Years and years ago my good friend, David Miller, game me MIMOSA UMBRELLA. Sadly, David passed away, but I think of him whenever I see a bloom on this lovely daylily. When our Cobb County Daylily Society held its first "Daylily Show" eight years ago, in 2004, I entered MIMOSA UMBRELLA. It had two flowers blooming, and ultimately won "Best in Show." Since then I have periodically tried to convert this daylily, and t
his morning I found that I was finally successful. First, I'm showing a picture that I took yesterday to show MIMOSA UMBRELLA before it sprouted its first tetraploid bloom. Second, I'm showing a picture of TET. MIMOSA UMBRELLA that I took this morning. The color is 
such a beautiful pink with a lovely green throat. The flower is registered to be 6.5" in circumference, and the height is registered as being 28 inches. It was registered in 1984, and it is a "dormant." Finally, I'm showing a picture of the pollen that took this morning. You can see from the scale in the microscope picture that all of the pollen measure about a 14 or 15. Very nice. Clearly a tetraploid.
his morning I found that I was finally successful. First, I'm showing a picture that I took yesterday to show MIMOSA UMBRELLA before it sprouted its first tetraploid bloom. Second, I'm showing a picture of TET. MIMOSA UMBRELLA that I took this morning. The color is 
such a beautiful pink with a lovely green throat. The flower is registered to be 6.5" in circumference, and the height is registered as being 28 inches. It was registered in 1984, and it is a "dormant." Finally, I'm showing a picture of the pollen that took this morning. You can see from the scale in the microscope picture that all of the pollen measure about a 14 or 15. Very nice. Clearly a tetraploid.
I then told my beautiful wife, Diana Rae, that I had made the conversion, and what she said caused me to be completely depressed. She said that MIMOSA UMBRELLA was sterile. Although I haven't tried to use the pollen from the diploid, I always believed that it would make and produce new daylilies. Diana Rae nevertheless insists that it is sterile. I don't know whether it is sterile or not. So, here is my question: Is MIMOSA UMBRELLA sterile or is it fertile? Looking forward to your answer.
I also have to tell you about my daughter Kelley Rae. I have been so stunned with Kelley. I was sad that she did not do well with her education after high school. I thought that she was not inclined toward academics. However, I have learned that Kelley recently graduated from the University of Phoenix. Wow. Kelley 
has also been able to get a new job that begins this morning. I told her how proud I was of her just as she got in her car at 7:00 a.m., on her way to her first day on the job. As pleased as I am that Kelley Rae has new employment, I am sad that she will not see little Lily Rae as often as she should. Little Lily Rae has discovered curtains. She is crawling everywhere, and today she was pulling her grandmother's curtains in the kitchen.
has also been able to get a new job that begins this morning. I told her how proud I was of her just as she got in her car at 7:00 a.m., on her way to her first day on the job. As pleased as I am that Kelley Rae has new employment, I am sad that she will not see little Lily Rae as often as she should. Little Lily Rae has discovered curtains. She is crawling everywhere, and today she was pulling her grandmother's curtains in the kitchen.
Notwithstanding Diana Rae's assertion that MIMOSA UMBRELLA is sterile, I nevertheless pollenated it with frozen pollen from Seedling 1-300.
Bill
Bill, I don't know about Mimosa Umbrella but i did want to tell you that Shirley Ann McCord jjust started a late rebloom yesterday. Not as much branching but to get a bloom in September it's hard to complain. keep the conversion work coming. I really enjoy reading about it.
ReplyDeleteMarlon
Thanks Marlon. How is BLAZING CANNONS doing? I'm doing my best with the conversion work, and I think I'm finally on track to use converted material to considerable advantage. I have been surprised to see that many of my conversions have to do with doubles and unusual forms.
ReplyDeleteI hope that SHIRLEY ANN MCCORD blooms well for you. Thanks for the note of encouragement.
Bill
Hi Bill
ReplyDeleteFrom the AHS databank:
Never Never Land (Reed, 1996)
height 45", bloom 7", season EM, Dormant, Diploid, Fragrant, Unusual Form Cascade, Pink smoky lavender blend. (Coral Crab × Mimosa Umbrella)
Oops Another Miracle (Hendricks-W., 2007)
height 40", bloom 11", season E, Rebloom, Evergreen, Diploid, 15 buds, 3 branches, Unusual Form Spatulate, Cantelope self with slight red eye. ((Mimosa Umbrella × Look Here Mary) × Let It Rip)
I guess it is not sterile. Should produce nice kids !
Blazing Cannons is really doing well. Just the one fan so far but it is probably tripled in size since I brought it home. I look for 2 to 3 fans when it comes up next spring.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christiaan for the information on the fertility of MIMOSA UMBRELLA. This morning I had two blooms on the HAYRIDE, and I pollenated both with pollen from TET. MIMOSA UMBRELLA. Your research really helps.
ReplyDeleteBill
Marlon thanks for the news on BLAZING CANNONS. This is the best red that I have ever grown. It makes big fans and what is more exciting is that it makes 7" flowers. Be sure to let me know this coming spring/summer as to how it blooms.
ReplyDeleteBill