#*!% fragrance!

In my iris beds, Queen Dorothy, Immortality, Golden Encore and Now and
Later are in bloom.

Also, attracted by the fragrance, are Cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles,
Rose chafers, and a host of others that I am not knowledgeable enough to
put a name to. These chompers make it impossible to enjoy the rebloomers
outside -- cutting stalks in 'fat bud' and bringing them in is the only
answer to an intact flower.

Why are many summer rebloomers also very fragrant? I have run down the
pedigrees and there is no common ancestor within a few generations behind
the early rebloomers. What IS shared in all cases, is a parent or
grandparent that is extremely fragrant. Sometimes it is a remontant such as
Perfume Counter or English Cottage, many times the stinker is a
non-rebloomer.

Why not breed for an odorless rebloomer?

What possible tie-in does fragrance have with a tendency to throw early
repeat bloom?

Best regards,

Mike Lowe, mikelowe@tricities.net   Virginia, USA
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