Night Runner

[blupit007]

Charlie,
  I think this is the most unique looking bloom.  Is it a seed setter?  Have good pollen?  Is it a graft only variety?
~Kristen

[Charlie]

I'm surprised we did not have a Night Runner topic going already. It is a striking bloom, at its best the colors are fantastic. Unfortunately it is not a good plant, possibly the worst plant among today's most popular blooms. It grows slowly, flops and sprawls, although if you train it from a small plant by tying it up with bamboo poles or similar it can be trained to be mostly upright.

I've rooted it and grafted it without much difference in result but think it it probably best grafted. It does not make pollen in hot weather but when conditions are right it does make useable pollen. I don't think it sets seeds but am not positive about that - occasionally it might.

I have used it sparingly in hybridizing because I am trying to eliminate the worst traits of hibiscus bushes from future hibiscus. But it's hard to resist the colors of the flower so have crossed it successfully a few times. You might recall the bloom below which is a cross of Creme de Cacao x Night Runner. It has the multi-lobed leaves and is nicely upright. It also has rooted very well and will be offered in 2011. No name yet. Also below is a photo of Night Runner at its best or close to it.

I suppose if I was going to make room for 1 or 2 bad plants in my collection Night Runner might be one of them.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Hooray that seedling rooted! 

So I have at least one CV to look forward to next year

[blupit007]

 What an awesome bloom it is.  You are right about making room for one poor bush, this is defiantly the one!  So cool, so unreal!\

 The no name seedling, is it blue, grey, or brown?  With the orange rim?  If it is brown, I would call it Chocolate Run, for all those chocolate lovers out there who know what I am talking about.  Plus for who the parents are.  With big time horses, we name them after both their parents.  A bit of the mother (Night Runner) and a bit of the father (Creme de Cacao) = Chocolate Run!   Because you want people to know that this horse is a big shot!   But nevermind if it is not brown.

[helixturnhelix]

I remember someone suggesting the name summer shore, which I really liked because its a mixed drink which has CCacao in it!  It looks like a blue with orange edge to me

[blupit007]

Oh yeah, great memory Chris.  I like that one a lot.  Wasn't that Jordan?

[Charlie]

I like your concept for a name, Kristen. I did not realize horses were sometimes named this way but I've been doing it for years with hibiscus because it helps remember the new variety and just seems like a natural thing to do. In this case the seedling is clearly silvery blue when seen in person but I do have 2 other new flowers from this same cross that are brown. They may be too golden (or green?) and not chocolate enough for this name but I've attached them below. As you can see they are very different and quite unique but whether their uniqueness is attractive will be in the eye of the beholder. Anybody like one or the other of these?

Chris, thanks for the reminder about Summer Shore. I googled it and sure enough 2 bar recipe sites described it as a blend of Creme de Cacao, Coconut Liquor and some other stuff. I had to wade through Jersey Shore references to find it - apparently there is a lot of fancy drinking on that show which I've not seen before. Anyway, if Cindy agrees we will go with that I think. We have an agreement that both of us sign off on each name so that neither of us gets too far out there or whatever - you can get sort of delirious trying to come up with a lot of names!

Charlie

[blupit007]

I like 23.  Looks something fierce!

[helixturnhelix]

Nice brown seedlings!  I think chocolate run could be a nice name for those two!

Stay away from Jersey Shore, that show is such a train-wreck...

Looking forward to that one next year

[Darkhorse]

YAY!  It was me who suggested Summer Shore (due to the Creme de Cacao in the recipe, NOT Jersey Shore)  UGH!  If you ever make a social faux pas (sp?), though, watch it and it will certainly make you feel like you still have some class. 

[motherof4]

I agree I hate that show....both blooms are really pretty but I think I like the first one the best

[Charlie]

Better reception that I anticipated for these browns. I like them but have to be careful not to grow too many of something that sells slowly.

Jersey Shore must be something else, based on the unanimous groans coming back. Thank you, Jordan, for the Summer Shore idea.

Bit of a store update coming today. Cindy is putting 50 or so 4 inch plants, some new this year and some one of a kind, on the site in the next few hours. Not big plants now, but healthy and will grow nicely in a warm protected area this winter and bloom earlier next summer.

[helixturnhelix]

These store updates are always a bit dangerous...

[Charlie]

Window shopping can be fun, too! Probably beats studying for mid-terms. BTW, how's the new school?

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

LOL I do alot of window-shopping these days

Funny enough, I had my last midterm yesterday, really happy for veterans day, needed a break

The new school is really great!  Currently looking at design of bio-remediation stormwater retention systems.  I am sure Cindy knows about how stormwater is a the biggest influx of pollution in the Puget sound area (having lived in the area:), so looking at low cost and ecologically friendly alternatives to stormwater treatment facilities is really interesting.  It is also surprising how much biology is involved in environmental engineering, so I do not feel as far out of my element as I thought I would.  Its nice to have the big picture as the focus, rather than minute (often insignificant) details as the driving force.