Bob and Becky Olsen are the owners of B&B Daylilies, located at 4211 Griffith Road, Monroe, NC 28112.
They are originally from Montana and after spending 8 years in Pennsylvania, they moved to their current location in the Monroe, N.C. area in 1996. Because the winters are much milder here, they were anxious to try different flowering plants that they had been unable to previously grow because of the harsh winters.
After experimenting with roses and replanting annuals every year, Bob and Becky happened upon some daylilies. Becky says "of course we loved that the daylilies were so low maintenance! And such a variety!" When they visited the Listening Lizards daylily farm, they were hooked. They began selling daylilies in 2007.
They joined the Piedmont Daylily Club and were introduced to the hybridizing side of the daylilies. Bob became interested in the challenge of hybridizing – getting interesting eyes, vibrant green throats, great ruffles and deep sculpturing.
In the early years, he used daylilies they had purchased from some the major hybridizers in Florida. As more and more of his seedlings began to bloom, he started using his own daylilies’ pollen for hybridizing.
Bob explains that the pollen has produced some beautiful daylilies with sturdy scapes. Of course the challenge continues and Bob will keep trying to introduce more beautiful and unique daylilies.
As their daylily beds grew, people would stop to ask if they could buy them. When Bob retired from his full time job, he decided to say "yes".
So began B&B Daylilies. They are fortunate to have their daughter AJ Pleasants so close. She has become invaluable to the business– weeding, splitting, mulching...they all agree it has become a real family affair!
B&B Daylilies is open Thursday thru Sunday from 8am until 3pm.
Becky Olsen at 704.219.7811; Email: bowlerbeck@aol.com.