*WINIFRED ESTHER

(N. Ripley 2011) Tet. 05NR373 (Odds & Ends X Mildred Mitchell). 7.5"-8" Height 32", Dormant in zone 4, 3-way branching, 20-25 Buds, Extended Blooms Em. It is my pleasure to name Winifred Esther for a good friends, sweet mother. Unusual form Cascade, the hotter the weather the more Winifred Esther cascades. Diamond dusted luscious saturated large pink petals and sepals, with light bluish eye and matching double picotee edge. Winifred Esther shows some white teeth on the edge of petals when the weather is hot. The foliage is always clean, low and arching. There are so many scapes on the three year old clump you see very little foliage. Flowers never gets hung-up, and open early even in cooler weather. Finding a tall, large, hardy fancy ruffled edged flower with lots of buds that sets pods in the North is exciting. The flower is over 7.5" in my garden, on a nice 3 year old clump. 3 to 4 way branching is the norm for Winifred Esther with over 20 buds per scape. Always a show stopper. Winifred Esther is lined in the field garden which is our coldest garden, and has proven very hardy in our zone 4. First bloom was sighted in Mothers Garden planted in 2005, and has been a favorite. Winifred Esther is proving to be an excellent parent. Double fan, $25.00.

OFFSPRING OF 'WINIFRED ESTHER'

Walkabout Gardens