TammyPie - Hybrid AV do not have a blooming season, they bloom all year and with good light and fertilizing they will do it 10 months out of the year. Frozen in Tine has partially green blossoms - the interesting part about this type of blossoms is that the last forever and that they often have "false pregnancy". Even if not pollinated they form an empty seed pod. Of course there is always a chance that it has seeds - if you have thrips (hope not) or if you disturbed the flower while you were working with this plant and the pollen got out of the pollen sacks and to the stamen creating viable seeds. If you leave the seed pod on - in several month it will dry - and you can open and try to get some seeds out of it - if they are there. It is an excellent heavy blooming variety. Irina

What causes Frozen In Time to revert to Frosty Frolic? Is there a way to stop this? Pembroke What causes sporting? Genetics, intense hybridization and growing conditions to name the most likely suspects. A violet that has been highly manipulated through hybridization carries genetics that are more complicated and thus more unstable than the original species or one that has not been as extensively bred. As a rule of thumb-the 'fancier' a violet is-chimera, fantasy, etc., the more likely it is to sport. Genes that are hidden can begin to express themselves. Often all it takes is a small bump-like our cold winter-to nudge these genes out of hiding. Is there a way to stop this? Not really. Plants will grow as they will. The easiest way to handle this is to enjoy their spontaneity and unpredictability. Irina recommends taking a leaf from any new plant so you always have a back-up. This may help keep a FIT for you. Or the leaf could sport. Who knows? Personally, I think your mother's plant sounds awesome. How about a picture? Linda

Posted by pembroke 6--Louisville KY (My Page) on Fri, May 9, 14 at 7:57 I have two questions: 1 - Do you keep the plant in a sauna room? How humid is the area of your leaf cutting? 2 - Do you sterilize the potting mix first? 3 - What is your success rate?

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments. I'm afraid there is going to be some major cane loss this winter. The temps really dropped off last night, and right now the wind is howling....its way below zero windchills. We lost much of the snow with the rain the other day and yesterday's snowfall only amounted to less than 3". At my elevation the wind plays a huge factor in winter damage, and the poor roses never really went into normal dormancy. We've had these below zero windchills a little while ago, then it 'warmed' up some, now back into the deep freezer. I have learned not to panic if I have to cut everything back to nearly the ground come spring...especially with the modern roses. I used to go through great pains to winter-protect, but once your rose count gets into the hundreds you have to let it slide. Roses are more resilient than some people think, and will grow fast and bloom if well-nourished. I always get a chuckle when people ask how I can possibly grow hundreds of roses in my zone, that roses don't grow here. My roses never got the memo. Celeste