SEEDLING PAGE 3
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In 2000 we bloomed about 30 seedlings from a cross of ROSE PARFAIT X ALTERED STATE. The first year bloom impressed us so much we made another 1000 seeds of that cross the following winter. When the seedlings of that cross bloomed for their second time here in 2001 we were blown away by several. In particular, T01-13, ASHWOOD RINGS OF SATURN (2005 spring introduction) is very special. Every visitor was taken by this blossom. In our observation, the pattern is unique. With four colors on the petals in 1/2'' bands we think some wondrous things will be coming from this seedling. One of the most exciting things about A. RINGS OF SATURN is the fact that the same four-color pattern is present in many of the sibs. Of course, this presents a wide open door for breeding. With dark green foliage AROS seems to be caught somewhere between dormant and semi-evergreen, AROS may be well adapted to a wide range of growing conditions. It is fertile both ways.
ASHWOOD RINGS OF SATURN
SIBLINGS OF RINGS OF SATURN (ROSE PARFAIT X ALTERED STATE)
This is a new full sib of ASHWOOD RINGS OF SATURN. It approaches the sophistication of pattern of AROS and even improves on the buds, branching and rebloom. The blooming of a seedling to take the AROS line to its next step has proven elusive. With such an unusual, recessive pattern, we feel that the only way to make real progress is to inbreed to AROS sibs and babies. The above seedling gives us hope for a breakthrough in the foreseeable future.
These five images are from a cross of ASHWOOD RINGS OF SATURN to a well branched full sib. Some of the patterns created are fascinating to say the least. There were more interesting ones that escaped our photography than there are shown here. It was a fairly long cross of perhaps 500 to 600 plants. We also sold perhaps 50 or so seedlings of this cross by way of the Lily Auction. I hope there were so exciting ones among the ones that we sent to our buyers.
A. RINGS OF SATURN X ROSES IN SNOW
In 2003 I made extensive crosses with these and many of their sibs to MARY'S BABY in the hope of getting a strong purple with that kind of wide edging in a clean white. Would that be beautiful or what? Several of the results can now be seen on the MARY LIGHTFINE page.
Here is a parallel result to the seedlings referred to on the MARY LIGHTFINE page. It is the result of crossing a baby of ROSES IN SNOW with ASHWOOD RINGS OF SATURN. There is a truly dramatic look here but this seedling may not get past the seedling stage. There is simply not enough of a bud count to warrant introduction. There may be a value in use as a bridge plant though.
Here is a cross of ASHWOOD RINGS OF SATURN and ASHWOOD SMOKEY JOE. We were pleased to see the strength of the bi color here. Some of the pattern is retained but not enough to make that a significant feature of this seedling.