This is one of two seedlings created by Dr. Walter VanFleet and released after his death. Dr. E. M. Mills is either a hybrid of Radiance X R. Hugonis, or a more complicated hybrid involving Hugonis, Spinosissima and Rugosa. It has been reported as both parentages. The other is the hybrid Rugosa, Sarah VanFleet, which went on to become a well respected garden rose.
Dr. Mills fell out of the 37 various gardens and nurseries it was distributed to way back in 1926. I'd discovered it in two old ARS annuals from the 1920s and longed to obtain it. I've documented the whole story in an article which is currently in the RHA newsletter as well as in the Gold Coast Roses newsletter. Long story short, I'd found Dr. Mills listed in a Swedish botanical garden. Through Hans van Hage at Bierkreek Nursery in The Netherlands, bud wood was obtained, reintroducing Dr. Mills into European commerce and beginning the long journey of re establishing Dr. VanFleet's rose here in America. It took nearly seven years, but the rose finally arrived in the US, passed its quarantine period and a small, own root plant arrived at my garden July 25, 2013. I didn't even know if it would flower in my mild climate, but either it is more than willing to oblige, or the brief period of cold we experienced several weeks ago helped, as the plant has set nine buds!
This is what greeted me this morning. There is a very sweet scent when the flower first opens. In the wind and hot sun, it dissipates fairly quickly. I love the crepey texture of the petals and the soft pink and yellow coloring. The buds, sepals and peduncles are softly felted (fuzzy), which is likely part of the suspected Rugosa heritage. All in all, I am definitely satisfied and happy with the rose I waited so many years to obtain. Welcome home, Dr. Mills!
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.
