Blooms, April 29, 2012

Blooms in the greenhouse, April 29, 2012

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The reds just keep coming. If you are tired of seeing reds, just let me know and I will quit posting them. These are 9-month seedlings, seeds planted last September, then transplanted to trade 1-gallon pots in October. My hybridizing concentration last year was on reds. I used three or four named varieties quite heavily along with some of my own seedlings, the results of which you are seeing. 

Seedling No. 2046 [Seedling X (Mandalay Bay Music X Wonders Never Cease)]. Just thought I would start you out with a non red.

Seedling No. 2036 (Rockets Bursting in Air X Barbara Mandrell). Another from the borrowed H. 'Barbara Mandrell' blossom in 2011 from Bill Waldrop. I now have my own cultivar.

Seedling No. 2048 (Cherries Jubilee X Home of the Free). Another from Melanie Mason's H. 'Cherries Jubilee'. These may not be the most fancy of reds, but they are special in their own right. Smooth with lots of substance, and hopefully, dormancy.

Seedling No. 2049 [(Awesome Bob X Christmas Greetings) X Barbara Mandrell]. Saturated red color, great substance and that orange halo to set off the green throat.

Seedling No. 2050 [Rockets Bursting in Air X (Camelot Red X Doug's Caress)]. My 2011 seedling, No. 1004 (Camelot Red X Doug's Caress) has been producing some nice kids for me.

Seedling No. 2052 [Cimarron Rose X (Camelot Red X Doug's Caress)]. Another kid from Seedling No. 1004.

Seedling No. 2053 [Cimarron Rose X (Camelot Red X Doug's Caress)]. Another kid from seedling No. 1004.

Seedling No. 2055 (Home of the Free X Doug's Caress).

Seedling No. 2054 [Cimarron Rose X (Camelot Red X Doug's Caress). I have been trying to figure out what happened to the petal edges. At first I thought maybe the bud got damaged before opening but then it appears that the damage would have been folded inside. Strange that it is the same on all three petals.

Do you remember on the last blog where I showed a picture of H. 'Bluegrass Memories' by Ted Preuss, and I made the comment that I had used it a lot but had gotten nothing better than the parent? Well, open your mouth and this happens:

 

When I walked into the greenhouse this morning and saw this, I stopped in my tracks. It is Seedling No. 2051 (Desire of Nations X Bluegrass Memories). It is a little larger than the parent and the color is better. The neon blue eye is larger and more dramatic and the same color carries over to the petal edges. And, last but not least, the throat is more green than the parent. This was classified a WOWSER by me this morning.

I am trying to quit hybridizing in the greenhouse, but when you walk in and see all of the beautiful blossoms, visions of cherry plumbs begin dancing in my head and I just can't help myself.

Life is very, very good.

Lee

Blooms, April 27, 2012

Blooms in the greenhouse, April 27, 2012

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New 9-month seedlings just keep on blooming, still mostly reds. A few other colors popping up, but not many. You can tell by the seedlings posted that I focused on reds last year. I did make other crosses, but many of those were not planted in favor of the reds.

Seedling No. 2039 [(Wild Cherry Roundup X Max Pickles) X (Home of the Free]. A dark, dark red. Not flamboyant, just a nice red.

Seedling No. 2041 [(Camelot Red X Doug's Caress) X (Barbara Mandrell]. Nice color, Nice halo. Nice green throat. Nice ruffling. Just a very nice flower!

Seedling No. 2042 [Rockets Bursting in Air) X (Camelot Red X Doug's Caress)]. This is one of those WOW flowers. The color is deep and saturated, contrasted with the halo and a green throat.

Seedling No. 2045 [(Wild Cherry Roundup X Max Pickles) X (Doug's Caress)]. Big and puffy. Good color with nice looping ruffling, contrasting halo and a green throat.



Now for a few named varieties blooming:

This is H. 'Bluegrass Memories' (Preuss 2006). I have used this flower quite a bit in my hybridizing, but to date, have gotten nothing better than the original.

One of my favorite reds to hybridize with. H. 'Jean Pickles' was introduced in 2008 and I have several seedlings being evaluated in the field. Hopefully some of them will be worthy.

H. 'Lava Spike' (Gossard 2006) You have probably noticed that I have shown several narrow toothy/fringy cultivars. In addition to the reds again, my second focus in hybridizing this year is the narrow petaled toothy/fringy cultivars. I am finding that several of them are very hard or entirely impossible to set pods, so I am also using them with some of my full formed toothy/fringy cultivars. Another focus this year is for green/green edged daylilies. I believe I have some very promising named varieties and seedlings to work with.

There is still a lot of bloom in the greenhouse, but I am going to TRY to quit hybridizing on Monday. Of course, that depends on what else begins blooming. :-) 

I would guess that we will begin seeing bloom in the field in the next couple weeks, which is very early for us. Scapes are up everywhere.


Life is very, very good.

Lee

Blooms, April 23, 2012

Blooms in the greenhouse, April 23, 2012

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I can tell by the spent blossoms in the deadhead bucket that I am at peak bloom. It takes me almost as long to deadhead as it does to hybridize.

This cherry red 9-month seedling caught my eye when I walked into the greenhouse this morning. It is Seedling No. 2027 [(Roses and Gold X Max Pickles) X (Shores of Time X Larry Grace)] It is a 6" blossom, with a bright green throat. The temperature in the greenhouse this morning when I walked in was 50º and Seedling No. 2027 was wide open.

9-month Seedling No 2024 [(Roses and Gold X Max Pickles) X Doug's Caress] I am usually not a fan of white midribs, but these go well with the watermark. A saturated red with a green throat and angel wings on the petals.

Another 9-month Seedling No. 2022 (Cimarron Rose X Barbara Mandrell) Last spring during greenhouse bloom time, I made a road trip to Bill Waldrop's greenhouse in Marietta, GA. He had H. 'Barbara Mandrell' (Kirchhoff 2011) in bloom and shared a blossom with me to take home and use the pollen. From that one blossom, I have gotten several keepers.

Where did this come from? It is Seedling No. 2003 (Aslan X Free Wheelin') I think this is a very striking flower.

This is another from my friend David L. Hansen, Papillion, NE. H. 'Brandon David' (2011). David's introduction picture shows a lot more teeth than this image taken in the greenhouse. Toothy daylilies really need hot sun to bring out the teeth.

This is the Holley's H. 'Doug's Caress' I have used this extensively in my red hybridizing program and think it is a great parent. It passes along the great color, green throat and watermark. 


We have scapes all over out in the field. I would guess that we will have field bloom by the second week in May, at least 2 weeks early. Unless we get a late freeze, it should be a good year.


Life is very, very good.

Lee

Blooms, April 20, 2012

Blooms in the greenhouse, April 15, 2012

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More 9-month blooms every day. Some are nice, many, as you would expect, are not. Just because a seedling is given a number, does not mean that it is destined for introduction. Some are just to be used in hybridizing as a bridge plant because they have some quality that I like. Again, we will add some named varieties at the end that are blooming and we are using in our hybridizing program. Here is the first seedling:

Here is the first 9- month seedling for the day. Seedling No. 2018 (Cherries Jubilee X Home of the Free). I got CJ a couple years ago from Melanie Mason specifically to bring some dormancy into my program. This seedling is almost the same color as CJ, plus the blossom is larger. I will not know if it is dormant until I have grown it in the field for a couple years.

A dark purple 9-month seedling. Seedling No. 2019 ([(Cosmic Sensation X Larry Allen Miller) X (Marietta Heartbeat]. Has great substance with a white edge on the petals and a nice green throat.

This is a repeat of a seedling that bloomed several days ago. Seedling No. 2010 (Rockets Bursting in Air X Barbara Mandrell) You may remember, on it's initial opening, it was triangular shaped. Since that initial blossom, all blooms have appeared as this one does.

Seedling No. 2016 [(Roses and Gold X Max Pickles) X (Shores of Time X Larry Grace)] Lots of green showing on this bloom. Will use it in my green edge program.




Now, for the named varieties that were blooming.

From my friend, Dave Hansen in Papillion, NE comes H. 'Michael Poliga' (Hansen 2009). I believe Dave named this one for his oldest grandson. His introduction picture shows the flower an little larger and with a lot more teeth. I am using MP in my toothy program. Dave lists the cultivar as 35" with a 6" bloom.

This is a seedling from Dan Trimmer with the garden name of Tom Allen, and although a few people have it, it was never registered. It is a big 6"+ blossom that has heavy substance and is very "puffy". I have several nice seedlings from it and continue to use it.

And, last but not least, my 2012 introduction H. 'Body and Soul'. 37" M SEv EMO Ext 5¼". 3-way branching, 18 buds.B&S has a nice green throat and a green, toothy petal edge. I am using it in my green edge breeding program.


That is it for today. I look forward what tomorrow will bring.


Life is very, very good.

Lee

Blooms, April 18, 2012

Blooms in the greenhouse, April 15, 2012

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We have returned to the bottom of the roller coaster ride. Our temps today will not go above 59º and tonight will drop down to 51º, so it is a little chilly in the greenhouse. In spite of the temp, the flowers were open pretty well this morning. It is almost 3:00 PM and I just checked the temp in the greenhouse and it was 85º. Even though it is cloudy, evidently the greenhouse still gets some heat from the sun. The 9-month red seedlings really popped this morning.

The first seedling I noticed this morning was Seedling No. 2012 [#0026 (Awesome Bob X Christmas Greetings) X #1004 (Camelot Red X Doug's Caress). From two of my seedlings, one  #1004, was a 9-month seedling last year and I was able to use the pollen last year. With the greenhouse, it is nice to be able to jump a generation in 1 year rather than my normal 2-3 years.

Seedling No. 2014 [#0026 (Awesome Bob X Christmas Greetings)  X Barbara Mandrell]. Notice the pod parent on this seedling is the same as 2012. The color is very similar, with a lighter watermark and that nice green throat. 

This seedling is from our toothy line. Seedling No. 0768 (Golden Tentacles X Horny Devil). I have been building up the inventory on this seedling in the field and will have enough to introduce it in 2013. It is pod and Pollen fertile. I am still looking for a name for this seedling. If you have a suggestion, send it and I will give it consideration.

Now to the named varieties blooming this morning.

H. 'Jukebox Saturday Night'  (Pickles 2012)

35”" M SEv EMO Ext Re 6". 4-way branching, 21 buds. Petals 3”, sepals 1¾”
A hearty clear pinot noir with slightly darker veining. Both petals and sepals have an edge of yellow/gold. Petals are crimped, folded and ruffled. A lemon throat matches segment’s edges and leads to a green heart. Substance is very good for a purple but does fade some in a very hot sun. Pod and pollen fertile in the greenhouse. No. 8175 (Singular Sensation X Larry  Allen Miller)

H. 'Robert W. Carr' (Pickles 2010) Shows a darker color in the greenhouse.
32" EM D Re VFr 5¾". Four-way branching, 27 buds.
This polychrome of ivory pink  has a throat of yellow that matches the heavily ruffled and fluted edge. The substance is very heavy and it holds well in rain or sun. The plants are husky with arching  foliage and increase rapidly. The blossom is lightly sculpted and is very fragrant. The petals are 3", sepals 2" and is very pod and pollen fertile and producing some exciting seedlings. Seedling.  0616 (Mandalay Bay Music X Wonders Never Cease).

H. 'Red Sapphire' (Waldrop 2009)
31", bloom 6", season EM, Rebloom, Semi-Evergreen, Tetraploid, 18 buds, 5 branches,  Strawberry with diamond red eye and yellow edge above green throat. ((Cherry Valentine × Crazy Ivan) × Cane Creek Falls). MY COMMENT - RS does have teeth and it throws teeth to it's kids.

H. 'Home of the Free' (Grace 2012)
6",28" EV FR E FR  2-3 Lat. 30 buds. HOME OF THE FREE is the first true red Graceland Gardens has ever released. HOME OF THE FREE is the closest to a true Christmas red of anything we've ever bloomed. My good friend Bill Waldrop has test grown HOME OF THE FREE in Marietta, GA and it has done very well. HOME OF THE FREE is a very strong grower and in South Alabama repeat scapes 3-4 times a season. Fertile both ways! 

That is my report for today. Thanks for looking

Life is very, very good.

Lee 

Blooms, April 17, 2012

Blooms in the greenhouse, April 15, 2012

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We received a little over ¼" of rain overnight. We sure could use more, but I better be careful what I wish for. Bloom continues in the greenhouse with more 9-month bloom each day. As you would expect, many are not worthy of pictures. Here are pictures of some that are blooming today.

This is another of my 9-month seedlings that was blooming today. It is Seedling No. 2010 (Rockets Bursting In Air X Barbara Mandrell). Rockets is one of my 2011 introductions and Barbara is one of David Kirchhoff's 2011 introduction. I would estimate that 40% of my 2012 seedlings will be from red crosses.

Seedling No 2011 (Doug's Caress X Home Of The Free). Not as fancy as some of the other reds, but good saturated color with a nice green throat.. HOTF is one of Larry Grace's 2012 introductions and is proving to be a good parent for me.

Seedling No. 9016 (Royal Presence X Max Pickles) I have been evaluating this seedling out in the field as a possible introduction and brought a piece into the greenhouse to use in hybridizing this year. Love the white edge.

H. 'Heartbeat of Heaven' One of Karol Emmerich's 2005 introductions. I love this flower from Karol.

H. 'Tooth and Nail' (Benz 2006) I am not showing as many teeth as John's picture out in the garden. You can tell this is a H. 'Forestlake Ragamuffin' kid from the color. I can't remember, but I don't think I have set a pod on it yet. Does anyone know if this one and a similar one H. 'Heman' (Gossard 2007) are pod fertile?

Today is almost gone, and I am looking forward to see what tomorrow brings.

Life is very, very good.

Lee  

Blooms, April 15, 2012

Blooms in the greenhouse, April 15, 2012

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If you haven't done so, please change my email address from leepickles@epbfi.com to LeePickles15@gmail.com 

Yesterday was our Tennessee Valley Daylily Society club meeting with Jeff & Elizabeth Salter as our guests and speakers. It was the best attended meeting that we have had in a couple years with approximately 50 members in attendance. Jeff showed his 2011 and 2012 introductions as well as some of his fabulous seedlings. Jeff hybridizes for large flowers of clear, clean colors with great scapes. WOW, he has some great things coming likes of which I have never seen. Elizabeth showed her 2011 and 2012 introductions and seedlings. Elizabeth does the small and mini flowers with patterns that have never been  previously seen in daylilies. She has been doing patterned daylilies for longer than most of us have been hybridizing. It was a great meeting and we had a very competitive auction for some of the Salter's plants.

I was not able to get to the greenhouse on Friday because of a day full of doctor appointments and Saturday because of the Salter visit and our club meeting. This morning (Sunday) saw the temperatures outside back near 60º so the temps in the greenhouse were around 67º which allowed the blooms to open better than the few previous days when temps were lower.

I can remember visiting Bob Carr in Florida during hybridizing time. I remember sitting out in the hybridizing area with Bob where he had a big thermometer tacked to his work bench. He would watch the thermometer until the temperature hit 60º, then he would jump into hybridizing with full force saying "Pods would not set until the temp was over 60º". On one visit, maybe back around 2004, I asked Bob if I could have my picture taken with him and we took this picture.

I asked Bob, "Why do I have to turn my back?" His reply, "I don't want anyone to know that I am friends with you". That was Bob's special humor.

Now to the flowers this morning (Sunday).

My eyes immediately went to this 9-month seedling blooming for the first time. It is Seedling No. 2008, and is a cross of [(Santa's Little Helper X Running Hot) X Home Of The Free]. The pod parent is a seedling that Bill Waldrop gave me 2 or 3 years ago and H. 'Home of the Free' is a new 2012 introduction from Larry Grace. I gave it a WOW!!!

 One of the named cultivars blooming this morning was Mort Morss' fabulous H. 'Marilyn Morss Johnson' (2007) Named for his twin sister who unexpectedly passed away a couple years ago. The problem is that I don't have anything to use it with.

Another named cultivar blooming this morning is my H. 'Rockets Bursting In Air' (2011). A nice clear, saturated red both pod and pollen fertile.




There are a lot of scapes showin on the 9-month seedlings and I am hoping more will begin blooming soon.

 Hope you enjoyed the show.

Life is very, very good

Lee

Blooms, April 11, 2012

Blooms in the greenhouse, April 11, 2012

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After all of the above normal temperature days we had in March, here it is April 11 and we are expecting some frost tonight. If we do get some, I don't think the temps are going to be low enough here to hurt any of the daylilies or other plant material. Today, I will show you four seedlings that were blooming in the greenhouse.

Yes, another yellow, a sib to the yellow seedling I showed on April 8. Again, until I have time to look up the parentage, this will be Seedling No. 2006 (Seedling X Seedling). If you remember correctly, the previous seedling had 5-way branching. Seedling 2006 only has 4-way branching but is a little taller than it's sib.

Seedling No. 2005 (Rock Solid X Red Sapphire). I like Rock Solid as a parent, because it is dormant and produces a lot of dormant kids. I like the exploding eye of Red Sapphire and it seem to pass it on to its kids.

WOW, this one knocked my socks off. All of ruffling and I have not seen it hang up. Seedling No. 1102 (Singular Sensation X Priscilla's Smile. It does have some green in the petal edges and has a nice green throat as well. Using in in my green program.

This is one of my favorite fringed seedlings. No. 9080 (Fringe Benefit X Horny Devil. I have used this a lot in my program for teeth and fringes. It works well with eyed and edged cultivars as well.


Thanks for looking


Life is very, very good.

Lee