Hello, and welcome to the forum! Congrats on your first Hippi flowers! What variety is it?

To answer your first question... I'm not an expert, but I don't think it matters which flower you pollinate with what pollen... if I'm self-pollinating a scape of flowers, usually four, I choose the anther that looks easiest to snip off without disturbing the flower too much, and has the nicest looking pollen on it. I then take it and dab the pollen all over the stigma.

I don't think it matters whether the anther of pollen comes from the flower you're pollinating, or one of the other three flowers. There could be more or less, but it's common for the hybrids to have four blooms per scape.

To answer your second question... I just shipped out some pollen to a friend, and I used coffee filter material to hold the pollen in. I took some regular coffee filters, flattened them out, and cut squares out of the center... about 3 inches square. I folded them into little envelope shapes. Then, I cut the tips off of several anthers, and while holding the folded filter material under the flower, let them fall into the little envelope. I set the open envelopes on a shelf for a few days to dry, and then I folded them closed and placed them all in another envelope and wrapped it so the little envelopes wouldn't move around, but wouldn't be crushed. I ship everything in Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes to avoid damage and to allow for shipment that gets to its destination quickly. I can pay a little extra for a tracking number, and track my packages online... this way, I know to be available to grab the package when it gets to me, before it has a chance to sit in the cold in my mailbox.

You have to remember that the Postal System uses machinery to cancel postage, and they're not very careful with packages or letters... so the best way to package fragile items is to immobilize them inside a sturdy box, making sure there is packing material all around the sides of your item. Some items are worth paying more than a single stamp price for. It's only around five dollars to ship a flat rate small video tape-sized box anywhere in the continental US. Priority Mail boxes are free at your local Post Office, and ensure your items get where they're going quickly.

I hope this answers some of your questions, and gives you a good idea of how I pollinate, and also how I send pollen in the mail. I'm sure others have some great ideas on pollination and how they ship pollen and seeds through the mail. You can also do a search here in the forum, which will net you tons of good information!

Good luck with your pollination! I hope you get lots of viable seeds!

Thanks Jodik! I appreciate your advice.

The bulb said it was "royal dutch" on the website and as soon as I can get some good pictures taken I'll post them to share with everyone.

Right now it doesn't look quite like the one in the link below, but its only been open for one day - I'm thinking it might change as it matures?

Here is a link that might be useful: Royal Dutch

The picture is beautiful! Sometimes, colors will change a bit as the flower ages and opens more... certain things like light and other environmental factors can affect Hippis...

Can't wait to see your picture of Royal Dutch!