The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine

As the passion for gardening grows in the United States, gardeners are on the lookout for new plants with intriguing colors. Journalists keep on the pulse of what's "new," what's "hot" and what's "in" in the world of horticulture. "New," of course, is a relative term when it comes to flowers, since most are variations on a theme, and have been in development for many years before they are released to the market.

Hybridizers spend years developing new varieties of flowers. They prize themselves on their abilities to take unlike parent flowers and breed them to incorporate the best characteristics of each parent. The process is one of trial and error, with many failures. It would be even harder if there were no science of genetics to apply. The results, of course, can be quite controversial, such as the recent furor over new varieties of corn introduced to the market that are insect resistant and highly productive.

All hybridized plants go through a series of trials to test their viability and usefulness before being released for sale. Plant trials involve growing the seeds both in containers and in the field to determine if the new flowers meet the desired objectives. For example, a hybrid may be created to incorporate the hardiness of one parent and the colorful blooms of another. Should the plant trials indicate the result does not yield a strong, colorful plant, the hybridizer will start over to create a hybrid that demonstrates the desired traits. This lengthy and expensive process ensures a well-bred plant for consumers.

Once a hybridizer is sure the plant meets the desired standards for performance, the seeds are put into trial production. This trial phase ensures the seeds yield flowers with the appropriate characteristics on a continuing basis. If so, the flower is pronounced a success.

The flower then goes into market production, which involves growing the parent flowers, pollinating the flowers by hand, and gathering the hybrid seeds. The resulting production seeds are subjected to a quality control process. The seeds are germinated and inspected to verify that the resulting plants are true to type. After testing, the seeds are packaged and shipped to wholesale distributors who sell to growers who, in turn, sell the flowers to nurseries and retail garden centers.

By the time a gardener comes into the picture, the hybrid flowers have been checked and rechecked many times. Gardeners can be sure they are buying seeds or plants that bloom exactly to date. Because of the expense involved in developing hybrids, seeds and plants can be quite expensive.

There are yearly introductions of hybrids to the market. And, for 2008, we have selected a few that seem to be spectacular.

Jackson & Perkins is well known for its hybrid roses. One that caught our eye this year is a new introduction called "Mardi Gras." A floribunda rose, it has received rave reviews for its unique carnival of colors and enormous bloom production. The plant produces apricot-orange buds that open slowly to reveal bright pink and yellow blooms with a yellow base - quite lovely. The plant grows to about four feet high and produces four-inch blooms. It has a light fragrance.

Burpee Seed Company is well known as a staple in the seed industry. This year, there are two flowers to look for. "Fanciful Stardust" is a hybrid impatiens type with rose-like blooms touched with a pixie dust effect. The flower combines double petals that combine the fanciful and stardust type impatiens in one lovely flower. The plant is covered in blooms all seasons and is a love shade of orange and pink.

Also from Burpee is a hybrid zinnia called "Bowie." It produces an intensely colored, long-lasting flower. Blooms are three-to-five inches in diameter and have a prominent center surrounded by bright rose, with scarlet and yellow petals. It flowers non-stop all summer. And, for once, here is a zinnia that is somewhat rust resistant.

Rhodoland is a hybridizer of rhododendrons. This staple of sophisticated gardens how has two lovely additions. Keep an eye out for "Inamorata," with a lovely bright white flower that produces large blooms. Also of interest is their "Orange Schnapps X Yellow Pippin" cross that produces a beautiful, translucent orange flower with pink centers.

While still February, it is not too early to start ordering seeds for the coming season. Some of the newer hybrids are worth keeping an eye out for.

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.

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