Well, they do have one parent in common, gonzer. Actually, more than that when you break it down: 'The Artist' is B. amoena rubra x 'Pink Champagne', and 'New Year's Eve' is 'Arriba' x 'Pink Champagne'. Since 'Arriba' is amoena rubra x 'Manda's Othello' that gives them 75% of the same genetic material.

Just out of curiosity, who's selling 'New Year's Eve'-- Michael's?

You could sell me either one under either name. I'd buy it ! Very nice grouping. Keep them photos coming. Bob

Yes he had them Lisa. Thanks to your mentioning of NYE and Bravo a few posts back, I asked Michael and he sent me both. I took your word about their looks and wasn't disappointed when they arrived. Anymore good tips? ;-)
Do you have Vriesea 'Santa Barbara', or a photo? Since Bob's showing the fenestralis I suddenly remembered about how good looking the Santa B. looked.

Now this is where the rookie in me gets nervous. How can you tell the difference in these plants?

I too have seen several bromeliads that I thought look so much alike it was freaky and yet someone in the know could pick them out in a min. Share the talent please if possible! Or, is this something you just grow in to by experience?
Patris

Not an easy thing to do from just photographs

Gee gonz, if I'd known you were going to order from Michael I would have told you to ask if he has any 'Miss Aloha Hula' too. I think that's another one he picked up from me, although I can't remember now. I didn't suggest it earlier because that is one that seems particularly prone to bleaching out for me, but since you don't seem to be having that problem you could probably grow it better than I can. It's another 'Pink Champagne' hybrid, with very hot peachy colors.

I don't know Vriesea 'Santa Barbara'. You're not talking about Bill. 'Santa Barbara', are you? I'd like to see a pic if it's a nice Vriesea.

As to how you tell the difference, yeah it is difficult from a picture, and sometimes hybrids come out looking very similar to one that's already been done. I don't have 'The Artist', but I made that same cross too and it looks less like 'The Artist' than 'New Year's Eve' does. Go figure. I can still see a slight difference from the picture, but that is a mother's eye and I don't know how to describe it except that the pattern of blotches is slightly different.

You've got to figure that with all of the hybridizers out there working independantly there will inevitably be a lot of duplication and similar-looking hybrids being produced. If you doubt this, just take a moment and scroll through all of the cultivar photos on the FCBS site. At last count there were nearly 2000 Neoregelia cvs. alone, and those are just the ones that have been submitted. I just sent Uncle Derek the pics of the ones I posted here earlier and plan to send more when I have had time to go through all my bags of old photos, so you can imagine that there are many others like me who just haven't posted yet, and the number of cultivars shoots up even higher (and that's not even counting the ones that get sold off without ever having been named or registered!) That's why have to I chuckle and roll my eyes when somebody says "I have the one that turns red, what is it?"

Still, sometimes a cultivar will be so distinct that it is instantly recognizable. Those are the ones that become classics and find their way into everyone's collections. That's what you always hope for, but it is the exception rather than the rule.

Lisa, are you saying the two Bills I snagged are your creations??? When Michael and I talked, I told him how you had mentioned the plants in a post. He speaks very highly of you. Out here I've no problem with blanching. Some plants such as Artist,Pink Champ,Hallelujah and Pink Patches have stood up to 100° with nary a blemish in full sun. Vriesea Santa Barbara has got be an offspring of Vista somehow, the striations and tones are very similiar. Pam Koide got some right around the World Conference time, probably a good score from one of the folks. Do you happen to know the parentage of 'Bravo'?
Patris, let Lisa explain the innuendos about breeding bromeliads as she is quite adept at that aspect, 'cuz I sure ain't!

I acquired a distinct cultivar recently and am very proud of it

Yes, 'New Year's Eve' and 'Bravo' are my babies, gonzer. Actually, 'Bravo's real parents are vittata 'Domingos Martins' and 'Poquito Blanco', although I can't remember in which order. 'Domingos Martins' is one of the greatest breeding parents on the planet! 'Pink Champagne' is another, but oddly enough when I crossed those two I got nothing, zip, nada. I was so disappointed, but I think Jim Irvin managed to get a nice one from those two. He has done some very nice work.

I'm trying to remember which other ones Michael got from me, I'll have to go dig up the old invoices. I think he'll be selling a bunch of my Crypts eventually too. I had been neglecting them but Larry Giroux tracked me down and rescued as many as he could from the brink of extinction, kicked my butt into naming them all and got them registered for me. I was happy to let him have them because I know they'll be well cared for and he said that whatever excess he had he'd give to Michael and let him market them if that was okay with me. That was more than okay with me. Michael is a super nice guy and I have had only the most positive experiences in all of my dealings with him. I am happy to hear he said nice things about me!

I don't know if you know it but he bought out Don Beadle's old business, which is where his operation is now. Before that he was just growing as much as he could in his back yard. Don was "Mr. Billbergia" for a lot of years, and almost single-handedly popularized the genus by creating some really great hybrids and giving very entertaining talks about them, but one day he just decided he'd had enough, so Michael inherited his entire collection. If you're looking for a Billbergia, he's the guy who would most likely have it, even if it isn't listed in his catalog.

Oh, and hotdiggety, you are nothing if not cryptic! That's all you're going to tell us???? ;-)

Sorry Lisa did'nt intend criptic but felt like i was intruding on the conversation and actually thought I deleted my comment. And yes Micheal is a super nice person, I enjoyed my visit with him. He has one one the cleanest bromomeliad nurseries I have seen. He speaks very highly of you. It is also where I saw your creations. My find was N. shelldance.

Explain away Lisa, please. I'm in the learning mode!
Patris

Lisa, if Billbergia breeding was thoroughbred horse breeding, then Domingos Martens is the stud champ of all time! ;-P

Oh I forgot, I have the one that turns red!!!!! LOL

In defense of ignorance and it is just that....ignorance, we sometimes launch in to a new addiction like little kids without doing a little research before we throw out those goofy questions.

Depending on the kindness or harshness of answers received can make or break a new convert! I always try to remember I was new once at something. Having mentors with experience and a willingness to share their knowledge as is being done here makes this quest much more rewarding and leaves me wanting more.
Patris

You guys really shouldn't encourage me. Get me started on hybridizing and you won't be able to shut me up! Of course the beauty of the web is that you can't see people's eyes starting to glaze over. ;-)