Daylily enthusiasts will gather in Meridian

By By Penny Randall / staff writer
September 26, 2004
Meridian's daylily chapter of the Hemerocallis Society has something to be proud of: The group is the oldest club of its kind in the state of Mississippi.
Formed more than 45 years ago by Ben Arthur Davis, the Meridian Hemerocallis Society has also hosted the annual Region 14 fall meeting of daylily clubs in Mississippi and Alabama since 1995.
This year's meeting is Saturday, and more than 100 guests are expected to attend the day-long event. There are 15 regional clubs in the United States and Canada.
The society also has individual members from Europe and Australia.
Harbour has been involved with the club since 1983 and has watched the number of members increase over the years.
The club meets every-other month; members share ideas and learn more about growing daylilies. They also tour daylily gardens in Alabama and Mississippi.
Harbour added that her yard alone has 150 different types of daylilies.
The conference will consist of a business meeting, plant auction, luncheon and slide presentation by guest speaker Curt Hanson, owner of Crintonic Gardens in Gates Mills, Ohio.
Past speakers have included Dan Trimmer of Watermill Gardens in Enterprise, Fla.; Ted Petit of Toronto, Canada, owner of LePetit Jardin in McIntosh, Fla.; and Clarence Crochet of Prairieville, La. Crochet is former president of the American Hemerocallis Society.
Besides regular meetings at Barnhill's Country Buffet in Meridian, club members are also involved in community service projects that include developing daylily gardens at the American Red Cross Key Chapter office and the Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
The local club also sponsors a horticulture scholarship at Meridian Community College.