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This and That from AHS to Region 2The Region 2 Hybridizers CornerDown Memory Lane in Region 2The Birth of the Chicagoland Daylily SocietyContributed by Bill VaughnReprinted from the Chicagoland Newsletterof November-December 2004.he germ that sparked the beginning of the ChicagolandDaylily Society (CDS) began in 1958 or 1959, whenTHubert Fischer came back from an AHS Fall Board Meeting andannounced that the Board had talked him into Chicago hosting the1961 National Convention. The Board felt that since most of theday’s breeders were in this area, it was long overdue for us to hosta National Convention. We knew absolutely nothing about whatlay ahead of us, but since nearly all the gardens on tour would behybridizer gardens, we later learned just how valuable that was toget us off to a grand Convention.out as we are still going strong, and our favorite flower is now theNo. 1 perennial in the USA.As a footnote, yes, this was where the “war between Dips andTets” got off to a lusty start. Orville Fay stated that within 5 yearsDips would no longer exist as Tets would take over. The early Tetswere far from attractive as most were deformed as to both flowerand scapes, prone to scape splitting, or exploding, and other faults.Dr. Virginia Peck, another pioneer in Tet breeding, called it “Popgoes the scape.” Mr. Fay wanted no part of CDS and stated itwould only be a Dip Society. Tets would not be here if they had notconverted Dips. Today most folks cannot tell the difference betweenthe two flowers, and great breeding strides are still beingmade in each. Both Bob Ellison and Leo Sharp hybrids have a lot tosay about today’s Dips.About Bill VaughnAn Interview with Chicagoland DS’sNewsletter Editor Marilyn GrazianoBill Vaughn (Photo taken in Trudi Temple’s garden.)Digital image provided by Chicagoland’sNewsletter Editor Marilyn GrazianoIn late 1959 the first meetings were held to work out details as tobuses, hotel, insurance, tour gardens, food, etc. Countless meetingswere held from then until the big event. Since there was nolocal society to help fund this major project, Hubert Fischer andElmer Claar opened a convention bank account to cover expenses.Mrs. Ryba took care of the insurance. Many lasting friendshipsgrew out of all these meetings, and before the big event there wasalready talk of forming a local society.The Convention attracted 306 people, from far and wide, whichwas the largest ever at the time — remember AHS was not even ateenager. Eight of the ten tour gardens, with the exception of Mrs.Ryba and the Watts garden, were all hybridizer gardens. And yes, itwas a 3-day Convention.In January or February, of 1962, a meeting was held at the homeof the Fischers, in Hinsdale. The following were there to help getCDS birthed and going: Hubert and Marie Fischer, Paul and LouiseWatts, Nate and Thelma Rudolph, Jim and Searcy Marsh, Jim andEsther Coffey, Ed and Emily Varnum, and Bill Vaughn.Mr. Fischer agreed to be the first President as he was on the AHSBoard of Directors and knew all the workings of the Society. I haveno record as to the other officers, but as you can see, it all workedAHS Region 2/Great Lakes Newsletterill reminisced, telling of his love of flowers and plantsthat goes way back to his earliest childhood memories.The early years, in the Great Depression, were spent inBCentral Missouri (Boone County), which was rich in many kinds ofwildflowers. In those days there were no deer and the local woodsand hills were real treasure troves, which are rarely seen now.Daffodils were his first outdoor plant love as his grandmotherhad the large doubles (probably Van Scion) in her country yard.Daylily plants were forbidden in the yard because of their spreadinghabit. Once he moved some small plants into a yard and thelandlord fast dug them out and said he could plant his flowersaround the edge of the vegetable garden, but no Daylily plants.The old Lemon Lily was not considered a Daylily by the locals.He ordered his first hybrids from Wilds in 1951 and the dam wasbroken. His first National Convention of AHS was in 1961 and hisgarden in Ottawa was filled quickly with new plants. Once his parentsmoved to a 2-acre country place, near Starved Rock, the ordersfrom all the growers increased. His first registration in 1969 wasSPARROW, a soft gold dusted purple, 2-1/2 inch, 28 inch tall MLdormant diploid with a gold throat. TOMMY ({[(LUCRETIUS xCRESTWOOD ANN) x TETRA LUXURY LACE] X FAIR MARGA-RET}, a 24 inch M light gold self dormant tetraploid with 2-1/2 inchflowers and a green throat, registered in 1975 and introduced byHite in 1978, won the Florida Sunshine Cup at the 1981 NationalConvention in Chicago. It also earned the AHS HM in 1981. In 1978Walter Jablonski named a daylily WILLIAM VAUGHN (TETRASUDIE X SILVER FROST) for him. Bill registered 15 cultivars. (Seelisting next page.)To Bill, the best part of all of this was knowing, and being friendswith, the Chicago pioneers in Hem breeding: Hubert Fischer, NateRudolph, Brother Charles, and Jim Marsh. Later he became friendswith Pauline Henry and was able to visit her garden at bloom timefrom 1985 until her death in 2000. He selected several of her seed-Continued on page 42Spring-Summer 2005 Page 41