Golden Dreams

[helixturnhelix]

I got this one for someone.  I hope it adds something to her current collection

[Charlie]

'Golden Dreams' is turning out to be a very good bloomer. The flowers are normally bright and cheerful but can vary a lot as seen in the winter photo posted below. Chris, I've not started hybridizing with 'Golden Dreams' yet but both parents (Dragon's Breath x Wild Dream) are seed setters so it's likely this one will set seed, too.

Charlie

[Nievesgirl]

The winter colors are very nice !

[helixturnhelix]

It is very interesting, how different those blooms are and how they are both very attractive.  In reading about winter colors, some CVs (I think it was gold mine) do not have very attractive blooms in the winter.  Others like Golden dreams and Belle du Jour seem to have equally beautiful blooms. 

[Charlie]

Right. Spotted blooms often lose their spots in winter, like 'Gold Mine'. The lavenders and blues tend to benefit tremendously to that combination of very warm days and very cool nights found in winter greenhouses. Their colors intensify to a level never seen during summer and should be considered an artificial novelty unless you have a greenhouse that is warm enough to get blooms in winter. White blooms tend to show more pink or yellow during winter which is sometimes an improvement and sometimes seems to ruin the "purity" of the bloom. As with all things hibiscus, color change in winter is a mixed bag and different cultivars act differently and the effect can change with every few degrees of temperature.

Charlie