Pappy's Root Cellar Daylily Farm

Pappy's Root Cellar Daylily Farm We have over 400 varieties of daylilies and perennials. Open by chance or appointment. Call or com

After retiring from the Air Force and working as a Defense Contractor in the Scott AFB area, we decided to settle in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest area of Southern Illinois in Pope County. In the Fall of 2015 we purchased an abandoned cow pasture adjacent to our home and decided to indulge in our dream of creating a daylily farm to support our habit of growing daylilies. After several week

/months of hard labor clearing years of overgrowth and brush we started moving our collection of hybrid daylilies and vintage irises up the hill to their new home. To date, we have over 100 varieties of hybrid daylilies and several varieties of vintage irises and other perennials. The daylilies are taking to their new home and starting to establish themselves. In the meantime we have added several other annuals/perennials to fill in and provide interest while the daylilies expand into their new home. While not yet ready to begin day to day sales operations we wanted to get the word out about our new venture and let our friends, neighbors and future customers know about our new venture.

05/01/2026

Just a reminder that we will be set up at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center Plant Sale tomorrow morning from 0900-1200 or so. Come on out and see what we have to offer! Pappy

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Good afternoon from the Root Cellar!  It is a gray and drizzly day here but still pretty nice.  I am not getting as much...
04/24/2026

Good afternoon from the Root Cellar! It is a gray and drizzly day here but still pretty nice. I am not getting as much done as I want to but that is the usual case. We have been getting potted plants ready for the Ag Center's Plant Sale on 2 May and doing a little weeding. I need to do a LOT more weeding, lol! Here are some photos I took last evening. The irises and Peonies are coming along nicely with lots more to come. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Pappy

It has been a while since my last update.  The alte freezes took most of my mid-late daffodils bu we are startingto see ...
04/21/2026

It has been a while since my last update. The alte freezes took most of my mid-late daffodils bu we are startingto see some blooms now. The irises, both Bearded and sibedrian are starting to bloom as are the extra early daylilies. Not a lot of color, yet, but itis on the way. We have been invited to participate in the Dixon Spring Agriculture Center Plant Sale on Saturday the 2nd of May, so we will be bringing a bunch of potted plants for sale. Hope to see many of you there. We have also been dealing with an overload of cuteness from Patchey's and Meme's kittens. They are starting to be weaned and getting very playful. Patchey's babies all come running to the sound of my voice, but Meme's are "ho-hum, it's him again"! LOL Any way, we love them all. Can't wait forthe lilies and daylilies to start showing off! Hope you all have a great week and come see us on May 2nd atthe Ag Center. Pappy

It has been quite a while since my last post for which I must apologize.  We are still alive and kicking here at the Roo...
03/05/2026

It has been quite a while since my last post for which I must apologize. We are still alive and kicking here at the Root Cellar and beginning to really look forward to Spring! The warm weather the last few days has made the Snow Drops and early Daffodils start showing off. I was afraid he last couple of freezes would burn the buds, but it looks like they came though OK. I have been cleaning out a lot of unwanted Rose of Sharon bushes. I love them, but they can be as invasive as weeds, so I have to be ruthless in removing them from the daylily beds. I still have a few to clean up, but I still have many to enjoy! LOL Hope everyone is doing well and has survived nother winter. I am definitely looking forward to spending more time in the garden this season after my knee surgeries last year. Hear are some photos from yesterday and today. A big change in just one day! Have a great week! Pappy

I hope everyone had a Blessed Christmas and are looking forward to a prosperous New Year.  We did the gift swap and feas...
12/27/2025

I hope everyone had a Blessed Christmas and are looking forward to a prosperous New Year. We did the gift swap and feast on Christmas Eve, leaving us free on Christmas Day to relax and enjoy the day. Mammy decided to stay home and rest from her exertions the day before, but my two oldest Sons, Corwin and Nolan and I decided to go for a drive and visited Garden Of The Gods. It wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it might be, but there were a few like minded people out enjoying the day. Everyone we met greeted us with a smile and a "Merry Christmas", even though the day itself was cloudy and kind of gloomy. There was some moisture on the rocks so we were extra careful, but it was my first visit back since before my knee surgeries in April and July. The new knees aren't quite as flexible as my old ones were when I was 20 years old, but they are far better than they have been more recently! I know age is just a number, but sometimes that number means you are OLD! After climbing around for a while we drove around by the Ohio River, then picked up Mammy and took her out to eat at the Wok & Roll in Harrisburg. She likes Chinese and she loves Chinese she doesn't have to cook! Here are some photos from the day. Hope you all have a great weekend and a safe and Happy New Year! appy

It has been quite a while since my last post, for which, I do apologize.  My recovery from the two knee surgeries has go...
11/13/2025

It has been quite a while since my last post, for which, I do apologize. My recovery from the two knee surgeries has gone quite well and I have finally been able to get back out in the garden to do some much needed bed clean up. I still have a few more things to do before i will be satisfied that the garden is finally ready for next season, but I am making progress. On the 1st of November, Mammy and I went to a Whicker Family cook out at the Family Farm in Indiana. I am the seventh son of a family of 10 children, 8 boys and 2 girls. Unfortunately, we have lost 3 of my older bothers, Paul, Elmer, and John, but he rest of us are still doing OK for all the miles we have. Mary was unable to make it up from Texas, but Don and his wife came down from Michigan, George and his wife came in from Shiloh, IL and my brothers David and his wife and Robert live in Owen County, as does my sister Marie and her husband Bill, who live on the Farm. it was a beautiful weekend and I managed to take a few photos of the Fall Color, attached below for your enjoyment. I hope that you all are doing well and enjoying the mild weather and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Pappy

Well, the summer has flown by and I haven't posted for quite a while so thought I would give an update.  When I opted to...
09/07/2025

Well, the summer has flown by and I haven't posted for quite a while so thought I would give an update. When I opted to get my right knee replaced in April, I knew I would be sacrificing this year's garden. Then I decided to go ahead and get the left knee replaced on July 29 since the weeds had completely taken over by that point and I was hopelessly behind for this year. I am happy to report that rehab/recovery has gone very well and though I am no where near 100% recovered, I am well on the way and looking forward to getting back in the garden. I am hoping to get some fall clean up done, but Mammy constantly reminds me not to over do it to avoid a setback, so I am taking it slow. Sitting in my recliner knowing the garden was in bad shape has been hard on me mentally, but I am looking forward to getting back out there as soon as I am able. I thank you all for continuing to follow the page. Here are some photos from the front of my house this morning. Hard to believe this fall blooming clematis was just a twig when I planted it. Now it is trying to take over everything but it looks great and smells even better! Have a wonderful Fall and enjoy the cooler weather. Stay safe and keep gardening! Pappy

I am happy to say that my recovery from knee surgery has been coming along well.  Unfortunately for the garden, the weed...
06/21/2025

I am happy to say that my recovery from knee surgery has been coming along well. Unfortunately for the garden, the weeds got a huge jump on me while I was laying around! Peak bloom season comes whether or not I pulled the weeds and the garden has many patches of beauty mixed in with the weeds that are out of control. I have been riding my mower around to take pictures since I am still limited in how long I can walk or stand. The knee is much better and I decided to go ahead get the other one done on 29 July. Hopefully, I will be fully recovered in time for next year's garden. Here are some photos from yesterday afternoon. Have a great weekend! Pappy

It has been too long since my last post, for which I apologize.  On 25 April I had a partial knee replacement on my righ...
05/04/2025

It has been too long since my last post, for which I apologize. On 25 April I had a partial knee replacement on my right knee and I have been sidelined from the garden for a while. Darlene and our two oldest Sons came and helped her set up for the Dixon Springs Ag Center plant sale yesterday and they had a great time. Sorry I wasn't there to talk about lilies and perennials, hopefully next year! In between doing all my therapy exercises, I escaped on my mower yesterday afternoon to take pictures in the garden. It will be a while before I will be able to do so on my own two legs and it was done against the advice of my Queen and overlord, Mammy, but laying around is driving me crazy! Here are some pictures of the garden from yesterday afternoon. Pappy

Address

20 West Glendale Road
Simpson, IL
62985

Telephone

+16186954330

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