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## 2002

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## 2003\4

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Rhodoland
My first new Rhodo  Hybrids

            Hybridizing Rhododendrons is a fantastic hobby, which can grow into a sort of obsession. So, you are warned!  Fom 1984 I started hybridizing rhododendrons. And of course it takes about 4 to 5 years before a seedling will flower. My first crosses were with what I had in my garden, and with pollen from elsewhere, sometimes also from the USA. In the first years I just tried out how it worked with the goal of just getting fine plants with good flowers. After some years I made more exact plans what kind of llowers I wanted, like double ones with dots all over - or real yellow flowering ones with good winterhardiness, like many hybridizers did. From 1997 on I also hybridized evergreen azaleas, also with plants from Germany and the USA. 
            A fact is, that also insects can be marvellous hybridizers, who can create wonderful new hybrids. Many fine hybrids are from onknown descent and good-doers.

            Here in Holland (western Europe) coldhardiness is an important item. We realize that after such cold winters as 1984\85- and '86  And yellow is quite difficult because the original yellow species are not very hardy. The best thing to do, is to use some existing hybrids that are reasonable hardy, like 'Goldkrone' and other hybrids from Hachmann and other hybridizers,  like seedling Z. 515 (see picture below to click on) But with a bit of luck, trial and error, I have a hardy hybrid Z. 504 from the cross  'Lem's Cameo' x 'Polynesian Sunset' x self, which is good hardy.
             We also have to consider, that  some pictures show fine flowers, but on a plant that is quite lousy. This is a subjective matter, tastes differ, but when I think that the plant as a whole is not good enough, it lands on the compost heap. Some Americans asked me, when some new hybrids would come into commerce. Well, I don't know now. One is, 'Helen Martin', (see below in the list), but many are still under observation. Propagation by cuttings or grafting takes time and TC-culture (in vitro) has some disadvantages, though Kenneth Cox from Scotland says that it's okay if done the right way! Especially in Holland and Germany there are doubts.
Anyway - I only want to introcuce a new hybrid, when it is an improvement of existing plants, or really a new and exciting plant in many aspects

(Note: Z. means zaailing=seedling)