I used to hybridize orchids,especially Cattleyas. In the late 1990′s, I was shipping my seedlings all over North America.
(I advertised in the American Orchid Society magazine) There was one cross (#99) that I couldn’t bare to sell any of because
the two parent plants were my two favourites. There were also far fewer seedlings than usual from the seed pod.
This cross was between BLC George King ‘Serendipity’ AM/AOS and BLC Peaceful Dawn ‘Orchidglade’ .
Two fabulous peachy cattleyas – imagine Angelina Jolie crossed with Brad Pitt as a flower.
Now, in February 2012, the first seedling of this cross has finally flowered ! 13 years ! And patience is not my best quality !
It is a beauty . A lovely and unusual colour combination, a very good shape and a strong fruit fragrance all combined from a dream gene pool .
Thirteen years from a tiny, microscopic seed is a miracle. But, daylilies flower in two years…
I am not sure they are as beautiful. How could they be ?