Horizon Roses 2012

Preface

"The future ain’t what it use to be."

Yogi Berra

I used the above line at a panel discussion at the recent ARS National All-Miniature Show in Columbus. The topic was the future of the Award of Excellence (AOE) program. With no AOE entries for the most recent year and the demise of the AARS program on which it was modeled, the answer to that question seemed to me (as well as everyone else on the panel) pretty clear. Yet optimism (and the program) continues – no doubt in the hope that the future is going to be like what it was in the past.

The future of roses is a subject of considerable interest to exhibitors, whose concern focuses primarily on the future exhibition potential of the newest hybrid teas, floribundas, miniflora and miniature roses. In fact, it is the reason for the continued existence of Horizon Roses, now approaching 40 years of publication. (I contine to use words like approaching because the exact date of its founding by Bill McMahon is unclear.) But before I talk further of the future of showing roses, let us consider the present edition of Horizon Roses.

The 2012 edition of Horizon Roses contains comments from 93 reporters, up eight from last year and an all-time record number of reporters. Of that number 22 reporters are new (some of the new ones are in fact reporters from prior years who had skipped reports). The reporters are from 31 different States, another record, and show the national character of the reports.

The number of reports is also a record. There are a total of 2,409 reports, up from the 2,138 reports recorded last year. This also up about 50% over the number of reports in 2006, but six years ago.

My annual Box Score below summarizes the reports received on various varieties. As was the case last year, there were more reports on Hybrid Teas than any other classification, with the number increasing 6.7%. Reports on minifloras rebounded and were up 9.3%, almost equalling the number of reports on Hybrid Teas. The percentage increase in the number of reports of grandifloras and miniatures is even greater, with both around 15%. Most striking was the increase in reports on floribundas, up a remarkable 31%.

The number of varieties on which reports have been received is up from 313 to 322, a modest increase that is remarkable, considering the well-publicized problems with the rose industry and the general difficulty in finding sources for new roses. There were reports on 67 new varieties never before commented on in Horizon Roses; this is nearly identical to the 68 new varieties appearing last year. Also, the average number of reports per reporter showed a small increase from 25.2 reports to 25.9. It therefore appears that somehow exhibitors are getting their hands on new roses, many of which show great promise for the show tables.

The future of publishing has arrived and the fact that you are reading this edition on your iPad, your computer or even your smart phone is proof that Horizons has embraced it. Why? – there are many reasons. Cost is a factor – the cost of printing and postage have gone up each year and have been most of the cost of its production. Also, in order to print it on that funny looking mailer that has been used for so many years, it is necessary that it be edited to a multiple of four pages and thin enough to staple the thing together. That has necessitated a lot of editing and weird abbreviations in the past. By going to the electronic edition I have been able to reduce the editing in order to preserve reporter comments as much as possible. And, to make it more readable I have continued to eliminate duplicative information, such as the name of the hybridizer or the official color class, which information is set forth following the name of the rose.

Most importantly, I have been able with this electronic edition to introduce color pictures. However, for those of you attracted to rose candy, a caution is in order. In the case of show roses, a picture is not worth a thousand comments. But it is worth a lot when considered along with the comments on the rose. Photographs preserve a moment in time and, in the case of roses, often that moment when the rose looks its very best, a moment that may be fleeting or inferquent. But one good bloom every once in a while is not enough to make a rose a great show rose. It is good to keep this in mind as you look at those pictures.

To add further information on the show quality of the roses, I have again provided information on actual show results to date for the reported roses. This information is set forth in parentheses at the beginning of the comments. A key to the abbreviations is set forth somewhere at the end of this edition. The results reported are current through July 31, 2012 and come from the show results submitted to www.roseshow.com. Historically, this covers about 90% of U.S. show results.

There are two new additions to the Honor Roll this year. The first is ‘Falling in Love’, the pink hybrid tea that last year had the highest number of reports. With the breeding of two top show roses, ‘Moonstone’ x ‘Marilyn Monroe’, some had expected more production and more consistent quality, not just more prickles. Still, with five Queens and 33 royalty appearances it has entered the top 25 of show roses and is deserving of Honor Roll status. The second addition is the exceptional red miniflora, ‘Robin Alonso’, a sport of ‘Caliente’ found by Peter Alonso, a long-time contributor to Horizon Roses, and named after his lovely wife. It produces dark red velvet blooms with exquisite form on strong straight stems; what more can you want in an Honor Roll rose?

This year also saw one deletion from the Honor Roll. It has been my policy that in order to retain Honor Roll status, a rose needs to continue in the top 40 of the national rankings. Dropped this year from the Honor Roll is ‘Cachet’, a white miniflora that was one of the first of its breed. Although still a good rose, it is no longer a dependable winner in the face of the many newer show minifloras.

With the addiitonal room allowed by the electronic edition, I was also able to expand the number of reports on roses not yet introduced, many hybridized by our own contributors and others under test. Fred Wright has several new introductions of note. Bill Blevins reports on several Silver Run test roses from John Smith. Richard Anthony gives insight into the newest roses from Whit Wells. And, Tommy Hebert tells us about five of his varieties that have show potential.

Horizon Roses 2012 is therefore bigger and better. What does this tell us about the future of show roses? I tend to believe like Yogi Berra that the future isn’t what it used to be. But I also suspect that I have a different perspective on the future as I have on its recent past. The future of roses is not as it has been in the most recent past, which is to say it is not the dreary future too long predicted by those who have too long believed that rose shows and show roses have no future. The future of roses lies as it did in the less-recent past, namely in the display of the rose in its most perfect phase of possible beauty. People love roses of classic form – those are the roses they buy from the florist and those are the ones they most want to grow in their home gardens. The days are fading of trying to convince rose growers that foliage is more important that bloom; that roses are not worth the effort in feeding, watering and caring for their health; and that saving the planet is something that can be done in your backyard by neglecting the most beautiful flower on the planet. If you don’t believe me – go to a rose show and see for yourself. Exhibitors grow the best roses and as evidenced in these pages they are continually looking for beautiful new show roses. They are also the nicest people I know who show through their reports freely given that they are only too willing to share everything they have learned with anyone who wants to learn. The quest continues to find and prioritize the beauty of the show rose – that is the direction in which Horizon Roses and its reporters continue to go and will go in the future. I wish you all many Queens of Show.

Bob Martin

"If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up some place else."

Yogi Berra

HYBRID TEAS

Honor Roll: Black Magic, Cajun Moon, Crystalline, Dublin, Falling in Love, Hot Princess, Let Freedom Ring, Louise Estes, Gemini, Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Wellan, Moonstone, St Patrick, Signature, Touch of Class, Veteran’s Honor

The Honor Roll consists of roses that have received high ratings in past issues of Horizon Roses by exhibitors from a wide cross section of the country. In order to maintain Honor Roll status the rose must also continue in the top 40 show roses in the national show results. Honor Roll roses are generally considered bankers by exhibitors. We do not continue to report on varieties that have achieved this honor.

ALWAYS AND FOREVER, dr, Zary, 2010 [Arms, J&P]

Bonfigli (CA): A nice red rose that sometimes gives exhibition blooms. Stems are very long, and foliage a very deep green. No mildew or blackspot, but some rust. Very upright, tall plant. Garrett (TN): Plant grows fairly well and has nice blooms with good color, but they are usually small. Godfrey (IA): Inconsistent form, sometimes very good, other times ‘ho hum’, will be an ‘also ran’ always and forever. Lacks vigor but with our early heat and drought like conditions, a lot fall into that category. Guerino (IL): Not the most vigorous plant but I stop every time to look at the great blooms that are still too small to show. Strong (CA): Not always and certainly not forever. Stingy bloomer on slow growing plant. Will not grow well on its own roots, which is the only way that J&P now sells it. Skip it.

ANNIE DAVIDSON, pb, Jalbert, 2010

Stever (NY): Vigorous, has nice form in the color of Paradise. Bloom size is quite small. Might be better classified as a grandiflora as it has mostly sprays

APRIL IN PARIS, pb, Zary, 2008 [J&P, K&M]

(1 Ct) Baer (OR): Every bud starts to open w/great promise & looks great as they continued to open. However, when half open the petals begin to show an unattractive pink & white mottling at the edges that ruins its great potential. Being the offspring of Pristine & New Zealand it has a lot of beauty & fragrance but it will probably never make it big on the exhibition table at least not in our climate as this color is just not attractive. Bates (TN) This rose grows and blooms great, but growth is more like a floribunda as it is more rounded rather than upright. The foliage is very pretty and is more resistant to blackspot as the bush ages. The color is very clear and the blooms are well-formed and very prolific. Blevins (VA): Small, good form, small bloom, average coral pink color, but better in Fall. Fleming (WI): Smallish blooms with lovely HT form on a generous and vigorous bush. Typically 1/stem and excellent fragrance. Competitive in challenge classes, but may have difficulty competing against bigger blooms. Fotheringham (UT): Rose has very nice form and some fragrance. I think it might show, but have not had a chance to do so. It does not like the heat in our climate. I think I need another year with it. It is also not real hardy. It almost froze to the ground last year and has taken time to rebound. Guillebeau (FL): Only saw one at a show. Good form and stems but color is rather ugh! Miller (OH): Nice garden rose. Blooms are small as is the bush. Love the soft pink. No disease issues with this one. Mills (MS): Just another light pink garden rose.

BAQI BILLAH MAULANA SHAYKH NAZIM, dr, Jalbert, 2010 [Pal]

Strong (CA): Not an exhibitor’s rose. I’ve seen one good exhibition bloom all year. But the foliage is great – no diseases, which is hard to come by here in mildew alley in a red hybrid tea.

BETTY CURRY, mr, Scoffield, 2010 [Wisc]

Osborn (IA): Has great color – third year plant will show. Roman (CO): First year for this one, bush is small, bloom is an unusual terra cotta red with lovely exhibition form that holds. It has to grow some taller canes. Singer: well-formed brick red color, long stems.

BEVERLY, pb, Kordes, 2010 [Pal]

Kozemchak (PA): This Kordes rose is very fragrant and winner of many awards in Europe. Growing well and looking very healthy. Stever (NY): Winter hardy, fragreant, blooms that tend to have OGR quarter form. Good garden variety. Show potential is limited unless for open bloom. Tilley (GA): Own root rose has been slow to establish. Small blooms so far.

BILL HEATH, w, Poole, 2009

Greenwood (CA): Lots of bull-nosed blooms this spring. It may go bye-bye.

BOB & LINDA, pb, Smith, 2007

Knerr (NC): Best floribunda in my garden. Large, well-formed sprays, disease resistant, always in bloom. Bloom size is about 3 and ½ inches. Unfortunately it is registered as a HT and the classification committee will not change the registration even though the hybridizer has asked them to.

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL, pb, F. Wright, 2010 [K&M]

Borrmann (PA): It is bold and it is beautiful, it just isn’t BIG. At the moment it is the size of a miniflora. But, should size be in its future, it will be one to have because the form and color is outstanding. Jones (TX): 1st year bush shows good exhibition blooms in first bloom, white with pink edges. Mills (MS): Fred Wright’s pink blend with exhibition form. Average grower. Osborn (IA): First year on Fortuniana. I like what I have seen so far, nice HT form still small. Richardson (NC): White with pink edges. One of the best first year plants. I’m ready to win with this rose! Shockley (AR): While I wanted the white blooms with the red edge I’d seen in photos, I’m pretty pleased with the pink edged blooms I’ve had so far. Good form and good size. J. Wright (NC): Own root plant has begun to grow. Stem length has improved . Beautiful creamy white with pink edges. Size of bloom has also improved this second year. Holds exhibition stage a very long time, will show.

BROTHER JACK, pb, F. Wright, 2010 [K&M]

Cavanaugh (OR): My maiden bush has been very slow to grow. Haven’t seen enough to form an opinion. Dale (GA): still waiting for this 2nd yr. bush to put on some size. Smallest bush I’ve ever seen on Fortuniana but Fred Wright tells me it takes about 3 yrs. to really grow. Bloom production is really slow too. Garrett (TN): Blooms are exhibition, but plant is a little slow to get established. Guillebeau (FL): Young plants showing great promise. Love the color and form. Lundberg (SC): One year old own root plant had been very slow to grow. The blooms are an attractive pink and have good size. This spring, the plant has produced 5 or 6 healthy new canes. Meyer (MO): Good grower. Form is real good; some blooms have a color difference. Will be a winner. Mills (GA): Medium pink with good form. You’ll see it on the show tables. Myers (NC): My plant on its own roots is starting to grow. The pink color is nothing special, but form is excellent and should show well. Osborn (IA): On first year Fortuniana. Gold Medal color all blooms have had are showable. Shockley (AR): Picture perfect pale pink blooms and plenty of them to admire. The downside may be the size but I’m still hoping! Tilley (GA): really, really slow to establish. Still small in 2-gal pot. Singer: looks promising, lots of petals, good form, need more time to evaluate.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’, pb, Meilland, 2009 [Arms, Edmds, North, Star]

(1 P) Blevins (VA): That is the correct registered spellin’. Has form and color and holds okay for number of petals. It can only get better. Fotheringham (UT): This does well in my climate. Hot & dry. It does open very quickly and I am don’t think it will show. But I will definitely keep it, it is a good rose. Seems to be vigorous and disease free. Godfrey (IA): Still think this white with deep pink or red edges is a beautiful rose, but the bush size just isn’t coming so it will make very few head table appearances. It may be a shovel prune candidate soon. Herr (OH): Nice pink blend blooms, second year brought better and bigger exhibition blooms, could grow taller. Tilley (GA): outstanding color with white petals with sharp pink edge. Huge blooms on very short stems. Grows like a floribunda with 3rd yr. plant only 3 ft. tall. Poor substance. Strictly for the wow factor in garden.

CAROLINA PRIDE, mr, F. Wright, , 2010 [K&M]

English (CA): It’s gone. Too many petals for my microclimate 10 miles from ocean. Jones (TX): 1st year bush has some good medium red exhibition blooms with good tight centers on first bloom. Lundberg (SC): In its second year we are seeing a vigorous bush that is producing well-formed large medium red blooms. Meyer (MO): A good red from what I can see on a first year maiden. Good color centers and size are good. Mills (MS): Deep red from Fred Wright with great form and it’s an excellent grower. Osborn (IA): Is red – can’t decide if I like it. Shockley (AR): Nice red blooms. Form may be just a little soft and the size hasn’t been there but I’m willing to be wrong. Singer: Nice red color, many petals, have not seen definitive centers yet, may need more time. Stream (FL): 3 yr. old plant growing well with good form and true red color til the finish. Should show well.

CASEY ALEXANDRA, ob, Edwards, 2010 [K&M]

Mills (MS): Named after one of my granddaughters. Beautiful light pink blend. Sorry, not enough petals to win. Osborn (IA): Has not grown will this year – heat ?????? Shockley (AR): Bush grows very well and blooms are pretty. Could be worked into collections but I don’t see Queens.

CINNAMON DOLCE, rb, Meilland, 2012 [Star]

Belendez (CA): I got this new rose at the Pacific RS auction this spring, and the first blooms were produced on ultra long stems, with unique russet-orange color splashed with darker speckles. The form is very good, and bloom size was acceptable. Foliage is glossy and clean. I will find a space for it in the ground. Cooney (CA): Shows promise as exhibition rose. Great garden interest rose with its spots and color. Still in a pot but needs to go in the ground. Garrett (TN): New plant has been slow to get established with small blooms. Nice color combination. Martin (CA): First blooms are perhaps a little small and maybe could use some more substance. Form is Touch of Class and very encouraging. Color is a spicy red speckled with cinnamon red. The stem is long and straight with leathery foliage. The fragrance is powerful and capable of winning the fragrance class. Strong (CA): All I get is mildew on this one. Have yet to see the blooms that I hear others have seen on