From:    "Ken Cobb, AHS Archivist/Historian

Subject: Review: The Daylily Addict

This past week I received the premier “issue” of the new quarterly daylily “subscription,” The Daylily Addict. I put “issue” and “subscription” in quotation marks because this is not a magazine as one might expect from those terms, but a stunning DVD. As AHS Archivist, I have finally seen that which I have been desiring since taking this position – video and oral interviews with some of  those significant within the world of daylilies, each focusing on a slightly different aspect of the daylily as well.

Videographer Charles Dorsey, a member of this robin, has produced an extremely professional product – rock steady video of landscapes, stunning color, and well focused close-ups down to the anthers of blooms. He intermixed this with interviews of five hybridizers and their voice-overs containing soft background music as he displayed their gardens. Sound quality was crisp – no static or hiss. Even birds and waterfalls could be heard clearly. I found this DVD both relaxing and informative as a result.

First he had the interviews with David Kirchhoff, Mort Morss, Richard Norris, Steve Zolock, and Sharon Fitzpatrick.  Steve provided a demo of his method of dip to tet conversion of a plant as it resided in the garden. I also learned that David was once in a Navy band and early photos of both David and Mort were worth the price of admission.

Education came in the form of a chapter called, Mr. Helpful. I assume it will be an on-going column as will Daylily 101. The latter featured super close-ups as Charles explained Parts of a Daylily. Something Different was just that – a topic outside of the daylily realm, but certainly as informative and beautiful.

The chapter on Hybridizer Advice was really directed at the newcomer. At first I felt it to be a bit disjointed in that Charles intermixed sentences, phrases and images from several of the featured hybridizers to provide the advice and I found myself getting lost as to the focal point. Upon viewing it a second time, however, I realized that it was simply a stylistic preference of the author and I will not fault him for trying it. It also flowed much better for me on a second viewing as I listened to it as a whole, not as its various parts (like listening to a song versus listening to it note by note).  Many will feel it is a refreshing approach. Certainly nothing on the DVD was routine and that is a positive.

Charles demonstrated some of his quirky humor in the segues between “chapters.” In these segues he is continually fiddling with an ancient Massey Ferguson tractor which in the end he cranks up and drives away. (What will he use as an encore in issue number two?) He even ends the DVD with outtakes as you would expect from any good movie; and you have to read the credits quickly to see who all is on his production staff. He can be forgiven for a chapter of humorous sayings from Tommy Maddox. Thankfully, it was a short chapter. ;-)

I feel this DVD is closely tied to AHS, so much so that one almost thinks they are viewing an AHS product. There are lots of plugs for the AHS website, and things like judging clinics and workshops. All this is good in my view! Members will especially like the interviews. At the same time, there are some “insider” references to hybridizer names (Munson), awards (Lenington, Stout), etc., which are not explained and would not be known to the general public, at least in this first issue. Perhaps this comes from the author and those interviewed being too close to AHS. However, it is very hard to both catch and edit out all such things in live interviews as  multiple retakes  might take away from the spontaneity. At the same time, the DVD also has some good information in which many AHS members are already well versed, but which newcomers or new hybridizers would find of benefit. So, all in all, a balanced issue of about an hour!

As a disclaimer, I have no vested interest in Charles work, he has not seen this review in advance to “approve” it,  and the DVD now in the AHS Archives was purchased, not free. I do feel, however, that it is a significant addition to the published material related to the daylily and its people and was worth reviewing for this robin as would any published book or other media product about our favorite flower.

I will close by saying it is utterly fantastic on a big screen 16:9 ratio TV. Perhaps it was the Blu-ray player upconverting to 1080p resolution that did it.

Jennie Sivyer Kent, England

Recently I subscribed to The Daylily Addict dvd magazine after reading about it here on the robin.  As I live in England I do not have the opportunity to get to meetings & gatherings or visit the lovely gardens.  I thought this would be a good way of keeping in touch with things - from a distance.  I am always very curious to put a face to the hybridisers whose flowers I collect and covet.  On this first dvd I was able to 'meet' David Kirchhoff, Mort Morss & Richard Norris.  I have beds of flowers dedicated to these hybridisers with around 50 of Davids and around the same of Morts.  I love them.  I have 4 of Richards cultivars and they are among my favourites in the garden.  I thoroughly enjoyed the interviews and seeing their gardens - it makes me treasure their flowers even more.

I enjoyed watching Steve Zolock converting a diploid daylily - it fascinates me.  I recently bought some BAP 10 in England that came from Steve Zolock so it was good to put a face to the name yet again.  I smiled all the way through the dvd which is something I rarely do in winter!  I found the dvd enjoyable from start to finish.  It is fantastic quality, varied and very well put together.  Thanks Charles :)