How great was that! You were able to enjoy your flowers after all! They are all beautiful, some may be a bit pale, but still very lovely. Flamenco Queen is just beautiful and Emerald is soft and wispy..I guess what they are saying now is that you may be able to pollenate a cut flower and bring it to seed just on the stem. Did you try? What an opportunity for an experiment!

Donna

I was going to try and pollinate multiple flowers however I noticed that the point where the flowers all connected to the scape were weak looking. The flowers had to be propped up or they would all face downward on the scape. I attributed this weakness to the scapes being cut prior to obtaining enough energy to produce strong flowers. The weaker the connection point was for the flowers the shorter the scape stalk.

I hope my description makes sense. I do think that what you describe would work but it did not seem a great idea with my flowers. I collected to pollen and brought it back for stronger flowers to enjoy :)

Now see, didn't they make nice cut flowers?! And yes, having to pick early means paler ones but still you got to enjoy them! I have never managed to actually get fertile seeds from a cut one but I have gotten half way there. Maybe next time a drop of bleach in the water.....

Did you fly to Arizona or drive? I am wondering if you had any hassles taking them on the plane. Did you carry them in water or dry?

Your pic of Flamenco Queen helps me ID my blooming plant that was labeled Apple Blossom. Unforunately it took a nose(petal) dive and broke the flowering stalk and dumped the bulb on my bedroom carpet. Interesting to note that though in a small pot (tucked in a larger heavier pot) the root development was quite good. repotted it and cut the stalk and placed it in a glass of water. New bulb blooming labelled Elvas is not; it's Dancing Queen!

Even with paler flowers my family and I enjoyed them greatly. I flew on a plane and the total trip was maybe 8 hours. I cut off the top of a big disposable water bottle and filled it with water. Before I went threw security I dumped out the water. I did not have any problems or hassles with security. In fact many fellow travelers were very interested in my flowers. After I got threw the security line I filled the water bottle with water from the restrooms.

If you have to travel and will miss your flowers blooming I Highly recommend cutting the scapes and taking them with you :)

As a side note I checked a suit case with many bulbs I was taking home to AZ. I have done this many times with no problems. I joked with my fellow passengers that were shocked that I could bring the cut flowers on the plane that I looked very dangerous carrying my flower scapes. You never know what crazy flower people will do.

Tiarella, I'm very surprised that you got a Flaminco Queen instead of an Apple Blossom...Flaminco Queen is a fairly new variety..and most of us are just acquiring ours this year for the first time! You were lucky to get this one in a mislabel..!

Donna

The luck of the Irish! And to add to the drama my Red Lion is coming out with what looks like a white flower.

Tiarella, where did you get these bulbs? lol

Flamenco! Donna! :-) Spanish dance! No birds! :-)

Oh Oh, should have been an "e"...but the bird is a "g" (isn't it ?) :-)

Donna

Josh, bought both bulbs from Target under the Smith and Hawkins name. I bought 3 bulbs and the 3rd one was a Christmas gift to my sister-in-law. I have been trying to contact her to see extactly what she received. It should be Red Lion.

So beautiful and such deals!!