.The featured theme of the NZ Daffodil Annual , 2015 was on Poets . Excellent articles on aspects of the NZ poet scene were written by Trevor Rollinson, Colin Crotty , Denise McQuarrie and Ron Abernathy , – well worth a read .This is for the many poet lovers out there , a quick summary of the 2015 poet season as I saw it .
.Always the last for the season ; they were running late in our slow spring 2015 .Wilf Hall is the main supplier in our Central region , although they are shown by most exhibitors .We had no poets at the Otaki show , 4 September ; the next weekend was the North Island National , the open collection class – 6 blooms , Graham Miller ahead of Wilf , only two collection entries , notably they were all unnamed seedlings , either Wilfs or from Max Hamilton . From the entries in the singles , Graham Phillips was the best of 4 and took the Premier with the John Hunter raised CRONKITE . Rongotea , Thursday 17 Sept was the first I saw for the season .Wilf had 3 nice seedlings that showed the variation he is getting .
The winning bloom had the very finest of red rims . WP – 61
Breeding JMH ( Max Hamilton ) 114 – 03 – x – RONDO .
The other seedlings from Rongotea , – no pedigree – from OP .unknown poet .
I asked Wilf if there was a system to his WP seedling numbers , – no , certainly not in the low numbers – early seedlings which were all open pollenated poets that were not recorded .All this tells is that the poets will self seed and that they will give a good variation of poets , with , as Wilf said , no sign of other than poet forms .Only two of Wilfs seedlings in this post have known pedigrees , but the line is rather short circuited as the other parent is one of the very many Max Hamilton seedlings that are becoming well distributed but are of unknown pedigrees .RONDO is the known parent used and as have been discussed in other posts on poets , it is a very versatile flower and obviously a good parent . RONDO is a Kiwi oldie , first flower 1945 , reg 1958 , breeder Alexander Ahrens , unknown pedigree but proven parent .
Wanganui was the show in the middle week between the Nationals – 19 September . Quite a few poets on display with the Premier going to Wayne Hughes with a very round Ocean Song .
The South Island National was 26 September and as expected , more poets were flowering .However the season was also late in the South and the only two collection entries were from the North ; Wayne Hughes ahead of Graeme Miller . Graeme used all Max Hamilton seedlings .The S I singles had 7 entries but the Premier went to the Millers with JMH 11 – 062 .
Our last show was the Combined Late Show , Normanby , 3 October and it was the best display of poets for the season .The Premier was a fine Hoot Owl grown by John , who had several vases of Nz poets . A attractive Kiwi vase , from Wilf , was one seedling and 2 other NZ registrations .
WISP RIM , – – Isabel Dreaver 2001 , unknown pedigree
CLANCY McQuarrie 2010 , – – Rondo – x – Cantabile
WP – 34 Wilf Hall , Rondo – x – JMH 114 – 03
WP – 34 has an attractive orange / red cup – 9W – ORR
The other vase from Wilf again showed good poet variations , including the all yellow eye .
DISC EYE , – Isobel Dreaver 2012 Unknown . 9W – GYR
WP – 3 Wilf Hall , – – Unknown 9W – GYY
WP – 40 Wilf Hall Unknown 9W – GYR
DISC EYE
WP- 3 ” Yellow – Eye ”
A strong winning vase from John Hollever that was all the traditional poet form .
HOOT OWL , – UNKNOWN , – GLENLOSSIE .
The Premier Poet HOOT OWL Reg 2005 , Unknown , bred Max Hamilton .
Last Post for the season , – Seasons greetings to all – have a great Northern Daffodil Spring . We look forward to many bright , informative postings on DAFFNET . Cheers John .
Hi John,
Thanks for your many postings recently showing this years flowers. The progress in the breeding of the poets has been amazing in the last few years, there are several dedicated hybridists in New Zealand in this division and their efforts are being well and truly rewarded. As they say the best is yet to come.
It is apparent that many of the seedlings have varieties bred by the late Max Hamilton in their pedigrees. Max may have been a leading hybridist of doubles but in time it may prove that his early work in the poeticus division may be his greatest horticultural achievement.
Its great to see what is being shown in other areas of the country. I am sure that all daffnet members appreciate the photographs and the very informative commentaries that you give with them.
Robin