Growing Daylilies Together

Mark Carpenter

I first started collecting daylilies about 15 years ago. My uncle, Jack Carpenter, of course was my first daylily influence. Besides some of his intros, some of my other first cultivars were Dragon King, by Kirchhoff; loved the look, so unique for a

red.  Magic Carpet Ride, another great red of Kirchhoff's, and countless Jack Carpenter intros he gave to me. 

Besides being a member of the AHS and MyDaylilies.com, I have served in the San Antonio Daylily Society VP-Programs multiple years, SADS President for 2 years, the Region 6 Rust Laision for the last 4 years and the as the Region 6 Newsletter Editor for the last 2 years prior to this year. 

I attended the national convention in Houston, TX when my uncle, Jack Carpenter won the Stout Medal and Bertrand Farr Silver Medal

The Lily Farm is famous for Jack Carpenter hybrid daylilies.  It is also one of the largest operations open to the public, with 6 acres of daylilies. 

Have you ever served as a daylily mentor, how many and to what capacity?  I have indirectly been a daylily mentor of sorts to Steve Wingfield (SADS member and previous president);  I've given multiple presentations to garden clubs and daylily clubs over the  years as well.   

 What I enjoy most about daylilies is when a customer gets exactly what they were looking for, and they have this huge smile and bright-eyed look like a kid has at Christmas.

My hybridizing goals are to have Jack's famous heavy substance in more unusual form and double daylilies. I also want to have a 10 inch bloom on a full size flower, bigger than a hibiscus!

Mark Carpenter

The Lily Farm

10056 Highway 7

West  Center, Texas 75935

www.lilyfarm.com