Serious rose breeding is not a hit or miss affair, rather, it is a directed quest toward a desired or hoped for result.

At times it may be a short term aim, an A plus B cross of similar varieties with known characteristics to get a different color or more desirable plant. For example, a cross of a red HT with a yellow HT for a different color flower on a more dwarf or more vigorous plant.

On the other hand, in any project for certain characteristics, say a bush type, red flowering moss rose, the time required involved many years with hundreds of crosses. My own work to produce this result - 'Scarlet moss', took over 30 years - and we are still at it. My goal for the bush type, repeat flowering crested, moss rose (beginning with Chapeau de Napoleon) - a.k.a. Crested Moss) has taken me over 30 years but I am seeing some of the desired (hoped for) results. I am near but not quite satisfied. So be patient.

Now consider several of our lates miniature roses and what was involved in their development. Each is very different. They are Playgold, Jacquie Williams, Sweet Hannah, Lovely Lorrie and Orange Parfait. See our Sequoia Nursery 1998 color catalog (due out in February) for descriptions and color photographs.

The following diagrams illustrate the crosses and generations of each aforementioned rose. Remember - each generation represents at least two to five growing seasons, oftentimes more; *from 12-59-10 to Playgold took 39 years!