THE STORY OF DAN PATCH - the daylily!
CHAPTER ONE: "A new generation in daylilies"
DAN PATCH (BEST 2010): Diploid seedling #1B (MICHAEL'S SWORD X Seedling) 23" w/fragrant midseason 4" blooms, performing at our nursery with 100% 3-way (all three petals) stable bearding! DAN PATCH, our newest daylily, was officially registered on 10-11-10, with "the horse that knows" name and is one of our most exciting new"bearded" daylilies to date (future release pending). Such New Age bearded daylily is now registered as a namesake memorial for "Dan Patch" - a most famous race horse born in 1896 and a local hero in our hoosier neighborhoods over a century ago!
Dan Patch was born in the small town of Oxford, Indiana, just a few small towns away from Rainbow Hill Daylily Farm (where DAN PATCH the daylily was born). Humbly bred and born of a congenitally malformed leg, Dan Patch proved he was a horse of unmatched performance and design in the world of Standardbred horse racing over 100 years ago. He was a good-looking intelligent horse with a long barrel (midsection) and a head that was more refined than most horses of his era.
However, at birth, Dan Patch was almost euthanized. Initially he could not stand on his own, due to the malformed leg that gave first impression he was crippled. A look of innocence thru those large brown eyes of Dan's gazing into his master's eyes saved his life! At the time, Dan Messner was new to horses and was "a greenhorn" when it came to breeding and raising horses. It was his experienced neighbor (John Wattles) who gave support and encouraged Messner to give his new colt a chance commenting the colt's wide eye span indicated high intelligence. Years later would prove, they certainly made the right choice!
It was said the careful nurturing & patient training by Mr. Wattles himself was the vital recipe for Dan's standardbred racing success! In today's standards, Dan Patch's overall physique is considered impressive even after a century of evolution and improvements in Standardbred horse breeding. Unlike most Standardbreds of yesterday & today, Dan Patch was "a natural born pacer" - quite rare in harness racing. (1)
In comparison, a part of Dan Patch's namesake flower's genetic-line heritage shared a challenging path with a history of blooming designs that were considered flawed in previous decades and were discarded & composted as mutant designs, due to an obvious lack of balance, crippled with inconsistant plant habit. Fortunately these so called flaws were observed by an entry-level hybridizer (a greenhorn) with vision and were carefully hybridized & nurtured into a stable bearded design that is unmatched in commerce and extremely rare today! It has been predicted by some, such benchmark flower design will be "a champion" for many tomorrows to come - like the famous racing record of "the horse that knows!"
Ever since 2005, after the introduction of MICHAEL'S SWORD, inconsistent variations (ie: crested or cristated & other mutated forms) are now appreciated in a different light and have also been perceived as promising hybridizing tools, amongst competing hybridizers/scientists, having potential to further the avenues into the class of "stable bearded forms." However, regardless of the scientific community's inconclusive hypothesis, the genetics working most in favor of the bearded daylily design did not come from crested (cristated) daylily genetics as per the observations within our bearded hybridizing program. All things considered, one must admit, the single most important factor within our hybridizing efforts that allowed a leap of faith chance with such new creation is the power of prayer. With God's help, 'bearded' daylily creations will continue winning hearts as a desired phenotype standard to preserve and appreciate amongst daylily enthusiasts alike in the years to come!
CHAPTER TWO: "More about a horse and the flower named DAN PATCH"
Dan Patch was indeed ahead of his time at the turn of the century (like his namesake flower). It took over half a century before his 1:55 record breaking time in harness racing was ever broken. And time only knows what improvements may develop from Dan's memorial daylily that holds an unmatched record blooming design amongst registered daylilies in commerce today.
The DAN PATCH daylily literally grew into it's name in more ways than one over time as controversy and scientific debate developed shortly after DAN PATCH (seedling #1B) made it first debut on the scene as a most unusual and most stable new daylily form! Like the horse that had a 100% win record in harness racing, our DAN PATCH lily shares a similar unbroken record of 100% consistency with it's winning 3-way bearded bloom design performing in our garden pastures!
(Hybridizer's note: DAN PATCH was "best" registered via AHS to parallel MICHAEL'S SWORD (DAN PATCH'S pod parent) in the same manner "AHS" had once recommended, with hesitation, for MICHAEL'S SWORD (in the doubles classification). Thus, it was done for the sake of consistency of registration, as well as, offering vital notation for percentage of plant habit performance to record such New Age stable bearded phenomenon - originally introduced & registered in 2005 via MICHAEL'S SWORD. At that point in time, AHS had no official definition on the books to describe such "bearded" formation - hence, the 'true bearded' daylily was born via the hybridizer! Other terms/definitions have since been scientifically induced (w/o our endorsement) and have failed to meet the expectations and hearts of daylily enthusiasts alike.)
CHAPTER THREE: "Record books in the world of Standardbred harness racing don't lie"
Dan Patch lost only two heats in his whole career (due to the gambling maneuvers of his riders), but never lost a race. Thus, he was a consistent winner amongst other standardbred race horses in his time and his racing records held for decades. Within only two years of racing, his speed was such that other race horse owners simply refused to race their horses against Dan, leaving him to race against the clock. (2)
The year 1903 saw Dan Patch establish his reputation as the "World's Fastest Harness racing Horse," breaking every record within that style of racing. During the race season, Dan Patch set new records for the half-mile, the one mile, the two-mile distance and every kind of record Marion Savage (Dan's 3rd owner) could find for his amazing horse to challenge. (3)
Dan Patch's official record of 1:55¼ for the pacing mile was set in 1905 in Lexington, Kentucky. His 1:55 unofficial record for the pacing mile was set in 1906 at the Minnesota State Fair, but not officially recognized because of the use of a prompter with a windshield. This record was only tied 32 years later when Billy Direct became the official 1:55 world record holder. Of course, Marion Savage was so indignant about Dan Patch's 1:55 mark not being recognized (the rules having recently been changed) that he renamed the International Stock Food Farm in Savage to the International 1:55 Stock Food Farm. The 1:55 mark was equaled in following years, but was not broken until 1960, 54 years after Dan Patch's run, when Adios Butler paced the first sub-1:55 mile in 1:54:3. (4)
Unlike most stallions who were apt to be ill tempered, Dan Patch was very gentle; he loved to be with people, especially the children. Truly he was "Black Beauty" come back to life. And he loved the crowds at the race tracks. At the end of a race he had the way of nodding his head to the spectators as if to acknowledge the applause that they gave him. (5) The only person Dan Patch ever bit was a young Minnesota boy named Fred Sasse who would one day grow up to write an appallingly bad book about him. You just had to love a horse like this!" (6)
Dan's one time episode of an unexpected 'surprise defense' is analogy to the elements daylily hybridizers may face against political aspects and dictated scientology induced into daylily endeavors today. Gotta love small town hybridizers with foresight, heart and a love for the laurels of a new daylily form! Sometimes a hybridizer's appetite for the truth is every bit as big as their bite! Through the efforts of more and more hybridizers, revelations of God's creations will keep shining through.
CHAPTER FOUR: "DAN PATCH DAYS revisited via daylily - a behind the scenes look"
The obvious parallels of origin and record performance between Dan Patch and his namesake daylily (seedling #1B) are too numerous and uncanny to mention. DAN PATCH, the newest in bearded daylily forms, has it's own unbeaten record of performance and a most unique personality with humble small farm origin. Furthermore, it took only two years of Dan Patch's record breaking racing days to intimidate fellow race horse owners enough to begin withdrawing their horses from racing against Dan Patch. And within less than two years of highlighted discussions, when DAN PATCH (daylily) was only known as seedling #1B, DAN PATCH had already intimidated the 'flowering competition' amongst hybridizers and participating scientists alike (those ordained to record historical backgrounds of new flower forms in daylilies).
Eventually, unforeseen challenging debates erupted via the net & things became quite interesting amongst those supporting and not supporting an unethical classification process for similar unstable (defective/inconsistent) forms vs. the stable and solid performances of DAN PATCH, the parent (MICHAEL'S SWORD) & Dan's siblings. After witnessing such "hair-raising" debates via "www.Mydaylilies.com" amongst fellow daylily enthusiasts we could only smile and ponder what the future may hold for such unusual pioneered daylily form! Thus, we (my wife & I) finally made the decision to begin the registration process for our next precious bearded seedling simply known as "#1B" at the time. This particular seedling was labelled #1 because it was an FFO (first flower opening) amongst it's fellow bearded siblings. Thus, DAN PATCH was indeed "1st out of the starting gate" of bearded performers in our gardens, from it's pod parent MICHAEL'S SWORD (BEST '05). A winner from day one!
It took some time to find the perfect name for such consistent bearded daylily. It was decided, "DAN PATCH" was the most perfect name of choice for such amazing daylily with humble beginnings, like the most famous winning race horse it symbolizes, who was born in a small town stable. (7) A horse that held a world record time as a Standardbred that no other could come close to holding a candle against at the time. The name "Standardbred" as a horse breed classification was 1st officially used in 1879. In order for a horse to be registered as Standardbred, it had to be able to trot a mile within the "standard" time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Hence, a 'benchmark standard time' was made official for the Standardbred class of horse. (8)
CHAPTER FIVE: "Bearding - a benchmark standard for a stable new hybrid daylily"
Our bearded hybridizing program's qualifying benchmark design for such new daylily form was first registered, illustrated and introduced per "bearded" - in 2005, as noted within copyrighted publication and articles (simply a matter of fact). Since then, other alternative naming designs have been attempted, failed and abandoned by scientists on more than one occasion (scientists still haven't found the right words to say ever since).
As per our experience over the years, none of the botany scientists surveyed (within American Hemerocallis Society, American Iris Society, University Horticulture Depts. etc.) could concur coming to terms on descriptives for such newly pioneered stable daylily form we call "bearded" with 3-way forked appendages. It's quite clear, from a hybridizer's standpoint, botanical sciences operate within inconsistent latitudes when it comes to attempting to describe new flower forms (until a label becomes publicly accepted).
It's obvious today and yesterday, the scientific community's failures to demonstrate consistency within it's own declarations shows an apparent inability to provide structured guidance - giving further revelations: 'we definitely have an exciting new daylily form that has never before shown it's face in commerce before 2005!' Other unofficial claims have also been made after the fact in hopes of distracting previous said truths regarding the origination of the bearded daylily. Regardless, for the sake of sincere daylily enthusiasts, the defining benchmark standard design our bearded daylilies "trot" to is described herein, as previously noted and defined within introduced copyrighted data via the hybridizer (noted below):
DAYLILY BEARDING 101:
“BEARDED ” (not crested nor cristated) was the first and foremost term used in commerce to accurately describe such unique pioneered breakthrough daylily with "consistent" raised (3-way) bearded forked-appendages - introduced by name and photo via the hybridizer as per the 2005 WINTER AHS “DAYLILY JOURNAL” listing: "Rainbow Hill Daylily Farm" color ad pg. 428 & "Picture Gallery" pg. 458 and via the net at: www.rainbowhilldaylilyfarm.com. Bearding in daylilies was originally coined and used to introduce such unique consistent bearded effect (avoiding the MID-rib) as opposed to the inconsistent nature of traditional MID-rib cresting in daylilies. (reference: “The history & prolific future of the elusive BEARDED daylily” by Brad Best via Mydaylilies.com)
FACT: when the first bearded daylily was registered in 2005 (MICHAEL'S SWORD) AHS officially refused to classify such form as “crested” as per the already traditionally known mid-rib (linear) definition for “cresting” in daylilies. Thus, historically such bearded formation was excluded via AHS from the unofficial sculpt classification, as per the obvious differences (recent dictated elements retro-fitted within the sculpt class are still considered "unofficial" amongst bearded daylily hybridizers and enthusiasts alike). Those calling such formations “crested or cristated” are either unaware and misguided, or simply neglecting the historical facts surrounding bearding and how it was first and foremost introduced into commerce. Regardless of the poetic licenses and scientific debates at hand - the phenotype observed in MICHAEL'S SWORD & DAN PATCH is authentically titled and called “bearded” as per it‘s formal and copyrighted introduction in 2005 by “the hybridizer.” Any other terms being used scientifically are simply self-proclaimed inventions after-the-fact.
Today, no other known registered daylily has such stable plant habit and 3-way bearded formation with 'golden highlighted beards' like DAN PATCH. We call such unusual daylily forms: "bearded" (with authenticity) as a new and unique daylily form - since no other form like it was ever described or defined in commerce when bearding was formally introduced via MICHAEL'S SWORD (Genesis 2:19). It is quite interesting how some scientists have persisted in their attempts to re-defining and re-labeling such new daylily form within differing latitudes (a daylily form still in it's infancy with only a few stable forms known today). Each time scientists have failed to remain consistent within both definition and labeling attempts. Thus, such unorthodox process has been justly noted and recorded herein for public awareness.
While bearding in daylilies to this day in not officially recognized via AHS (due to ever-changing AHS/SSC technicalities; a most confusing issue to mention within a single chapter), bearding was indeed 1st and foremost used in commerce as an original term by "the hybridizer" to describe and define such consistent and stable 3-way bearded (forked-beard silhouette) formation. Similar to the hurdles and red-tape Dan Patch faced with his own unofficial record breaking challenge over a century ago, that were accepted via public witness, someday we believe 'True Bearding' (a synonymous term we use for 'stable' bearding) in daylilies will be an accepted benchmark used to describe such New Age form; like Dan Patch's unofficial 1:55 record breaking time that became an accepted historical record and benchmark in time!
CHAPTER SIX: "Future introduction of DAN PATCH - the daylily"
Hybridizing, in some circles of life, is not just for business endeavors, it's a hobby of love for the daylily! Sometimes hybridizers simply grow and hybridize for the joy and passion of it. Today, instead of a formal sales introduction into commerce, we've elected, to simply register such incredibly rare daylily form for all to appreciate and learn about via public exhibition while it is sired (hybridized) amongst other daylilies and propagated in hopes of growing even more incredible bearded daylilies at a pace only a hobby design may allow to flourish.
Although DAN PATCH is definitely a top choice cutting edge flower for avid daylily collectors, this special flower is being held, based upon "best" hybridizing judgement, with a most caring and understanding heart, to further propagate and grow for the masses to enjoy and appreciate someday! Like Dan Patch's racing days, at the turn of the century, when spectators and families all over the country flocked to see him race at the fairgrounds - DAN PATCH, the daylily of today, will follow suit in the same manner to be enjoyed by an audience in mass proportions!
Unlike Dan Patch, who 'ended his glory days' to retire in the pasture to sire hopeful Standardbred pacers, DAN PATCH (the 'lily) begins it's life, proliferating within the former livestock pastures of our farmstead home, allowing sufficient time to create more and more bearded wonders for a future Standardbred race in daylilies that cannot begin at the present moment, due to the lack of opponents, with such stable bearded hybrid benchmark form. For now, the majority of standardbred forms in bearded daylilies reside in one stable at Rainbow Hill Daylily Farm - chomping at the bit!
Our home and daylily gardens are located, within the farmlands of Tippecanoe County, just 7-miles outside of Lafayette, Indiana (location of Dan Patch's 2nd harness race win in 1900). Our home was built, in 1898, just two years before Dan Patch's famous racing days began. Today, our family grows daylilies around our vintage homestead with typical restoration needs keeping us quite busy. For over a decade now, our family has shared daylilies with those who love and appreciate the daylily. However, our mission and purpose, with the daylily is twofold in nature, helping to bring people into a world and presence some may have never experienced.
While the technicalities in Daylilydom often instruct those navigating within forums or organizations "not to promote" flowers for self-promotion (inhibiting daylily knowledges) - today, we find it quite unethical for the sake of the hobby to keep quiet about the truths of something so new and exciting! Thus, we've opted to navigate by promoting "public awareness" (our daylilies are not for sale*) and the facts to the avid daylily enthusiast where traditional methods within select avenues are no longer the right fit for such New Age daylily form. Thanks to Mydaylilies.com, you've learned about DAN PATCH here first without any bias designs. The blogs/gossip and other agendas with inexperienced poetic license can no longer fit the ticket and bet against this horse!
CHAPTER SEVEN: "A race against time"
Like Dan Patch, an unforgotten celebrated race horse, DAN PATCH (the daylily) races alongside itself against the clock with nothing that quite compares in today's era! Hometown heroes have always played a vital part in the celebration of small-town America and Dan Patch's legacy has been resurrected via daylily and will live on winning even more hearts performing against a flowering competition! It is with a thankful and determined heart we will continue forward with God's help assisting in the creation of more bearded wonders. We look forward to working with more bearded forms in the future from the progeny of DAN PATCH.
Yes, we are having too much fun in daylilies today! It's with sincere hopes that future hybridizers in daylilies will focus on the true spirit of hybridizing for the sake of new creations vs. the temptation of the notoriety and awards that may lead others into unproductive designs.
Now you've heard - "the rest of the story" with the authentic facts once again via Mydaylilies.com - straight from the horse's (daylily's) mouth per DAN PATCH! Hope you've enjoyed a sneak preview of what the future holds in daylilies!
Yours in "True Bearding" - Brad Best & family
Note: Even daylily hybridizers are known to be quite "indignant" about the facts and truths of some matters. Thus, our daylily gardens will be known from here on forward as: Rainbow Hill 'Bearded Daylily' Farm - as was foretold in the 2005 Winter DAYLILY JOURNAL (Vol. 60. No. 4) pg. 428 within Rainbow Hill's former ad publication titled: "RAINBOW HILL DAYLILY FARM - Home of the newest & most exciting bearded daylilies!"
*(Currently our daylily farm is involved in it's 2nd major crop rotation overhaul since 1999 and all previous daylily collections/Intro's are sold-out. Any remaining stock or new Introductions etc. are for landscaping and private display only at the present time (until further notice). Thus, we are currently not selling daylilies or entertaining garden visitation as forecasted for the years 2011, 2012 and beyond(?); website updates with this info are pending. For now, growing daylilies is still a hobby of love and joy to share with family & friends!)
MICHAEL'S SWORD (BEST 2005)
References:
1) "CRAZY GOOD: The true story of Dan Patch, the most famous race horse in American" by Charles Leerhsen - Copyright 2008
2) "CRAZY GOOD" by C. Leerhsen
3) "DAN PATCH" article by Gerald Walte (writer for the Indiana Historical Society)
4) Wikpedia - keyword search: Dan Patch
5) "The Story of Dan Patch" - article by the DAN PATCH Historical Society
6) "CRAZY GOOD" by C. Leerhsen
7) "CRAZY GOOD" by C. Leerhsen
8) Wikpedia - keyword search: Standardbred
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