Pick out the perfect daylily and help children in Nepal

Hewie Powell’s acre of hybrid daylilies are in full bloom.

“They’re just breathtaking right now,” said Jan Rule, who let the retired Navy seal plant the daylilies on an acre of her ground off Town Hall Road south of Belleville. “Everyone should come out and see all the different colors.”

You will have a chance this weekend. Jan and Hewie are holding an open house and daylily sale from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Stillpointe Wellness Center, 2135 Dorothy Lane in Belleville.

Here’s how it works. Stop by and take a look at the field of flowers. Pick out your favorites, place your order for pickup in August. Prices are $10 to $25.

“I always try to sell a double fan, which is actually two plants,” said Hewie, who lives in south St. Louis (“28 minutes away, in good weather”) with his wife, Arlene. “During the summer, I’m here three, four, five times a week.”

Proceeds will benefit the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children in Kathmandu, Nepal, which was recently devastated by an earthquake.

Hewie, who served as a Navy SEAL in the Vietnam War, has been growing daylilies for 10 to 12 years.

“After two years, it became an addiction,” he said. “I was still working (as a project engineer). I didn’t have a lot of time ... What I really like about it is being able to hybridize. It’s always something different. You can cross this one with this one. You never know what you are going to get. It’s like having a kid.”

He evaluates what he gets, considering such things as foliage and consistency of color. Of 800 seedlings, he may keep 50.

“Hewie was an answer to a prayer of mine,” said Jan. “He’s an avid gardener. He shared his desire that he was looking for space. I wanted to have gardens out here. I thought this would be a good way to help a veteran and support the kids.”

“It kind of fit,” he said, locking his fingers together.

“Here’s some land,” said Jan. “Beautify it.”

Jan is working with veterans groups to start a Victory Garden, in which veterans could work, grow vegetables and sell the produce. “Right now, that’s still an idea.”

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 8:02 AM with the headline "Pick out the perfect daylily and help children in Nepal."