2008 - DL Goals
Primary Goals
Form
Colors
Edges
Eyes

Tets

1. Form:
Classic (Spalding-like)
Round (donut/bagel)
Wide Petals wider than long ratio, 3"+
Blunt Sepals  rounded ends 2"+
Size  5.5"+ (Minimum)
Bigger is better: Big - Big - Big
Segments: Wide - Wide - Wide
Spiders, UFOÂs -????

2. Colors:
Clear  No mud
Cool colors:
White / Cream  clean, no blends  want pure white
Purple  dark, rich, sunfast, splotch free
Lavender/Blueish  clean, no mottling
Pink  clear, solid, baby ribbon
Hot colors:
Orange  Strong, bold color combinations
Red  Clear, no blotches
No white mid-ribs  avoid any cultivars with white mid-ribs

3. Edges:
Ruffling
Looping
Crimping
Teeth  maybe?  still undecided Â
Tentacles?

4. Edge No Eye: Â Primary Goal
Contrasting Picottee  with noticeable difference in edge color.
Color  White base color with darker edges also dark colors with light edge
Need new material  also use older varieties.
Use seedlings with improved edges if form is acceptable (no weak form)
Try and acquire as many varieties that are edged as possible
Look for sdlgs that have sepals w/edge, a possible indicator of dormant gene.

5. Eye No Edge:
Multi Patterned
Multi Colors
Blue Variations
Increasing Complexity
Feathered eye edges
Lambertson stuff  lots of bluish eyes
Darker eye edges
Watermarks
Washed out eyes
Tet Lavender Baby Blue, has been used too much??

6. Appliqués:
Color  Are there variations in appliqué colors
Size  Are there variations in appliqué sizes
Shape/Form  Are there variations in appliqué shapes
Dor/Rec  Are there any indicators for d/r
Crosses  use apps: on darker varieties, on other apps, on heavily patterned blooms, on eyed blooms. What effect would an app have on a white bloom?

Dips

1. Form:
Round  Pansy type form
Wide Petals  wider than long ratio
Blunt Sepals  rounded ends
Size  6"+
Variations  Straight sepals with fully recurved petals (Wrapped)
 Raised mid-ribs, creating a three dimensional look (3-D)
Spiders, UFOÂs -????

2. Edge No Eye: Primary Goal
Clear Picottee color  strong contrast
Tipped - Rouged
Ruffling  Looping - Crimping
Try and acquire varieties that are edged
Use Seedlings with edges

3. Eyed:
Multi Colored
Multi Hued
Multi Patterned
Broken Patterns
Increasing Complexity
Unusual types
Striations, bleeding, darts, piano keys, feathered edges, waves
Appliqués

4. Colors:
Cool Cool Colors
White - Near white
Pink
Purple  maybe (use older sdlg that doesnÂt fade)
Yellow  very very clear  no midribs, no blends, no mottling

5. Bi-Tone:
Use rose/pink BT-01 seedling with larger forms
Look for High Quality BiTones & BiColors  cool colors

WhatÂs Next:
Multi-Colored Eyes
3-D Eyes (Raised texture)
3-D Mid-Ribs
Very Complex Patterned Eyes
Edge to edge eyes
Multi-Colored Edges (more than one color in the edge)
Feathered Edges
Patterned Edges
Bleeding Edges
Broken Patterns
Flower in Flower Patterns
Appliqué on appliqué
Micro-Mini Spiders
Double Spiders
Candy Stripes, different colors
Different Colored Pinstripes (Purple & Pink)
True Blue
BiColors with Edges
Edges meeting Eyes
5" Segments
8Â Scapes
20" Blooms

Do Want:
High bud count with multiple branching
Strong growth tendencies
Fast increasers
Instant Rebloomers
Rust Resistant
Picotee edges
Interesting edges
BiTones/BiColors
Patterned Eyes without matching edges
Bold patterns
Stylized form
Clear colors
Cool colors  Whites  Purples
Pin Striping
Contrasting Veins

DonÂt Want
Avoid any Orange & Yellow combinations
Muddy Colors
Blends
White mid-ribs
In-between sizes  either Big (over 5.5+) or Small (3 & under)  no Pony size
Any Eyed with matching Edge (Already overdone)
Low bud count
Witches broom
Loose forms
Weak growth habits
Rust magnets

Long Term Projects
Larger seedling beds
Eliminate unused cultivars
Rework Display Garden
New labels (wood & metal)

*************

I always try and have my long term & short term goals in mind when I am in the DL beds hybridizing. when I started crossing DL's I just put pretty on pretty but over the years have developed specific goals which I try and follow.
At the end of the year I'll try and evaluate how things went and how close I kept to my goals.

Sorry for the length but I didn't want to just post a partial answer.

Jerry
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When I first started making crosses, I really had no goals in mind. Over time I have developed something of an ideal to shoot for. In a nut shell. Nice tall sturdy scapes with good branching and a good bud count. Blooms with size and substance, that have to open well in cooler morning temperatures regardless of how thick or heavy the edge. Clearer colors. Intricate eye zones. Still working toward that better blue eye.

Linda

Jerry, I was fascinated with your post, and I am glad you posted the whole thing! Do you pre-plan your crosses before blooming season, or do you just try to keep your goals in mind and cross what inspires you when the plants are blooming?

Linda, Your goals sound similar to mine, with the exception of the blue eye part. :( I love seeing the results of people's crosses that are focusing on the "blue". Blue eyes are one of the things that don't come true in my area, but I drool over the lovelies that people with warmer weather come up with.

My goals are stated in my website: