Towards the end of his struggle with cancer, Ron received very loving, intensive care from several Hospice ladies, whom he referred to as his Circle of Women. To honor their sincere devotion and assistance, Ron had designated a beautiful hybrid cultivar to be named in their honor - and here it is: Circle of Women. This cultivar puts forth a 6” flower, firmly held high above the foliage on sturdy 24” scapes that support a bud count of 22 per scape, minimum – and on four-way branching. The blossom is somewhat rounded, overall, with petals recurving slightly at the tips. The petals are half again as wide as are the sepals. The bright, plum self coloration (RHS 185C) is carried strongly and purely on both petals and sepals, all above a bright green throat (RHS 144C) which lightens as it rises into a corona of lighter orchid-plum (RHS 70C) that accents the base of all the petals. Occasionally, a hint of a beige-gold wire occurs on the lightly ruffled edges of the petals. The substantial, lanceolate foliage is plentiful, and is a rich, medium green (RHS 135B). It is consistently strong and nearly streak-free. This hybrid blooms in mid-season in East Central Illinois - for most of July. It is fertile as both a pollen parent and a pod parent – and it’s fully dormant in winter. Ron created this cultivar, 97-26-1, in 1997, by crossing Big Blue and Abba. Circle of Women is a sturdy, dependable hybrid, remaining surface-reflective and physically firm on all but the very hottest, most humid days in East Central Illinois – that’s 100 degrees and 80% humidity. Only then will this beauty begin to display a slight “crepe-ness” and edge-darkening. Otherwise, its’ beauty is stable from opening to dusk. |