First 2014 Wraps

The weather and plant conditions appear to finally be appropriate for callusing. I've wrapped a few earlier batches to test the conditions and create some examples to use for the presentations I've given for local rose societies, but none had produced the results I discovered yesterday when these were unwrapped. 

The variety is an experimental seedling Ralph Moore created some years ago. He pollinated Golden Angel, a lovely Wichurana based yellow mini he created with what he grew as R. Soulieana. What makes this a special hybrid is, the Soulieana Mr. Moore grew produces repeat flowering seedlings in the first generation. Traditionally, it requires several more generations to get repeat flowering from most species, and particularly from Soulieana. This one apparently carries and transmits repeat in one generation as this is most definitely a hybrid. 

These cuttings hadn't callused as well as I'd hoped after their first thirteen days in the wraps. I checked, in hopes there were ones I could use for examples for a demonstration I presented that evening. Nope. None were sufficiently along to sacrifice. Fast forward three days...wow! These were all unwrapped Sunday, the 20th and planted. 

Notice how even the slight amount of cambium exposed by breaking the prickle free from the bark produced callus. 

 Every source of exposed cambium began callusing. 

Roots actually began forming in three days!

"Lost Seedlings"

Several unreleased Moore seedlings resurfaced recently during a garden tour. I was able to identify the others, but these two defy my attempts to put names to them. I recognize them, but information about them isn't easy to dredge from the mud of my memory.

The first is a repeat flowering climber. As you can see, it flowers heavily, and is reported to continue its efforts all summer long. There is a scent to them, probably stronger than was apparent on the day of the open garden as it was sunny and rather breezy. It impressed me as ripening green peaches. Others in attendance stated it reminded them of fruit scented tobacco.

The flower clusters are amazing! It blooms like a Hybrid Musk, forming buds at the leaf axis along the ends of the canes instead of in terminal clusters, much like Renae. I doubt if Renae figures in this rose's background. Nothing about it 'speaks' Renae other than how the flowers are borne.

The other is definitely a Rugosa hybrid. It stains red on the petal reverses where the sun strikes them. I couldn't discern any scent, but the blooms weren't fresh and it was already mid day when the photos were taken. I can remember in which green house this grew, and what a former friend used to call it. Attempts to obtain further information from Caroline and Burling have not brought anything new, other than it is thought to be a Belle Poitevine seedling. The only thing that makes any sense to me about it would be with Golden Angel. Hopefully, more information can be gleaned from other records not readily available. Unfortunately, nothing on the official Sequoia breeding record fits either.

 VERY clean foliage, not far from the south coast beaches, in a no spray garden. Not bad at all!

 Whatever they are, I hope we can dig up information about them as they are both interesting and nice garden roses which may have useful genes to play with.