Re: CULT:DisappointingTBs

Hello Folks,

I'm finding this a tough category.  For all their durability and ability to
give you bloom under the most trying conditions, I'm disappointed much of
the time in the results.  The form of the disappointment is the problem.
Cultivation practices not up to par?  Weather uncooperative?  The plant
itself at fault?   It's difficult to determine what may be the case.  But
upon consideration, I decided the characteristics that make for a truly
disappointing plant would be those that one should have reasonable
expectations of seeing dependable performance under conditions that seem to
work for many of the surrounding brethren.  For that reason, it is limited
to TBs only.  The arilbreds come with different expectations, so I don't
judge similar performance quite the same.  Same with the medians that have
been the most difficult class to keep happy here.  SIBs and LAs I can put to
insufficient cultivation methods at the present time.  Spurias take longer
to establish, so the verdict is still out.  I went back to my (unfortunately
extensive) attrition list.  I eliminated those that hadn't had several years
of effort put into growing them and concentrated on those I voluntarily sent
out of the garden.  But there are still those on my list that I continue to
fool with and try to find the correct balance and see if I can get them to
perform.

So....

HELLO DARKNESS for all the reasons Walter mentioned.  After 5 years, this is
the year it bloomed out.  But not disappointed in how it looks.  All the
stalks have been nice.  Even this last year when it bloomed the size of an
IB, it stayed in perfect bloom proportion to a 16" stalk.  I could live with
that if only it would ever make a decent clump.

GOOD SHOW.  6 years it's been here and finally I saw the first bloom -
stunted by the freeze.  Nice color and it actually grows and increases okay,
but it simply is unwilling to bloom here.

KAMORA.  Gone now.  Voluntary removal.  Pretty for about 5 seconds, but once
our Texas sun got hold of it, it faded to the miserable color of muddy water
or a wet paper sack.   After several years I simply gave up and gave it
away.  This effect of fading is a problem under my conditions for the whole
color class, the bronzes, brown and tan tones and reds.  I treasure those
that are sun resistant and those that fade into an acceptably nice color -
but they are a minority.  I keep trying since the colors are some that
appeal to my personal taste, but I'm frequently disappointed in the results.

YAQUINA BLUE.  Okay, it was pretty enough.   But not especially remarkable,
I thought.  Then it bloomed out.  Since I liked BREAKERS as well, along with
several others in a similar color, I just didn't replace it.  I expected
something more and I guess it just wasn't there to my eyes.

BLACK FALLS.  Well named, because the falls are the blackest I've seen.  But
not proportioned well.  I hate those little twisted up standards.  On top of
that, the falls were horizontal to the ground, so in order to see it well
one has to look straight down on the bloom.  An aggravation indeed when the
stalks are as tall as this one.  In the end, it diminished on its own into
oblivion.  Still an interesting bloom due to those falls, just didn't quite
get the act together.

BONNIE DAVENPORT.  Probably better than THORNBIRD in some ways - wider
hafts, stronger stalks.  Also an eager bloomer.  But while THORNBIRD is an
acceptable addition in the garden, I really don't want any look alikes.
Still here, though.  Appears to be a strong and vigorous plant willing to
bloom reliably.  Still, when I really need the room it takes...........

KID'S CLOTHES.  Not my style.  Sounded interesting in the description, but
was busy, busy, busy.  Like adding a bunch of unneccessary decoration on the
clean lines of Queen Anne furniture, the pattern put me off.  Gone now.

TOASTED WATERMELON.  Just how much of an improvement over COPPER CLASSIC is
it?  I had them side by side and couldn't tell them apart.  My expectations
were too high for it, I guess.  Anyway, it didn't survive after several
seasons of our unrelenting summers.

ZEBRA STRIPES.  Well, for stripes I'll still take the variegated pallida
that's readily available.  Much more distinctive.  I guess the bloom is
something of an improvement if the assumption is that a more modern form is
an improvement.  Frankly, I even preferred the pallida again as I found it
more naturally graceful and not as clunky.  ZS isn't at the top of modern
form anyway.  Anyway, it also didn't like my summers and despite trying to
salvage it over several seasons, it finally diminished into nothing.
Probably would be an interesting and useful parent, though, if one were
using it to get variegated foliage and working toward putting a modern bloom
on them.

OKLAHOMA CRUDE.  Here for 6 years now and I've never seen an attempt at
bloom.  What to do with it?  That's the question every year and every year
it gets another chance.  Probably needs a home it likes better.

MOUNTAIN MAJESTY.  A grand bloom, Texas sized in every way.  Just
spectacular in the garden.  But has the HELLO DARKNESS syndrome here and
bloomed out finally.

STOP THE MUSIC.  I simply haven't found anything quite comparable yet.  It's
beautiful and as far as I can tell unique in the close to true red on
silvery white.  But it was frustrating to put so much effort only to have it
continually die away.   I'll probably try it yet again anyway.  Maybe, with
a little luck.........

Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7b, USA




 

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