Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Geranium flowers on a Christmas tree?  Well, I did it this past Christmas!  Sure, some of the single blooming ones didn't last long, but the doubles and rosebuds lasted quite a while!  I have created some more pages (see links on the right side of this blog) with articles that I have written over the years.  I will add more in time if there is interest.

'Grainger's Tanya'

Years ago I used 'Don's Silvapearl, in my hybridizations efforts.  I crossed it with 'Ivory Snow' in hopes of creating some variegated seedlings.  No luck in making variegated plants, but I did produce this beauty called 'Grainger's Tanya'.  Once again, this photo does not do the plant justice, but its a thick growing dwarf with double pink-bluish blooms.  I have a lot of people claim that the colour seems to glow and is nearly indescribable as its not really pink nor blue/lavender.  I was later told by a very wise lady that 'Ivory Snow' would not make an ideal plant parent as its a fancy leaved sport, and therefore less likely to pass on variegated genes.  Oh well...at least this baby was a happy surprise.  Last year a lady bought most of stock for her wedding tables!  If that's not a passing grade I don't know what is!

'Grainger's Dark Vader'

One of the darkest near-black leaved varieties I have bred is called 'Grainger's Dark Vader'.  It seems to be a popular variety with the rich foliage and semi-double bright red blooms.  Darth Vader did have a red light sabre after all.  Who said you cant love star wars and geraniums, right?  It was named on May the 4th a few years ago...

 Massive amounts of clones are growing (Attack of the Clones?) and the bulk of my seed production begins this week. 

'Grainger's Aralia'

When breeding new pelargoniums every hybridizer has characteristics in mind that they are after in producing new varieties.  'Grainger's Aralia' was a happy surprise from breeding 'Jericho' (a tricolour stellar bred by Ian Gillam) and 'Bold Imp'.  And while I didn't get any tricolour stellars, I did get this nice dwarf golden leaved plant with double soft pink blooms.  This picture does not do it justice, so hopefully I will upload a better one in time.

Spring is here, and despite some really gloomy weather here in Ontario, things are growing well in the greenhouse.  It was a mild winter all in all, and my stock has done well.