LEWIS HILL and his wife Nancy live in Northern Vermont, where the Hill family settled in 1791. For many years, they operated a retail nursery that Lewis started in 1947, specializing in hardy fruit trees, berry plants, and ornamental shrubs. Now although fruit-growing remains an important part of their lives ---- each summer they fill two freezers with home-grown fruits and vegetables ---their nursery efforts are devoted to growing and selling over 500 varieties of daylilies.

During the long Vermont winters when the plants are sleeping, they write books and magazine articles; they contributed entries for The Wise Gardening Encyclopedia. Both speak frequently to garden clubs and civic groups.