The Northwest Georgia Daylily Society held its annual plant sale and exhibition show Saturday, June 16, at the North Georgia Experiment Station on McDaniel Station Road in Calhoun.

What a day for daylilies it was. A very surprising 162 flowers were entered in the show. The weather this year was of great concern, since summer seemed to start around April this year. Most of the daylilies were about three weeks to a month ahead of schedule for their bloom times. As usual, the flower that is America’s favorite perennial comes through again.

Six judges were in attendance to judge the show. The judges hail from different parts of the state, Warner Robbins, La Grange, and Alpharetta. A record number of exhibitors brought flowers to be judged this year. Some came from as far away as Lawrenceville, Ga.

The design division was new to our show this year, and was very popular. The winners were decided by popular vote. Many of the visitors were surprised to see daylilies arranged in that manner.

Mr. James Crane was the winner of best in show this year. James and his wife Tammy live in Armuchee and are growing quite the daylily garden. This was only the second time James had brought flowers to be judged in the show, and his daylily named Trahlyta, went to the head table, and was judged “Best in Show.”

The winners for this year’s show are as follows: Best Extra Large - Donna Williams with cultivar Jean Wise, Best Large and Best in Show - James Crane with cultivar Trahlyta, Best Youth - Grace Hudgins with cultivar Savannah Debutant, Best Small - Jim Mullins with cultivar Legro Heart Throb, Best Miniature - Jim Mullins with cultivar Elf Power, Best Double - Jim Mullins with cultivar Joyce Lee Brown, Best Spider - Jim Mullins with cultivar Whammer Jammer, Best Unusual Form - Jim Mullins with cultivar Hubbles BuddyBest Popularity Poll - Jim Mullins with cultivar Orange Velvet, Sweepstakes Winner – Jim Mullins, Off Scape Winner - Doris Bishop for h. Golden Hibiscus, Design Division, Class D - Time For Lunch, 1st Place Doris Bishop, 2nd Place Venia Etta McJunkin, 3rd Place Susie Manning, Class E - Down a Winding Road, 1st Place Vickie Jones, 2nd Place Jo Ann Dorsey, 3rd Place Rolland Stokes.