Going Back to 'Tigris'

Four years ago, I decided that I would like to try breeding some of the more modern Hulthemias back to 'Tigris'.  That of course was to be an exercise in patience.  I used one of my best mini Hulthemias that has given me good blotches.  There were only a few hips that formed on 'Tigris'.  The seeds were planted in January 2015.  The seedlings from that cross didn't bloom in 2015 like most rose seedlings would.  They didn't bloom in 2016 either...  So here they are forming their very first flower buds.  They should start blooming this week.  I wonder if any of them will have blotches?  You will not have to wait as long as I have!

Above is the baby 'Tigris' seedling in it's first year flowing over the edge of the seedling bench.  Below is one of the first buds.

Meanwhile, from the modern crosses that were planted January 2017, the new seedlings are also about to bloom - albeit in their first year at about 8 weeks.

Happy Springtime 2017! Lilac Update

The lilac seedlings are just starting to bloom.  There are four seedlings this year that are blooming and this is the 4th year since I planted the seeds.  The first seedling below is my favorite.  It bloomed for the first time this year, but bloomed the earliest.  The bloom is more profuse and the flowerets are larger than all of the others, and it has a pleasing lilac fragrance.  A bonus, I took notes on it during it's second year and it had the best heat tolerance with regard to it's foliage.  I will try propagating it this year.

This next seedling was the only one that bloomed last year.  It is my second favorite.

The seedling bearing the smallest clusters is shown below.

This last one is pretty and fragrant too, but the flowerets are incomplete with respect to petal number.  I will probably give this one away to a good home.  Let me know if you are interested!  :)

First seedling bud of 2017

The seedlings are continuing to germinate and some of the earliest ones are developing their first flower buds.  It won't be long until the first 2017 seedlings start to bloom!

Alaska Rose Blooming in March!

Tonight it is supposed to get down to -30º F in Fairbanks, Alaska.  Meanwhile, a cutting taken this past July from a wild rose that was growing in Fairbanks, is blooming in my greenhouse today.  I think that this rose is probably happier here than the original rose is under the snow and cold of Fairbanks tonight.

Can you guess what I did with those anthers?!