Show or tell about your recent pleasant surprises
These blooms have been a pleasant surprise recently.
MELODEE PERFUME - Not really this purple, but was surprised to see any blooms at all, hasn't bloomed much this year.
LEMON SPICE - Definitely its best bloom so far, love this rose!
SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON is one of those roses that looks like it’s not going to bloom, then it surprises me!
Please share any pleasant surprises you've had recently.
Comments (25)
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agosara_ann-z6bok thanked Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValleyRelated Discussions
Tell us about your Orchid Shows and the show rules
Comments (18)I think what people need to understand is that there are two parts to judging at a show. The first is what is termed ribbon judging. All plants maybe entered for ribbon judging, this is a beauty contest. They must be entered in the correct category. If there is AOS judging at the show -- and even if there isn't -- AOS judges, accredited, probabionary and students, form teams, you are assigned a team and usually a clerk or two. This is looked on as a learning experience for the clerks -- so they may with the team captains explanations and guidance be asked to make the selection, if the judges don't like it then we'll tell you so, and overrule the clerks, oh I can think of one clerk here that I think is as good as most judges. If you catch it in time you can even correct a wrongly entered plant. This is all done before the show starts. Ribbons and trophies are awarded, in fact I have an expensive one from a paph that's day it was. I have a blue vanda, not awardable that won its class 3 years in a row at the local show - then retired. Next as the judges and clerks progress they make mental notes of plants they would like to see for AOS judging, I have seen plants pulled from vendors tables at big shows, one even awarded. Basic rule, they can be judged only once on that flowering, that is why you will see some plants marked not for AOS judging, or if it already has an award, the person doesn't want to pay if it gets one more point on this go round, and the current owner pays though they get no credit for it. After ribbon and display judging plants are marked- usually with paper dots or some such thing and the judges retreat to AOS judging. Plants are pulled from the displays and then debated over -- there are cultural awards but usually they are looked at for the standard FCC,AM and HCC, FCC is 90 pts plus AM 80-89and HCC 75-79, the plants are scored by each judge on the team and an average done. If you get an award and that clone has not been awarded before then you get to name it, such as "Lucky Chance" which was given to a vanda species won at a raffle, if there is no name, then you also can name it, that goes to the RHS, oh you pay, but I named a cross after my teenage son who didn't appreciate that he is recorded as an orchid. It used to be $35 if you got an award, they have recently changed it and you get a discount if you pay on line. If you get the award your plant's pic is taken, used to be you got a slide of it, again now they have gone digital, and a lovely certificate. After judging, plants are returned to the display. Plants maybe brought for AOS judging and not entered. They are generally set on the back tables. SWOGA rules are a little different on show set up and have some other awards, but they are not AOS awards, which are the ones that make a plant maybe worth some money. AOS awards are sought after but there are some famous plants such as Phrag Eric Young 'Rocket Fire' that is a tremendous parent was not and never will be awarded, and I can think of some phals that are that way. When people are buying a plant, it helps if the parents are awarded you can look up the parent even. There are also a number of judging centers, AOS list them on their web site, typically they meet once a month, they have lectures, raffles etc. While I am told it used to be very formal, they are trying to encourage the public, you may ask the chair if you can sit in on a judging -- not of your own plant -- and he will most likely try to assign you to a team whose leader or members are given to explanations. I know when we have visitors we bend over backwards, on our own we can be very perfunctory. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE EDUCATIONAL. Insects -- ugh -- well we don't outright throw them out - for one bug -- but please you are subjecting everyone to your infestation. Insect damaged flowers are not judgable and that is what we are judging. Not the plant, unless you are trying for cultural -- then its out period -- how can we give you a cultural if a slug has obviously been there. It took me awhile to figure out the rules and I still haven't got them all by a lot, the AOS has a rule book and guides, but the easiest way is to clerk a few shows or attend a judging center. Oh all judges usually get is breakfast and at a big show lunch. It always seemed strange to me that if you get an AOS award you pay. But it is still a great honor, and a chance to give an honor to someone by naming the clone or even cross after them....See Moreshow me/tell me about your niche/shelf over your range
Comments (11)There was a thread on this topic some months ago--see below. There are some good photos of niches. Our project is bogged down, but I have a few additional comments since I posted... Because we have to watch our pennies, I'm shopping in bargain places. One problem I have encountered is that oddball lots of tiles often don't include bullnose pieces as well as regular field tile sizes. The niche that we have roughed in will require some cute tricks to make ordinary tile edges seem attractive and classy; we don't want to just snip tiles and leave raw edges. DH, my sweaty equity, did not finish the niche smoothly when he created it in drywall because we knew we would cover it in tile. Now, we're thinking that we might not do the tiling right away and he'll have to pull out drywall tools and make a proper corner edging around the niche. This kind of "go back and do over" gig is getting very frustrating. [Meanwhile, I've found a smashingly exciting tile that of course only comes without trim pieces. It's sitting right next to me, thinking. Unfortunately it has a decidedly unfinished raw edge and will require tricky handling if we choose to use it. I just covered it over so I can't see it tempting me there on the table. Have to be more practical. ] Tile shops do carry a metal edging that can be used to finish off edges when no bullnose is available, but I haven't seen examples of it in actual use on a range niche. Would love to see a sample photo to reassure me. Also, remember that if you choose to work with a thick tile or a remnant of some kind of rock from countertop on the back of the niche, that will cut down the depth of the niche shelf. If you want the area above range/cooktop to be an artistic focal point, I humbly suggest that you either make a niche OR some kind of tile design but not both. If you choose too fancy a niche back, the items standing within the niche will compete with the tile design for viewer's attention. Mine will be a working kitchen, so we're planning to put oil bottles, vinegar bottles, salt shaker, etc. there and they are supposed to get top billing. Don't forget that you can suspend a second shelf in the niche if there's room. Here is a link that might be useful: Niche topic thread...See MoreShow & Tell - Vines! Tell me about your Vines and why you love them.
Comments (19)Hi june, I am on about 4 acres and there are woods on most sides of the property and only one neighbor on one side that I can see and its fenced there lol. So escapee passiflora and other vines aren't a problem. In fact, there are "wild /rogue" trumpet vines, japanese honeysuckle, and carolina jessamine growing all crazy out in the woods and up various trees on the back of the property. I have a lot of gulf frits so they do keep the escaped (from pots) passies under control here too. For additional control, I grow most of my passiflora in pots and use 3 tall bamboo poles tied together at the top in the large pots. Then I use fishing line and black electrical tape to create a little trellis for them to attach their tendrils onto between the bamboo poles. Then I position the pots up against a fence or tree and let them climb that way once they grow over the bamboo poles. When it freezes, I cut them back to the length of the bamboo pole/trellis and move the pots into the gh because some of the passies I grow will freeze back badly and some are tropical so gh culture during the winter is best for those. ~SJN...See MoreSome pleasant surprises
Comments (9)Thank you everyone, I agree English Perfume is lovely! Moses, as far as I know EP is only available own root. I got mine from Roses Unlimited. It being own root has not hindered bloom size at all from what I can tell. This is its first year, the bush is still on the small side, I do have it in a small pot though. It has bloomed in regular flushes all season long, seems to have decent repeat bloom so far. It lasts good on the bush and in the vase because the ruffled petals have good substance I would guess that it is somewhat tender, but I'm not certain about that....See More
seil zone 6b MI
4 years agoI only bought a handful of roses this spring. I got 2 from Costco, Love and Waiheke, which turned out to be mislabeled, and both have done very well for me this season. In posting around it has been decided that my Waiheke is real Impatient. It has bloomed like mad all summer. Love gave me 2 flushes so far. Which isn't too bad for a first year rose.
I got 2 boxed Weeks roses from a local nursery, Oh Happy Day and Peace. The Peace died outright in the first month. The OHD is still green but has not put on any new growth at all and never bloomed. I'm concerned that it won't winter.
I got Champagne Wishes potted from Lowes and it's been a treat all summer. It always has one or two blooms on it!
Impatient
Love
Champagne Wishes
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
4 years agoI think one of my pleasant surprises was how fast heirloom took off for me and the number of blooms on a small plant
kristine_legault's ideas · More Infosara_ann-z6bok
4 years agosara_ann-z6bok
4 years ago
sara_ann-z6bok
4 years ago
HalloBlondie (zone5a) Ontario, Canada
4 years agoMy recent pleasant surprise in the garden has
been how well certain new roses have settled in since May. I picked up Golden Celebration end of May as a kind of afterthought. Basically name recognition and thought why not? Well it has grown really well and has been a blooming machine so far. I also didn't realize that the blooms are gigantic! I'm contemplating another one to replace Graham Thomas that has never really done too well for me. Here's a few shots to show progression. The order got messed up, but you get the idea. It just started to throw out some long canes, will have to trellis them next year I think. I love happy little accidents. Now if I plant a rose and beg it to do well, it will definitely do the opposite and just sulk. But of course the rose that's out of the way and not seen a lot is a blooming fool.
sara_ann-z6bok thanked HalloBlondie (zone5a) Ontario, CanadaVaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
4 years agonanadollZ7 SWIdaho
4 years agosara_ann-z6bok
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoKristine LeGault 8a pnw
4 years agoKristine LeGault 8a pnw
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoOne of my favorite roses this year is my new Crimson Glory
Large fragrant blooms
I just wish that I could capture the
Color .It reminds me Dark Desire but with larger blooms .
kristine_legault's ideas · More Infosara_ann-z6bok thanked Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
mmmm12COzone5
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoMy most recent good surprise is Pinata. I agonized over and researched getting a rose for a shady spot. Pinata was the only one that said "preferred" shade in the reviews. I saw the blooms at High Country Roses but was not smitten. Too small and not that gorgeous. In the end I got it anyways. The bloom I have is a greenhouse bloom since it was set in the green house but my oh my, it is gorgeous and long lasting.
Here is was Sat. Aug. 31. The size was much bigger than I anticipated. More of a smaller large bloom than even a larger medium bloom.
Here it is Sun. 9/1/19
Wed. 9/3/19
Yesterday Friday 9/6/19
Then today, a full week after blooming it is losing one petal. Sat. 9/7/19.
I love it when a rose ages gracefully. To me the bloom is still gorgeous at the end. And lasting a full week is appealing to me also. I hope it behaves the same when it gets established.
We put this rose in without much enthusiasm and much backward and sideways looking for something that I liked better and it turns out I like it quite a bit. So it is a happy surprise.sara_ann-z6bok thanked mmmm12COzone5sara_ann-z6bok
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoVaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
4 years agoKristine LeGault 8a pnw
4 years agoHalloBlondie (zone5a) Ontario, Canada
4 years agosara_ann-z6bok
4 years ago
rifis (zone 6b-7a NJ)