The History of Mecca:
What exactly is Mecca? A geographical area? A time of year? A gathering of people? A state of mind? All of that, and more!
The concept germinated in the minds of a group of daylily enthusiasts who were stuck in an icestorm in North Carolina, trying to get to MWS in Chattanooga, TN. There is nothing like an icestorm in February to make you long for Florida in May! Then the airline gave them free ticket vouchers for their trouble. And so it began. A plan to meet and tour the gardens of Florida while they are in peak bloom. More than ten years later "Mecca" has taken on a life of it's own, and draws more and more of the faithful each year.
The heart of daylily mecca might be said to be roughly an hour north of Orlando, around the little town of Deltona, Florida. The Deltona Inn is the traditional headquarters for the groups of daylily trekkers who venture here in May and try to visit as many gardens as possible during the peak bloom season. If there are any physical boundaries to mecca they would be the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the northern Florida state line. There are gardens to visit throughout Florida. The Sunbelt Daylily Chapter in Region 12 of the American Hemerocallis Society has done much to promote Daylily Mecca. Their spring show, held the first Saturday in May, is the kickoff event for many who come to see the gardens.
Peak bloom varies a bit year by year, depending on the weather. The gardens a bit further north will often be at peak a week or so after the more southernly gardens. Most people try to visit between the first and last week of May.
It's a hectic time - but lots of fun. Rental cars are shared and loaded with plants. Hotel room showers become temporary greenhouses. Plans are made on where to meet for meals. The same cars will pass each other going in and out of gardens. Lasting friendships are made in mecca. It's even possible to meet your soulmate and future spouse in mecca (been there, done that)!
So, you ask, how can I go to mecca? Hopefully these pages will give you the information you need to join the mecca trekkers. If you are an experienced mecca trekker, please share your information with us. Let us know what you think should be included on this site! Email us with anything you care to share, including photos or links to other sites. This site will be a work in progress, and hopefully each year we can add more to it. ~ Gail Cormier
4/14/07 - TRAVEL UPDATE: There is a large wildfire in North Florida/Southern Georgia that has been raging for more than a week. Avoid I-75 and I-10 in the area around Lake City - the interstates are currently closed due to smoke. Those traveling from the north may want to use I-95, those from the west, US 19. Be safe & hope to see y'all in a few days!
3/15/07 Lanny Morry's Diaries
Read the wonderful tales of her roadtrips from Canada to Mecca in 2005 & 2006!
Something New: Northern Mecca! Double your fun this year! Once you've been to Mecca you will want more, and this just may be it! Their bloom season is later than Florida's, so
why not plan a trip to Northern Mecca (or as I like to think of this area whose heart is Ohio, "Ohecca" - no disrespect intended, they are great folks and there is certainly some serious hybridizing going on!)
2/15/07 The latest news from Mecca:
Saturday May 12, Central Florida Fairgrounds Orlando - Sunbelt & Central Florida Daylily Clubs Show. CJ Gregory is chairperson.
Thursday May 17. ? Heard rumors of a get together - details will be shared as soon as we know.
Friday, May 18 - Barbeque at Dan Trimmers 2:00 PM Friday May 18. There will be prizes donated by the Stamiles, Reillys, Trimmers, Abajians, Lambertsons and Dennis Anderson.
Friday May 18 - There will be an ice cream social Friday night sponsored by the Sunbelt Club and there will be a powerpoint presentation by Chris Rogers and auction that night about 6:00 PM at the Deltona Community Center two driveways down from Floyd Cove Nursery.
Saturday, May 19, there will be a regional meeting at Frank Smith's. THE TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 4:00PM. Directly after the meeting is an auction to benefit Region 12 . A barbeque starts at 6:00 beginning with cocktails and followed by live music at Frank Smith's. Frank will be donating prizes.
Register for the regional (no cost) by contacting Chris Rogers.
All in all it should be a great weekend and everyone is invited and it is all free. Of course you have all the gardens to tour all morning long on your own. There are no buses for the regional this year so you will need to hook a ride with someone. We expect about 300 hundred people so there will be plenty of folks to hook a ride with.
