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Scilla
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 07:37 am EST : |   |
FINALLY - why my garden produces doubles instead of singles so often (which I love, actually) -- and from Brewster Rogerson even!
In researching a new clematis, Teshio, the International Clematis Society featured it in their Clematis of the Month, and Mr. Rogerson explained my mystery so well:
"What is of more practical import, perhaps, is that most doubles are highly responsive to their environment — especially to long-term patterns in the weather. Apart from the wide range of shapes and sizes that distinguish one double-flowered clematis from another, many of the named varieties can alter their plumage from one week to the next.
A double like 'Mrs. Spencer Castle' can put out a perfect rosette in one set of conditions, a shaggy semidouble in another, and a big irregular single in a third (though not usually all three at once; that charming maneuver is reserved for 'Louise Rowe.') Many are more consistent, but they can all react to change. Not only that, but the tendency toward doubling lies unsuspected in many of our familiar hybrids, and can be suddenly triggered by some unique passage of recent weather.
Many a gardener must have seen a 'Henryi' or an 'Ernest Markham' produce an unexpected double blossom, perhaps as its first bloom of the year. (Such mutations must usually be captured and propagated at once if there is any hope of keeping them, for there is no certainty they will appear again.)
As for 'Teshio,' it seems to be one of the more tranquil cultivars, consistently producing the same delicately-formed but sturdy flower. No one should be surprised, however, if it ever decides to do something different without mentioning it ahead of time."
This also may be why Spider's Patricia Ann Fretwell hasn't bloomed double yet -- the weather.
Whew. I'm so relieved, and my ground is NOT full of radioactive particles, even though our area has a nuclear plant. Of course, the earthworms are 3 feet long and 6" wide, but . . .
Just joking!
Scilla |
Suzymac
My Favorite Photo
My Garden
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 08:50 am EST : | |
Very interesting information, Scilla. Thank you for posting it !
Where I live, the soil is so bad and the growing season so short, that my doubles don't even bloom double (so far), so you are lucky indeed !
Suzy
Suzymac
- Massachusetts,
Zone "6-7"
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Scilla
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 04:09 am EST : | |
Whew, found the posting on climatic and geographical locations producing different flowering patterns in the same clematis.
And GBug -- you know Brewster Rogerson personally, too. Maybe he gave you more info even than this when you two were together this summer. Any further word?
Scilla
- Washington State,
Zone "5"
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Gardenbug
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 04:38 am EST : | |
The topic didn't come up during our visit Scilla. Brewster was the person who said I should try Piilu though. Haven't yet seen a double on it and this will be the third year. But as you must know by now, I am not overly fond of any LFH, whether single or double. I'm trying with a few though...
By the way, I remember a tomato red clematis posted by someone...Spider no doubt. I agree, it was vile. But then, I have hardly any red at all in my gardens.
Gardenbug Ontario zone 4b/5b |
Janet43945
My Weather
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 02:37 pm EST : | |
Wish I had your weather then Scilla ,I love the doubles.
Janet Ohio Zone 5 |
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