Simply luscious!

Donna, what a beauty! She is also on my favorite list. It's a shame though I can't get it make a seed pod.

Louana

Raspberry ricotta cheese

pie with toffee shards.

One of my favorites as well, though I wish it had shorter leaves. I find the leaves of Ruby Star to be particularly long and floppy. Try using its pollen on cybisters - I have been able to get seeds on both Evergreen and Bogota.

You've got a beauty Donna. Yes please try breeding to a cybister.Think of the rich color it could bring.

Maida

Thank you everyone for your positive comments!!♥♥

I had made up my mind that I wouldn't do much pollenating this season as I have sooo many seedlings growing from crosses last year and from seeds that were given to me but, once again I am faced with the temptation to dab away!! This is great news that cybisters will accept Ruby Star's pollen! As luck will have it I have two Evergreens sending a total of 4 scapes as well as an Exotic Star and an Opal Star with scapes. I fear I won't be able to stop myself although these bulbs are all new so basically not well rooted although they are all pushing up many lush leaves so perhaps there are some roots. I've found that the bulbs this year are in the best condition I encountered for years!! All sending up lush leaves as well as multiple scapes, going to be a good year!!

So, onward we move into the blooming season!! Donna☺☺☺

A little dab will do you. lol.

Maida

I'll bet not many remember that Brylcreem ad.....unfortunately, I do!!☺☺☺☺

My Ruby Star is about ready to bloom. Evergreen and Sophisticate will also be blooming at the same time. I guess I will be doing a little bit of dabbing also.

I have two more Stars to add to Ruby Star; Opal Star and Exotic Star!

All lovely! Which is your favorite???

Well now that depends. My first Exotic Star several years ago when it was new bloomed with 3 scapes each with "4" flowers, and at that time that was my favorite. This time only 2 flowers... Then my original Opal Star bloomed with all 4 flowers open at the same time and this one is struggling to get the 4th flower open. Ruby Star always gives 4 (second scape on this one has 5) flowers but this one isn't rooted and so the flowers aren't all lasting and it took forever for the 5th flower to open while the others are all wilted. In a perfect world on a rooted bulb I guess I'd have to say that Ruby Star on a rooted bulb (which I've had before) is No. 1, followed by Exotic Star and the Opal Star. They're all my favorites but if I could only have just one then it would probably be Exotic Star because you can breed with her!!

How about the rest of you...which of these 3 Stars is your favorite??☺☺☺ Donna

Well, I think I'll add Evergreen to the list. This is a new bulb and I think the stalk is going to degrade fast so I'd better enjoy the 8 flowers!!

Your opal star is a beauty. Mine wasn't that pretty. I hope it will get better next time it blooms.

She's beautiful, has 5 flowers and is fragrant!!! I have pollinated the back flower with papilio and she shriveled instantly, so there may be hope. I will say though that I have never been successfull getting seeds pods on Gervase other years but I'll keep trying!!

I'll just remind you all like Hans-Werner does to click on the photo to get the big picture.....

Donna,

What beautiful blooms, thanks for brightening up a cold winter day. I can't wait for mine to flower. With the exception of Jungle Bells, I have the same ones...let's just hope that they cooperate and flower this year. The bulbs look nice a fat but no scapes as of yet.

Oh and yup...I'm that old and definitely remember Brylcreem :-))))

Warm Regards,

Fred

Wow, what beauties, ALL of them! So glad I opened this thread!

Thank you both!!

All very beautiful Donna. I forgot how pretty red pearl is. Mine hasn't bloomed in 2 years. I need to buy a new one I miss her. Gervase never disappoints she blooms beautifully every year. I wish she would make pods. Did you say fragrant??? I never noticed. I need to make a note to smell her when she blooms.

Yes, she is fragrant in fact it was my husband who noticed it first!!☺☺ I may have noticed it a few years ago but I had forgotten.☺☺

I came back to look again! My favorite is Gervase. OOOH LA LA! Then Ruby Star.

Wow I love them all.. Sure is a site for the sore eyes of winter. Thanks for sharing .

If I get one blooming I am happy.. Its starting to go.

This is my new gifted bulb #0016 happily blooming with no roots! There are 4 lovely flowers not unlike Lima, but a bit smaller and perhaps a bit redder. I have plans to put papilio on one bloom and Exotic Star on another but haven't decided on the last two yet. Being a rootless bulb perhaps I shouldn't over burden her and just stick to the two pollination attempts, but don't know if I can resist the temptation! She would be much prettier if I hadn't removed her pollen but I am pleased. Donna☺☺

I would be pleased with it to Donna. I just love the color. Is it a cross?

Yes Louana, but not of mine. It was offered for 1 possibly 2 years by Royal Colors and then disappeared into the woodwork. I think it was an exclusive offer for Royal Colors' followers on Facebook, I got my original bulb from EBay and had it a few years. It bloomed well for the few years until the NBF scoured it out and even though I thought I could save it I couldn't. Then one of the many wonderful bulb faries on this forum sent me another one!!! How lucky was that!!! I love it!! My older bulb produced seeds and I am growing several crosses with #0016 in their genes but only one has bloomed so far. I never had the opportunity to try papilio so that will be my first this time! It really does look like a darker more miniature Lima and is as cute as a button!

Donna☺☺

I think a cross with papilio would be gorgeous. I'm really happy you ended up with another one. Thank god for our forum bulb faries.

I love your #0016 Donna , I am so happy seeing this bloom again, thanks for sharing.