Raising Kids and Daylilies: Life on a Florida Hybridizing Farm

When we moved to Floyd Cove just 18 months ago, we knew we were signing up for something big. What we did not realize was how much our kids, and our daylilies, would shape the rhythm, chaos, and magic of our days. Life on a hybridizing farm is not quiet. It is not slow. And it is definitely not predictable. But it is full of color, growth, dirt under your fingernails joy, and the kind of family memories you cannot make anywhere else. Here is a little glimpse into what it is like raising kids and daylilies side by side.

Our mornings begins with a quick headcount of both children and scapes. The kids wander outside half awake, still holding their breakfast, and pause to look at whatever opened overnight. Some blooms get a sleepy “whoa,” others a proud “I hybridized that one with Dad.” Meanwhile, Mom and Dad are out there checking the blooms, looking for keepers, and mentally bookmarking crosses they wants to make before the heat kicks in. And someone, inevitably, steps in a pile of something (ew!) wearing only one shoe.

The beauty of a family farm is how everything overlaps. Jennings might be riding a bike down the garden paths while Michael sits on a garden stool asking why some flowers have “hairy edges.” Brody may shout something dramatic at a big red bloom, and Jack is blowing bubbles over a bed of seedlings, which is not recommended but very adorable.

Hybridizing has become a quiet thread that ties us together. The kids recognize seed pods before many adults do. They know what a watermark is. They can spot a keeper from across the row with surprising accuracy. They have learned curiosity, observation, and patience the most natural way possible, surrounded by growing things.

Watching our children discover daylilies has been one of the biggest gifts of garden life. They are not just seeing flowers. They are witnessing transformation as seeds become sprouts, sprouts become fans, fans produce a first bloom, and that bloom becomes a moment of discovery. Every time something new opens, it becomes a family event. Phone cameras come out. Pets wander in. Someone names a bloom something ridiculous, and everyone has an opinion. It is messy, wholesome, and a reminder of why we chose to do this.

On any given day, there is a good chance you will find one of our pets following us into the garden. Biscuit supervises from a shady spot. Pearl patrols for lizards. Emerald gets into absolutely everything. The chickens contribute background commentary. They are part of the rhythm of this place, just like the kids, just like the flowers.

Florida has a way of speeding everything up. The sun is bright, the growing season is long, and the garden rewards the time we put into it. Our kids have watched tiny seedlings become big personalities in a single season. They have seen us dream, select, cull, and celebrate. They know that beauty takes work and that even the best flowers sometimes surprise you. This life has given them confidence, responsibility, and a front row seat to creation. And it has given us a chance to build something meaningful together.

We came here to grow daylilies. Somewhere along the way, we grew a family culture too, one with muddy feet, blooming scapes, early mornings, late evenings, laughter through the fields, and kids who know the thrill of discovering something new in the garden. Raising kids and daylilies together has been the adventure of a lifetime. And we are just getting started.