Larry,
I've kept an Excel spreadsheet for a long time. I print out blank spreadsheets where I write in my "observations" and later in the season (whenever there's downtime) I type the information into the spreadsheet on the computer. I then print those pages out and carry the with me to make new notes as needed.
My columns are as follows for seedlings: Seedling number, parents, height, flower diameter, fragrance? Y/N, bud count, branching, foliage habit, description, bloom dates, special features, location, number of fans, rust resistance (if it is sadly pertinent)
For registered daylilies: Name (tets proceeded by *), height, diameter, foliage habit, description, bloom time as registered, bloom dates in my garden, special features, location, number of fans, comments, rust resistance
I have my seedlings in rows with the each cross on a tag where the row for that cross begins. When things start blooming, I take my spreadsheet (in 3 ring binder), pen, plastic tags, pencil to write on them, camera and flagging tape in 4 colors to indicate to myself if it's a tet keeper, dip keeper, non-keeper with an extra blue tape if I really love it. The colors also help me to quickly make crosses with daylilies of like ploidy.
I have to take complete notes on 300-400 newly blooming seedlings each year and revised notes on however many others I've carried over. I don't take many notes on the registered daylilies - only the ones that are fairly new to me and I don't have many of those each year.
In winter (like now), I try to put it all into PlantStep. I also use the hybridizing tool in PlantStep to help me prioritize which seeds I will plant first since I never get to them all.
I'm retired since forever and have a lot of time on my hands and gardening is all I really want to do so maybe this is too much for someone with a life, but I find this systems helps me keep track of things pretty well.
