18.6.26 First blooms in test field

 There are some once-blooming (non-recurrent) seedlings which overwintered well, and I managed to save some old wood, so they could be able to bloom on it. 

Images (above -> bottom): Chateau de Cheverny x Soleil Brilliant, Chateau de Cheverny x Soleil Brilliant (full sibling to previous), Blue for You x Zigeunerknabe, Paco Rabanne x Prairie Peace, Blue For You x Ash Wednesday, Summer Song x Soleil Brilliant, Capri x Soleil Brilliant. 

I find it amazing to be able to cross with old roses, such as gallica hybrid, Soleil Brilliant, to expand genetic backround in its decendants. It is because if we breed only within modern roses, we may be quite limited, since genetics of modern roses was shown to be narrowed down to a considerably small number of progenitors.