Hybrid Tea Rose ‘Color Magic’

Hybrid Tea Rose ‘Color Magic’
1978 All-America Rose Selection

Another one of my favorite roses. The color, or should I say colors, are just amazing. What a perfect name breeder John Sheldon gave this rose. In his own words he describes it:

This passage is courtesy of :
www.helpmefind.com/rose/pl.php?n=1253

“Breeder John Sheldon provided the following information about this rose: Some roses fade in the sun, some roses darken in the sun, some roses actually change color in the sun. Roses such as 'Elina', 'Double Delight', 'Headliner', 'Color Magic' and 'Paradise' all show these traits. In my breeding program, I have worked on making them more dramatic and bringing in new genes. And it was an area of hybridizing that others were ignoring. At one point these traits were seen as faults. 'Double Delight' was almost discarded because it was thought to be just another WHITE rose. Only later were its phototropic characteristics seen when it turned red in the sun.”


I had to look up phototropic. It means the orientation of a plant or other organism in response to light, either toward the source of light (positive phototropism) or away from it (negative phototropism). Compare with heliotropism, phototaxis.

I guess someday I will figure out how to post a link here. Blogger’s Safari support kind of s^cks. This picture was taken at McKinley Park Rose Garden in Sacramento, California. It is a beautiful park and the rose garden is loaded with flowers and annuals. I must admit I felt wealthy as I strolled among the roses surrounded by Fan Palms and one of my favorite trees, the Phoenix Palm. I was in heaven as from there we drove over to the California State Capitol and the gardens there. Even though I got a parking ticket it was well worth seeing the Rose Garden and the other odd trees and plants they had planted. I had told the person we were visiting that I wanted to take some rose pictures and boy they didn’t disappoint.

Picture from last year of the Chelsea Flea Market in Manhattan



The other day when I went to Manhattan I visited the Chelsea Flea Market. It is always a fun place and while I was there someone told me about the indoor market up the street. I ended up buying an old notebook stuffed with pictures. It recounts Myrtle Taylor King and Dorothy King’s “Trip made to the Western Part of the U.S. in the summer of 1934.” It also recounts a trip made to the Chicago Worlds Fair. Ignoring Karen’s rolling eyes I bought Myrtle’s memories for $20 (about half of what the original price). I am going to be transcribing it, as soon as I can figure out the order the pages are supposed to be in.

It starts with (exactly as written):



“On Tuesday, July 3rd I took the train from the Pennsylvania Station for St. Louis, MO. The whole train was an air conditioned one. This was marvelous for the temperature was 97; the humidity was very great and it was thoroughly uncomfortable. The train left around 6 o’clock. We arrived in St. Louis the next day around noon. There it was 103. On the Missouri Pacific, by which way I went to Pueblo only the Dining Car and club lounge was air conditioned. As a result you avoided the Pullmans as much as possible and lived in the other two cars. The accompanying pictures show the Lounge Car, the chairs are very comfortable; there is a radio, writing desk and table and some magazines. Drinks of all kinds; both alcoholic and non-alcoholic were served here, as well as light refreshments."