I bought 'Bee's Bettie Sue' in the year of introduction, calling up Paul Downie as soon as I saw the image in the DJ. It has grown, multiplied, and flowered well but scarcely ever produces more than a crest or two. I've seen more cresting and irregularities in its parent 'Barbara Mitchell'. I asked Paul about the picture, he said "it doesn't always do that". He was rushing past on his way somewhere and that was all I learned.
I would love to know if that plant was grown under unusual conditions, perhaps a greenhouse? The outdoor conditions next door in Indiana are not greatly different from here in central Ohio. It produces large, solid seeds prolifically which so far have never been planted for lack of space and priorities. I admit I have never given it more than ordinary treatment - plant it, water to establish, then on its own. Our soil is fertile and most years we have plenty of rain.
I've had 'Wooster Mindcraft' for 2 years. It was undersized the first year but it has produced some interesting cresting near or in the throat on all of the 2 dozen or so flowers so far. It's not in the best location. I put it in a more sheltered spot closer to the house because I was unsure of hardiness but I don't think that's an issue. It's going into full sun in better soil in the garden beds after it flowers. It sets seeds well but the pollen is infertile. I have a lot of seeds sprouted now from last year's crosses. 😀 I find the flower color and texture more attractive than TFF or MS here.
'Texas Feathered Fancy' produced some mild cresting near the throat on the few flowers it produced before I neglected it to death after dividing it a few years ago. Even the "precious" are not safe here!
'Michael's Sword' was received last spring from a secondary source as 2 wimpy fans. One produced a scape with 2 wimpy flowers w a couple bumps on each. This spring there are 3 fans that are smaller than last year.
'Lavender Blue Baby' produces occasional odd crests.
'System of Edges' , a Curt Hanson tet, produces throat "frills" similar to 'Wooster Mindcraft'. I haven't seen any of the surface ridging higher up yet, if either does this.
'Little Miss Lucy' seems to be more like a variation of petaloid stamen doubling than surface cristation. 'Little Big Ears' seems to do some of everything! Endlessly fascinating. I managed to get one seed from it last year but it was inviable. Both of these have the pistil exposed days ahead of full open. I've tried pollinating them up to 3 days ahead with no response but I was mostly using one pollen parent. This year I'll try more.
This year I'll have more flowers on most of these to observe and cross. And I have a place to plant the seedlings!
Pat
