*CHAMPAGNE PARTY


*CHAMPAGNE  PARTY (Stamile, P) TET 042-A (Taos X Tetra Champagne Elegance) 23” EMRe. SEv. fr. emo. ext. 6” x 4” x 2 ½”. 3-4 way branching. 25 buds.  Having a flower bloom early and open easily in cool weather with the form of Tetra CHAMPAGNE ELEGANCE and the hardiness of TAOS was the plan. I expected creams and pastels from this cross but was delighted by this beautiful champagne pink with a birds eye throat.  According to studies by Holton and Cornish (1995) this may be an example of different enzymes in the synthesis of cynanidin being blocked in both parents. Both alleles for one of the five enzymes needed for pink are non-functional in Tetra CHAMPAGNE ELEGANCE. Both alleles for another of the five enzymes are non-functional in TAOS. Combining these two together resulted in a good number of pinks because all the offspring got at least one good copy of the gene for coding pink.  The beautiful round form of this flower with its precise deeply fluted ruffling is but part of the presence of this flower. What is truly remarkable is the consistency of bloom. Every bloom seems to be carefully mastered as if checked for quality before opening. A lovely flower and beautiful addition to the garden. Fertile both ways.