A Walk Through The Garden, 2008

"The Pimpernel" (2007-11)

Type unresolved, 2008, Shimbo ('Nightmoss' x ?)

Every now and then, something happens in the greenhouse that just knocks your socks off. This is one of them.

You may wonder, why is that a drawing instead of a photograph? Well, because the photograph, no matter how I take it, doesn't show the true color of the rose. Here's the original photograph (below). But the drawing is the right color.

This rose grew from seeds left on 'Nightmoss' in January, 2008. By that time I had given up all hope of the deliberate crosses I'd made ever growing; I think I kept them too wet over their stratification period, and they all molded. Fifty bags of seeds, what a disaster... Nevertheless, this seedling, and two others (one of which has since died and one of which has not yet bloomed) sprouted and the fact that they've made buds this year has me very confused indeed. I'm sure I labelled these right, and while the leaves don't look anything like an Old Rose, the bud and flower behave just like two of my previous "Fa's Marbled Moss" seedlings. The button eye is also, in my mind at least, indicative of Old Rose heritage, though, being no expert, this is only my impression.

The color is deep and luscious, and begins as a smoldering salmon red; which makes me wonder if the seed parent was 'Salmon Sunblaze,' a mini that grows right next to 'Nightmoss'. The color on the whole reminds me of 'Smoky,' but alas, unlike that rose, "The Pimpernel" has no fragrance that anyone can detect.

In mid-May I decided to plant "The Pimpernel" out in the garden. She's now in a spot where she gets only morning sun, and is happily producing lovely scarlet, but alas scentless, miniature flowers by the ton! I have a feeling she's going to stay a miniature. She'll be used as a parent in hopes of breeding something like her but with a good fragrance!

Well worth watching, nu?

Home