Tracey said:I can't imagine I would have culled that one.
I can.
Before its day it might have been worthy, but there are so many lilies that are very similar now.
Now I can't say if the foregoing is all true, since photos can play tricks sometimes, but this is what I see that doesn't sit well as a top class entry:
--- Buds rising like airborn rockets already too high in the sky. Very distracting.
--- A large open space on the stem just below the flowers - no leaves.
--- Foliage is clean, but nothing to crow about either.
I am sure (and actually, obviously) Fred had better ones to continue his breeding. Still, it's a level of quality I would be happy with for me!
A friend of mine bought one of Terry Willaby's (sp?) martagon rejects at our North Star Lily Society sale a couple years ago. The result was a solid red, perhaps with a tinge of orange mixed in (no maroon tinting at all) and an open form. Quite stunning.
