Random Access

Well, the wait is over.
We were all wondering what the “special announcement” would be to honour Mayor Hazel McCallion at the “international tribute” (lots of Lexuses and Porsches driven by representatives of foreign consuls in the parking lot) put on by the Mississauga Board of Trade last Friday night.
The good news is that we did not get a life-sized statue of the mayor as predicted by the mayor’s not-good-friend Donald Barber. Problem with that is that they would have to put it on the top of the clock tower before anyone would notice it.
The better news is that the mayor is being honoured with the designation of a rose in her name. She’ll follow in the floral footsteps of people such as Silken Laumann, who has already has a miniature rose named for her.
Tried to check out the hybridization process for the McCallion rose to establish its parentage but Hortico Inc. in Waterdown, which will be distributing it this spring, is not releasing any more information at the moment. Wonder if you can file a Freedom of Information application on a hybridization process?
A colourful little card handed out at the dinner, which included three photos, gave us some hints about the flower.
It is a medium-sized pink-white bloom, with some yellow tinges, and is mildly scented on semi-glossy foliage. It is likely a floribunda, since it is described as an all-season bloomer.
We are assured that, since it is in the mayor’s likeness, it is vigorous, versatile and can be grown around most of the world.
The whole process got me thinking what characteristics you might want to include if you were trying to breed the perfect Hazel Rose.
First of all, I would not name it for the mayor at all. There is a famous cultivar called a Shropshire Lad, so why not The Gaspé Gal or maybe even The Queen of Streetsville?
The rose would have to be extremely hardy, not to mention tough, along the lines of the Explorer series already developed in Canada. It should be down to earth too, a rambler or a shrub rose, something that scrambles all over, implants its tentacles everywhere and won’t let go.
And yes, there must be thorns. Lots and lots of thorns to honour our lacerating leader.
Looked through an excellent, comprehensive web site at www.rose-roses.com to seek out potential crosses based on names and/or characteristics.
But then a little blurb on the front page stopped me dead in my tracks and made me realize that there is no rose that could really honour Her Warship.
There, in red type and underlined for emphasis are the words that spell out why we cannot horticulturally replicate our mayor.
“There are no Blue and Black Roses.”
Say what?
Forget it then. If we can’t have a black AND blue rose to honour our Hazel and her trademark style, then there’s simply no (prickly) point.
• • •
Guess who is being crowned tonight as the Progressive Conservative provincial candidate in the riding of Brampton-Springdale?
Former Peel Police Chief Noel Catney, who retired at the end of 2005 after 35 years on the job. Interesting that so many ex-police chiefs (Julian Fantino comes to mind) are so infatuated by politics.
First thing Catney needs to do? Develop a better public speaking style and drop the sentimental sap that he used to trot out regularly at every public function.