Riku,
Have you ever seen the Morden J5 (‘Prairie Magic’) selection? It has ‘Hazeldean’ in its pedigree. A bi-colour with yellow, orange and a slight pink tone to the flowers. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful Spinoissima ever developed. Interestingly, last year at the DBG rose garden it winter killed severely. This year the shrub has almost no damage. Yet there wasn’t much difference in the winter temperatures of the two years.
Terry,
I note Jeffries Nursery in Manitoba wholesales ‘High Voltage’. I know they market a lot of nursery stock to garden centres in Edmonton. Maybe we can find it this spring.
I have acquired ‘Prairie Sunrise’ to work with this year.
I’ll take it the other way around. Of about 40 roses or so, i only had two show major cold damage this winter. Mirandy froze down to the ground and Hot Cocoa lost 50%.
Hi Paul,
No unfortunately I have not made it to the DBG in a few years. My company has a facility in the research park in south Edmonton. I need to time a visit one of these summer days when I have business there. It is one garden I want to see over a few hours.
Riku, I reside very close to Edmonton and the DBG, depending when you visit, you might also wish to see a couple of the roses I have bred.
Paul, thanks for the heads up regarding Jeffries carrying ‘High Voltage’ … we’ll have to keep our eyes peeled for it.
Terry
Riku,
If you visit Edmonton (latter part of June is best to see the once blooming roses), you should also visit the St. Albert Botanic Park roses garden. A small but very attractive rose garden with more emphasis on Hybrid Tea and Floribunda cultivars. But it also has a good collection of Zone 3 cold hardy cultivars. I’ve worked with the Botanic Park for several years to build this collection up and will add about 15 more cold hardy (Zone 3) cultivars to it this spring. It is important to have some of the rare Prairie developed cultivars spread out to other public rose gardens to mitigate losing them.
In reference to your comment: “Come on gentlemen/ladies, let’s get going…” I’m pleased there is a renewed interest by Prairie people wanting to breed roses cold hardy to this climate. The Edmonton, Alberta area seems to be the center of this. I would like to see more interest in the other Prairie provinces, but I also am aware that because of our relatively small population not too many people develop an interest in this horticulture endeavour.
I have a new rose that I am not suprised by but very impressed with, The Imposter. It was tip hardy and this was its first year (grafted). Not totally suprised because it has Fruhlingsmorgan and a lot of Buck Roses in its line. I am hoping to make some crosses with it this year.
I forgot to mention that The Imposter can take the heat here (in the 90s) and keep blooming.
I got the imposter from Reagan Nursery this Spring and it died. It was bare root and not very big, kind of puny. I really wanted to use it this year but will have to try next year. Not very many sources that carry it. Hope you have good luck with it Sharon.
Patrick