I think this one is pretty

Very pretty tho.

Its ok. Not going on my list.

I hesitate when I see big, heavy flowers like this because I just hate it when they get floppy. White flowers already tend to bruise...maybe it's just this picture in particular but those blossoms in the center that almost look inside out make me wonder if it is quick to drop blooms. This one would be a solid no from me unless I had some very convincing firsthand opinions.

Too bad it doesn't make the cut and does not bloom true Aegis. My first impression was that it had a pretty halo of color on the edge of the bouquet, and by looks alone would be worthy of my own consideration.

It's funny you should ask about Paolo as I was just checking it out today. I was drawn to it because I was looking for a substitute for Fredette's Feather, which I have been on a waiting list to get for about 9 months. It has "rays" or veins, which Paolo's purple resembles a little bit. I think I am going to go with Kei-Yoki instead, which actually does have rays (which remind me of irises), even though I'm not really a fan of green edges. If you are set on white with purple check out Violet Barn's Russian section. They have a lot of newer varieties in different combinations of light purple/lavender and white. Not pushing the Russians, but I just happened to see them. If you are just looking for light purple/lavender/lilac without white, let me know as I have a list that I was compiling for myself. Right now, I have Wrangler's Swinging Blues in that shade. It's supposed to be double blue, frilled flowers, with a variable green edge but it really is purple and has lovely pink, white and green variegated foliage.

Key-Yoki is a good floriferous plant - 2 issues - the blossoms vary from plant to plant - they can be frilly and green edged - no rays - and pale, open with good rays, but no green. I grew 4 last year - and one was looking very close to the Granger's Heart's Desire. The second issue - leaves are very curly - some growers love it - some don't.

Thanks for the tip. Since I don't really like green edges, mine would probably have no rays and bright green edges! I may have to check out that Heart's Desire; very interesting. A chimera looking bloom without the hassles! Being a vintage, though, it will probably be just as hard to find as Feather. I know what you mean about the curly leaves. I like them, but it's hard to shape them up if you want to show.

Feather is very hard to start, - at least for me - doesn't give many babies, the leaves are so juicy - they rot easily. Heart's Desire is a work horse. Easy, Still very wavy leaves make an unruly rosette, Very stable, never sports ... ever...

That's about what Donna from Bloom Lovers said, which is why I did not want leaves, but a plant. I figured that if it was so tricky for someone with her experience, it would be a waste of time for me to mess with starting leaves. I may wind up being disappointed but I'm willing to take a chance. Heart's Desire would probably be good to have as an alternate. I also like the looks of Kei-Yoki, but as I mentioned, I'm not big on green edges. I really want something with the accentuated ray-like pattern, probably because I love irises but can't have any since they're poisonous to cats. I have also put out feelers for Midnight Radiation.

Also found this Russian one, Zolushkin Con (Com or Son, have seen it spelled multiple ways) but can't it in the US. Looking at various photos, it does not always have the rays. I will probably get a few different ones then keep the one that works best for me. I don't want to keep multiple varieties in the same color or pattern.

Cajun's Royal Heir has similar veins, but is lavender. This one could give Paolo a run for the money.

A good line of Zolushkin Son - hazel2eyes on ebay - she will start selling in a month.

Midnight Radiation is very pretty - but the flowers are small and it is a dropper. Easy plant.

Never tried Cajun's Royal Heir. Most of Cajuns have very curly leaves. And most of them are really good plants, often XLarge. Highly curly leaves are not easy to grow for show. It is possible - but requires some babying.

That is all good to know. Feather is not a sticktite either, from what Donna told me. As I said, I may be disappointed with it, which is why I am looking into some other alternatives to try in my growing conditions. Here is a photo of a "shaped up" Royal Heir...

Feather has large flowers and it holds them quite well before dropping. Very stately plant and the veining on the blossoms is very stable, the lines do not smear. So if you get it and it adjusts to your conditions = you will be very happy with it, There some plants that do not take well to be even a little bit waterlogged - and this is one of them. Probably extra perlite in a soil is an answer.

Now, that sounds like my kind of plant! I can't wait to see it in person.

Feather blossom

Hi, Corinne,

I had many of the same interests as you about 1 to 2 years ago. I started to complile a list of the colors from Lyon's in the range you mentioned and sought many of the same plants that you find intriguing. I would enjoy seeing your list.

Anyway, these days, I am happy with Donna's own hybrids.

Joanne

I will post that in a day or two. The reason I made a "Wish List" is to compare choices so I don't wind up with several of similar plants. Of course, sometimes you get it and either you don't like it, or it doesn't like you!

Thanks for the photo, Irina. You never really know how they are going to look from pictures, do you? That is why it is so helpful to have people who actually have them fill you in on the details. Here are two photos of Feather and Midnight Radiation by the same photographer as an example:

Now, I would have picked Midnight Radiation as the more dramatic of the two, (plus I am looking for more of a blue shade), but I have seen other photos of Radiation that are really purple, and you say the blossoms are small. I would have never known that from this photo comparison. (Note that the Feather pix has been enlarged, looking at the caption.)

Lovely flowers on that Zolushkin you posted. Haven't seen a pattern like that before.

Zolushkin Son (Cinderella Dream) in description is of white and orchid color with strawberry veining. So the photo from a Russian site Samarafialki.ru is correct in a pattern - but the colors are off - orchid is a reddish tint of purple - not blue, We all know that blue and purple practically never gets photographed right.

MIdnight Radiation blossoms are about half of the size of Feather flowers. But they are sure bright.

Corinne - you are correct - it is not a big problem when you get two of the same type of blossoms - usually AVs from different hybridizers and different "hometown" have a lot of differences in how they look and grow. Rosette is a very important part of the AV beauty. You need to see them both size by side growing in your home conditions to decide which one will stay - and which needs a new home.

Some of these plants are really stunning. My list just got a little longer!

Corinne, only if you have time. Lyon's has quite a lot of light and medium blues in their catalogue.

Aegis, I heard the Opera series were good. However, I was unable to find any. However, after some disappointment with unpredictable Playful Spectrum, I decided I did not care for the color combo. Too nessy.

Joanne

Yes, I bought a few from them last year; some turned out to be blue and others more to the lavender shade. That's why I'm being more cautious in my choices these days. If you are wanting one color combination and it turns out to be something else, it can be disappointing.

The name "playful spectrum" says it all. I had two I purchased from a local grower. One was mostly white with pink and sprinkles of blue. The other, more blue. Neither was great.

I like the plants to look good from across a room, not just up close or under lights.

I do like that Lyon's is always tinkering. But some do well only under lights.

Nice fluffy kitty, by the way!

I'm like you, I like to keep it simple and know at least the plant will be at least close to what it is supposed to. The kitty is pretty, isn't it, and it looked like it was dancing in a field of flowers, which looked like fun! I think ideally, that's the way our plants should make us feel, don't you?

Yes!

Corinne, By the way, I recall a discussion about blue color on this forum a few years ago where it was explained it is difficult to get what we consider to be the color blue. They usually tend to be lighter tones of purple or violet. That helped my expectations in my search. Joanne

Glad you bumped this thread Joanne. Such gorgeous flowers on here for us to oogle!