CA, Nancy Tackett from Martinez CA, Rich Nolette from Napa CA, Dian and Mike Keesee from Fortuna CA and Stan Baird from Blue Lake CA - all came with few or no blooms from their own gardens and pitched in to stage the blooms brought from gardens in that were in bloom. As a result of their work the flowers of Sid DuBose and Ben Hager got

their just rewards! This was especially meaningful because although their seedlings were having a spectacular year, Ben was in frail health and they could not transport flowers to the show or stage them." More comments, results and pictures are posted on the NCDS web page. 1999 Fortuna Garden Club Daffodil Show Results (March 20-21) There were 440 exhibits, 772 blooms and 57 artistic arrangements. Gold Ribbon: T82-12 20-0 - Sid DuBose White Ribbon: Chindi 2Y-YPP - Bob Spotts Mini Gold Ribbon: Cornish Cream 10Y-Y - Nancy Wilson Mini White Ribbon: 89-11 10Y-Y N. tenuifolius 0.P - Nancy Wilson Rose Ribbon: Seedling # T82-12, 20-0 - Sid DuBose Mini Rose Ribbon: Seedling # M93-2, 7Y-Y - Bob Spotts Junior Ribbon: Salome 2W-PPY - Miranda Fay Intermediate Ribbon: Scamp S686 11Y-0 - Bob Spotts Small Grower Ribbon: Yellowstone 1Y-W - Richard Hunt Historic Daffodil Ribbon: Minicycla 6Y-Y (1912) - Kirby Fong Standard Container Grown Ribbon: Verve 2W-YYO - Kirby Fong Miniature Container Grown Ribbon: Link 557 1W-Y - Stan Baird Species Container Grown Ribbon: N. obesus 13Y-Y - Nancy Wilson Silver Ribbon (most blues): Kirby Fong with 30 blue ribbons Purple Ribbon: Bob Spotts with a Yellow Collection Lavender Ribbon: Nancy Wilson Red-White-Blue Ribbon: Sid DuBose (all DuBose cultivars) Mini Red-White-Blue Ribbon: Bob Spotts Green Ribbon: Wayne Steele Watrous Ribbon: Kirby Fong Throckmorton Ribbon: Kirby Fong Quinn Ribbon: Bob Spotts (all his own seedlings or cultivars) Kirby Fong had the following comments on the Fortuna Show: "The Fortuna daffodil show was held in the new River Lodge conference facility in Fortuna. The building is situated along the Eel River with great scenic views across the river. The Fortuna Garden Club and the Heather Society have donated plants and labor to help landscape the facility. It is a comfortable and spacious place to have a daffodil show. The space enabled 18 arrangers to show off 57 artistic design entries." The Fortuna Garden Club serves home-made treats with coffee and punch for all visitors to the Daffodil Show, making this one of the friendliest shows in California. More comments, results and pictures are posted on the NCDS web page.