April 25
Outta the Blue x Nymphenburg 2
Benjamin Britten x Outta the Blue 1
Benjamin Britten x Nymphenburg 1
Scarlet Knight x Morden Fireglow 2
Karl Herbst x Elina 1
Karl Herbst x Ralph’s Creeper 2
Roller Coaster x Karl Herbst 6
François Juranville x “PinSup” 8
Antike 89 x Roller Coaster 12
Sweet Chariot xOP Danae 10
Night Owl x BAIpeace 4
Night Owl x Lambert Closse 1
Night Owl x Danae 1
Laura Ford x Graham Thomas 1
Night Owl x Outta the Blue 1
Abraham Darby x Nymphenburg 1
Tiffany x Elina 1
Tiffany x Souvenir De Baden-Baden 1
Danae x François Juranville 1
François Juranville x Danae 1
Morden Fireglow x Abraham Darby 5
Twenty-one of my own crosses have germinated! I have learned that ‘Nymphenburg’ is pollen-fertile, and I even got a cpl OP seeds to germinate for the first time! My own (Mutabilis x Trier) seedling “PinSup” is pollen fertile too, and putting it onto Barbier’s ‘François Juranville’ (a VERY WILLING seed-parent) should give larger flowers, in larger clusters, in warm yellow-apricot shades, on healthy & vigorous shrubs/climbers. Hopefully, the excellent and fast repeat of “PinSup” proves dominant.
Karl Herbst was used in two “floribunda-type” experimental crosses, (x ‘Ralph’s Creeper’) for vigour and bright colour, and (‘Roller Coaster’ x) for stripes and vigour, with hopefully improved health over the Roller Coaster parent, which is very susceptible to blackspot here. It’s possible that semi-climbers might result from both crosses. We shall see.
Fragrance in roses is very important to me, so many of my hybrids are made hoping to combine and expand on the scents of my parents. Disease-resistance is also vital, and though I live in a very forgiving climate, I’ve tried to match otherwise outstanding varieties with poorer resistance to stronger parents.
Though I am disappointed at the germination from ‘Laura Ford’ this year, I do have great hopes for the LF x Graham Thomas cross, even if only one seed has germinated so far! I think it could yield something wondrous.
