Narcissus August - September 2024 Southern Hemisphere

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It's been a good Daffodil Season here. In the first week:
1) Narcissus 'Snook' & a cream N. bulbocodium hybrid from Keira Bulbs (1st August)
2) Narcissus 'Snook' (2nd Aug)
cheers
fermi

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In the second week:
1) Narcissus tazetta cv (8 W-O) on 9th August
2) Narcissus 'Golden Rain' (4 Y-Y) 9th Aug
3) A couple of white Hoop Petticoat Daffodils (10 WW) on 9th Aug
4) Narcissus hispanicus (12th Aug)
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Fermi,

Thank you for sharing the photographs.

If one checks things out on DaffSeek one will find that Snook was bred by Glenbrook Bulb Farm in Tasmania. Keira Bulbs is a retailer in your region? Snook has been in the U.S.A. for many years and is the parent of a number of hybrids both as a seed and pollen parent. Most of the registered hybrids have been around for a while too. Are you growing any of the offspring of Snook?

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Robert,
Yes, 'Snook' is a Glenbrook introduction, but I think I got it from Keira Bulbs along with the cream N. bulbocodium cv.
I haven't grown any of the descendants nor have I grown any seedlings from it - but I live in hope
cheers
fermi

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Coincidentally, Graham Fleming from Keira Bulbs was the speaker at the AGS Vic Group meeting yesterday!
He gave an impressive talk on "Our World of Miniature Daffodils" - acknowledging that groups like the AGS (UK), SRGC and The American Daffodil Society have been the main supporters of miniature daffs at Shows.
A few members brought daffodils bought from Keira Bulbs over the years including an impressive pot of Glenbrook's 'Swagger' shown by member John F. I brought a couple of N. cyclamineus hybrids from KB.
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Fermi,

Thank you for the information! 

I like the bicolor of Swagger – at least it looks bicolor to me. It must have inherited the characteristic from Gipsy Queen. I’m not sure where this characteristic came from. Breeding is full of surprises.

Our first autumn blooming Narcissus have yet to show above the soil. Something should show with the next month. The earliest Hoops will not be blooming until late December – early January depending on the weather. Many of our new hybrids should start blooming this year. Maybe something good will show up. Fun! 

[fermi de Sousa]

...Breeding is full of surprises.
Many of our new hybrids should start blooming this year. Maybe something good will show up. Fun! 

Yes, growing from seed is fun - my hybridising is yet to produce anything spectacular but I'll keep dabbling.
Here are some more in flower now:
1) Narcissus tazetta from seed from Seeds of Peace - first flowers
2) Narcissus pachybulbus
3) Narcissus bertolinii
4) Narcissus 'Rapture'
5) Narcissus 'Virivest'
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Fermi

I agree, especially with Narcissus, in many cases the bar is very high when it comes to creating something better. Here in California, I think in terms of regional improvements, i.e. plants that perform much better here in the Central Valley of California. This can still be a high bar, however it seems more realistic for me. I like my ‘Jetfire’ hybrids and have the next generation of hybrid seed to plant out this autumn. It will be maybe 5 to 10 years before I see any results. Since I have a whole pipeline of new hybrids coming on every year now, the time frame does not seem as long. I kind of forget about the time span and think in terms of what new will be blooming during the coming season. With miniatures it is often an even shorter time span. It all fun and I like breeding Narcissus.

I like the last photograph, number 5. What is the name of this hybrid? Something got mixed up. The Narcissus pictured is not ‘Virivest’. I think that you posted ‘Virivest’ in the past. As I remember I asked you if it is pollen fertile. Did you ever find out?