and was about to bloom, and had the choice of the following "daddies" available, who would I chose? And why might be a good thing to know, color? trendils? shape?
Becca Lynn
Butterfly
Rosabelle
Loreley
This is the pollen I have now, and would love to give pollenating a try, but Ive only seen it done in pics, and am a bit nervous. lol
If I was EP
I'm sure that EP has been crossed with Butterfly many times. I've not heard of a lot of crosses with Rosabelle. Might be a good one. That would keep it closer to throwing pink babies. I'm not familiar with Loreley. Have heard that you should try to keep the colors together, like Pink X Pink or Yellow X Yellow. Maybe Monika will peek in and tell you the best route to go. I have to say that I don't always follow the rules. LOL!
I would try the Rosabelle & Butterfly first. Like Brugie said, with like-colors your more apt to get colored offspring. With unlike colors you may end up with a lot of white babies. It still doesn't mean you won't get something wonderful ... There's always a chance to get something unique ;-)
Loreley would be an interesting cross too... I think it has some Ocre in it's background.
Thanks ladies! I will (crossing fingers) try as many as I can! LOL Hope I didnt jinx my blooms just now. LOL
I finally tonight got some seedlings planted into 7 gallon pots, and in the ground. Gosh it seemed to take FOREVER for this day to get here. Cant wait to see and smell my own very 1st bloom. I still have extra high hopes for my very 1st (survivor) seed grown brug from Susie.
What a wonderful time of year.
Geee Shelley, you haven't gotten any blooms yet? Well, when they start to come they are profuse! One of the joys of brug growing!
Nope, not yet... z5 and not enough room even in an extra bedroom full of grow lights. I think I was pretty darn good at not complaining tho. I actually get a kick out of seeing everyone elses blooms.
Ohhh LOOK!!! I am just SO excited! My very 1st to bloom that I actually grew!! I went and got some paint brushed at the hobby store, and am ready to do some painting.
Won't be long now. Good for you.
Shelley, if you want Pinks, you should use a pink Pollenparent. I would try Rosabelle on EP. Butterfly has been used already so much that I would not make another repeat of that cross.
This message was edited May 22, 2004 8:41 PM
Great!! Thank you Monika! I have it all ready to go.. lol I was going to do BF on the other bloom, but since I read from Brugie and Sue, (and now you) that BF has been done so much, I figured I would go ahead and pollinate both with Rosabelle, and hopefully get 2 pods of EP x Rosabelle.
LOL Shelly! Aren't you so cute with your pollinating kit all ready! I wonder if you put the anthers right in the plastic if they will mildew. I always dry it on wax paper for a day or 2.
I am interested in this cross. I was thinking of using Rosabelle in some crosses but it so light in color I decided against it. I should talk to myself though for dark pink is not the only desirable color. Is Rosabelle a pod mate of Rosamond? This year the 2 look so similar except for the color.
edited to say this is Rosabelle. Looks so close to Rosamond right now.
This message was edited May 22, 2004 12:25 PM
Great picture Kell! I dont know if Rosabelle and Rosamond are sisters.. good question. Dark pink is a very desirable color, especially grown in your cooler climates. (dont get me wrong, the other colors are also very desirable, but everyone has their own likes). PLUS.. lol I dont think people would be begging for cuttings and seeds if it wasnt desirable.
lol you cant see it, but the baggie has rosabelles pollen in it. I will do the wax paper method you talk about. I was going to do the paper towel method, but Im affraid I will lose too much pollen into the paper towel.
Im scared to get the anthers... lol will I rip up the flower? Gosh I just can not wait to smell her. Thank goodness Im on vacation for the rest of the week. :o)
If you use some long curved forceps you should be able to retrieve the anthers without tearing the flower, but often I tear them up anyway, lol.
I personally love the pale pink of Rosabelle. My other pinks get pretty dark and occasionally I would love to have a pale pink. I have rosabelle somewhere in the brug forest, but it hasn't bloomed yet.
Rosabelle is a sister of Rosamond and Pink Beauty. It looks different from Rosamond and it has apparently more aurea influence as Rosamond. I think, it will be a good cross.
Im glad to hear you say that you think it will be a good cross Monika!
This message was edited May 22, 2004 1:15 PM
Monika, even though it is a lighter and a different pink, almost a baby shade,can it have the darker genes that PB and Rosamond have?
Yes it does because it has a mix of light and deep Pink genes.
What we see is the phenotype of a plant, the genotype may be complete different.
Shelly, I can only see one thing missing in your little pollinating kit picture.....no rubbing alcohol for cleaning your paint brush and hemostat. LOL! Good luck with your new addiction.
Thats great information Monika!
lol Brugie oops.. I boiled them, and plan on boiling them after. But I will also do the alcohol.
Boiling is good. I just use the alcohol since I have so many brugs and usually do a lot of pollinating on the same day. Kyle told me alcohol works, so I've just stuck to it.
Drying the pollen is a must before it goes into plastic. Especially if you pluck out the entire anthers... the anther tissue has a lot moisture in it. Trust me... I've had my share of pollen get moldy because I didn't let it dry.
I use a muffin pan and line it with paper cupcake liners to collect the pollen. Then I stick the liners on the kitchen counter so it can dry overnight before they go into the plastic baggies.
Neat idea, Sue, never thought of cupcake liners. I have always dried it on waxed paper.
I will do the alcohol method. Sounds much easier. Thats a great idea Sue! With our cooler running this time of year, there would be less chance of one (or more) of the dudes flying away.