Monday, June 1, 2015

A Chance Seedling

Last Thursday, I was pulling weeds in the English Garden.  While working near 'Lilian Austin', I found a tiny rose.  At first, I thought that it was a sucker (since that's what these things almost always turn out to be.)  In this case, it was a seedling ... a distinctly different little rose, probably resulting from a seed in a rose hip that fell underneath the mama plant last fall ... and Seedling had a bud on it that was almost ready to open.




Just like any sort of offspring, plant seedlings are a combination of the genetics of each of their parents.  Considering the color of that bud, there is no doubt that one of Seedling's parents (the seed parent, most certainly, based on where it's growing) was 'Lilian Austin'.  The other parent has to be one of the Noisette roses in that garden, judging from the shape of the bud and the receptacle (that's the bulby part of the bud at the top of the stem).


Seedling's slim, coppery pink bud and round receptacle.


Fat, round buds on 'Lilian Austin'


Slim buds on "Frazer's Pink Musk", which grows immediately beside 'Lilian Austin'


The leaves on Seedling resemble its mama's rounded leaves.


Seedling's leaves


'Lilian Austin' leaf


"Frazer's Pink Musk" leaf


From the time I found Seedling on Thursday morning, I kept a very close eye on it ... checking on it multiple times per day and anxiously waiting for that bud to open.  


Thursday afternoon ... nothing.

Friday, morning and afternoon ... nothing

Saturday ... nothing

Sunday morning .... Eureka!!!


See it down there?


Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce the newest unnamed member of the Hartwood Roses family.  It has the same coppery pink color as its mama, with a respectable set of stamens that makes my little rose-loving heart go pitter patter.






Finding this tiny plant makes me feel as if I've been given a wonderful surprise gift.  There's more to come soon, because it has already started to produce another branch.  I can't wait to see what it looks like and how it behaves as it matures.




For right now, I will leave this seedling in place underneath its mama.  Soon, though, I will carefully dig it up and give it a place in the garden to call its own.

20 comments:

  1. How fun and fascinating. Can't wait to hear what you name it..

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  2. What a pleasant surprise! Product of it's parenting... one always hopes that's a good thing, at least with humans, not sure about roses! LOL!

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    1. I love a good mystery, and it was fun sitting there studying details and trying to unravel the question of this little rose's parents. Based on what I see so far, I think this will be a winner.

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  3. That is a really GREAT surprise. Now you MUST name it! Maybe you should do a Naming Contest....no reward needed--just for fun! xo Diana

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    1. I’ll tell you what, Diana, you do the contest. You post lots of awesome survey-type things on your blog, and it would be fun to see what YOUR readers would name it. Just for fun, as you said … only if you want to, of course.

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  4. This is so EXCITING, cannot imagine the thrill you must feel !! I surely would be dancing in delight ....
    a new babe in the rose woods, so marvelous!
    I guess CONGRATULATIONS are in order ;>D

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    1. I think I let out an audible squeal when I realized that this was a seedling and not a small sucker.

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  5. Wow, I feel your excitement over this surprise seedling and I was thrilled to seeing it be a sweet little single rose. I am so glad to have found your blog, I am inspired every time I visit. I love roses.

    Thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to take photos and write up a post. I know the time involved and it is much appreciated.

    Enjoy your week, Sunday is a big day for you.

    FlowerLady

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    1. Thank you! I am glad that we found EACH OTHER.

      I have a lot to do this week, but I’m not going to overdo and work too hard. The garden is what it is. Friends visiting today, and perhaps on Saturday, too. Open Garden on Sunday will be fun. On Monday, I rest.

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  6. I love it! I too have a weakness for single roses. Love the color, hope it's still blooming for Sunday!

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    1. Not going to be blooming on Sunday, I'm sorry to say. You and I will have to patiently wait for another bud and flower on the next cycle of bloom.

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  7. Oh how exciting!
    I'd be clapping my hands!
    I transplanted my yellow rose and was so terrified that I had killed it but today there are 2 yellow buds so I sort of understand your joy!
    I love reading about your rose knowledge, it's so interesting and cool!
    Thank you!

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    1. I checked on that little seedling as often as I could, just like any good mama would do. Now I plan to be as overprotective as necessary, till I get it moved and established in a new spot. Coincidentally, a spot near its parents opened up over the winter when the rose that was there didn’t survive the winter. Perhaps this was supposed to happen.

      Sounds like your rose transplant was a success. Keep an eye on it, and make sure that it doesn’t lack for water as it settles in, and you should be fine.

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  8. How wonderful that Diana over at NanaDiana takes a Break had a post this morning about your new found rose. I love roses and found one growing where I didn't have any planted, I am excited to see it bloom and wondering how it got there.
    I am now your newest follower.

    Sylvia from A Grandma's Blessings

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    1. Hi, Sylvia. It’s always a pleasure to meet another rose lover! I’ll bet your little rose was a gift from a bird who ate the seed and ‘dropped’ it there for you.

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  9. HI! I'm visiting here from NanaDiana's site... and oh what joy it is to visit you here... I adore, adore, adore roses! When I saw the picture of your little seedling start new rose... I couldn't help but think how much it looks like our wild roses here in Idaho! I have a blog, and one of my recent posts (Mountain High Vistas) I shared a picture of wild roses blooming here. I am wondering what you think about that... it sure is a beautiful little rose, and I know you are so happy to have it your garden! So glad to have made your acquaintance, and to see your lovely blog :)

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    1. This little seedling's flower very much has the look of some wild roses. It looks like the flowers on it will be much larger than wild roses once the plant puts on some size and matures a bit.

      Now I'm off to visit your blog and see what Idaho is all about. I'm really excited to see your wild roses!

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  10. Congrats on your new baby. I just had to come by and see what Diana was talking about. I'm have a small rose garden and I play in it every day. Love them. Have a lovely evening. Jo

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    1. I love roses more than any normal person is supposed to. It’s great to hear that you love them, too.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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