Gladiolus MM 21-496

Seed parent: MM 14-105d (G. watsonius x gracilis)

Pollen parent: MM 17-28b (violaceo-lineatus x priorii) X ((gracilis x priorii) x violaceo-lineatus)

MM 21-496a

MM 21-496b

Gladiolus MM 21-487

Seed parent: MM 17-60b ((G. gracilis x priorii) x unknown) X ((gracilis x priorii) x (gracilis x priorii))

Pollen parent: MM 17-60a ((G. gracilis x priorii) x unknown) X ((gracilis x priorii) x (gracilis x priorii))

MM 21-487a

Gladiolus MM 21-402

Seed parent: MM 14-105b (G. watsonius x gracilis)

Pollen parent: MM 15-36a (gracilis x priorii) X (gracilis x priorii)

MM 21-402a. Very pretty, kind of a tropical sunset effect.

The flowers open lighter; this was the first day.

MM 21-402b

Gladiolus MM 21-321

Seed parent: MM 16-52a (G. watsonius X ((gracilis x priorii) x unknown))

Pollen parent: MM 15-38c (G. violaceo-lineatus x (gracilis x priorii)) X ((gracilis x priorii) x violaceo-lineatus)

MM 21-321a

Gladiolus MM 21-119

Seed parent: MM 15-38c (G. violaceo-lineatus x (gracilis x priorii)) X ((gracilis x priorii) x violaceo-lineatus)

Pollen parent: MM 16-52a (G. watsonius X ((gracilis x priorii) x unknown))

MM 21-119a

MM 21-119b

Gladiolus MM 21-364

Seed parent: MM 16-52a (G. watsonius) X ((gracilis x priorii) x unknown)

Pollen parent: MM 17-62a (((tristis x (gracilis x priorii)) x carinatus) X ((gracilis x priorii) x violaceo-lineatus)

MM 21-364a. The colors are a bit dull, but I like the intricacy of the markings.

MM 21-364b. I wish the yellow were brighter, but zoom in and check out the midlines in the lower tepals. There's a thin line of bright red outlined in purple.

Gladiolus MM 21-47

Seed parent: MM 17-48b (G violaceo-lineatus x (priorii x gracilis) X unknown

Pollen parent: Gladiolus unknown

This hybrid has a couple of unknown ancestors, which implies to me that the flowers may be self-fertile, since I grow them in screenhouses that keep out most insects.

I say "most" because this particular flower was attacked by something, probably a cutworm. I've learned the hard way that cutworms get into my beds despite my best efforts, and if I'm not on the lookout they will eat the flowering stems of my Glads down to stubs. In this case I spotted the damage when I had half of one bud left. The stripes look promising, but I'll have to wait until next year to see the full flower.

Spraying the bed once a year with an insecticide keeps down the worms, and since the beds are enclosed I don't have to worry about accidently killing beneficial insects. But I often forget to spray at the right time.

MM 21-47a