Albuquerque Daylily Society
Established July 18, 1983
Web Site

The Albuquerque Daylily Society (ADS) was organized July 18, 1983, when a group of thirteen gathered at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Lowenstein to organize the club. Those in attendance were Barbara & Ralph Carrington, Faye Detry, Christine Kavanaugh, Bernard & Bonnie Lowenstein, Harold & Kathryn Neely, Lila Pariza, and L. E. "Ned" & Betty Roberts and children Betty & Ellen Roberts.

Daylilies were first presented to the Albuquerque public in 1976 when the Council of Albuquerque Garden Clubs was encouraging its local plant societies to stage monthly flower shows in their new facility. Betty Roberts suggested that the Petal Pushers Garden Club sponsor a daylily show. We were off and running with an annual mid-Summer event.

In 1983, members of Region 6 expressed a desire to hold a Regional Meeting in Albuquerque. Betty Roberts, other Petal Pusher members, and other daylily growers worked together to host the Regional Meeting. After the Meeting, the Albuquerque Daylily Society was born, 17 members strong. Betty Roberts served as President for four years, and was active on a Regional and National level during that period. Later, she received the Region 6 Service Award.

In 1990, Richard Peck was named as President of the University of New Mexico. The Pecks, Dick and Donna, had long been interested in daylilies and were quite willing to cooperate with the ADS in planting a garden of all the Stout Silver Medal winners on the grounds of the University President’s House. In 1991, the Pecks created several other beds of daylilies nearby. These gardens became show pieces as well as a learning experience for students on the campus.

In 1994, the Region 6 Meeting was held in Albuquerque with Kathryn Neely and Courtney and Jim Petty serving as Co-Chairmen. This proved to be a well organized and well attended Regional Meeting.

1996 saw the planting of a daylily garden at El Rancho de las Golondrinas, a restored 18^th century Spanish Rancho which has been made into a teaching museum. Club members planned, collected, donated plants, and spent a day planting to create this lovely showing of our favorite flowers.

In 1997, Kathryn Neely, who had been generous in gifting the club and Region with her expertise and guidance was awarded the Region 6 Service Award.