Magazine  (2003)  Page(s) 7. Vol 25, No. 2.  Includes photo(s).
 
Cover picture.
Peter Cox. Story Behind the Cover Rose. Squatter’s Dream. (Alister Clark, 1923). Listed as gigantea cross x gigantea cross, this was Clark’s 4th R. gigantea hybrid rose. The first hybrid of this series, Jessie Clark 1915 is listed as R. gigantea x Mme Martignier (Dubrieul 1904) a climbing tea rose with flowers red tinted purplish on a yellow ground. The second hybrid, Flying Colours 1922, is listed as R. gigantea hybrid, as is the third rose, Harbinger 1923. The bright saffron semi-single repeat flowers of Squatter's Dream would appear to have inherited their colour from the yellow ground colour of the pollen parent of Jessie Clark, Mme Martignier flowers, with the influence of the red giving the deeper colour of saffron. One could wonder if the cross that produced Squatter's Dream was in fact Jessie Clark x Jessie Clark. The first three gigantea hybrids are all spring flowering and one can probably assume that Jessie Clark was the seed parent of both Flying Colours and Harbinger. Both Jessie Clark and Harbinger are pale pink, although the former has deeper shades in the bud and opening flower. I should state that I have yet to see the rose sold today as Harbinger to see how alike the two roses are. There are two nurseries listing Harbinger in The Australian Rose Directory, one in WA and the other in SA. David Ruston was of the opinion that the rose sold as Harbinger in WA was in fact Jessie Clark when last I enquired on that subject.
There are four factors concerning Squatter's Dream that have me convinced that this rose was produced from a back cross of Jessie Clark (which could also have been with one of the other two hybrids to give a similar result).
1. Squatter's Dream was the first gigantea cross to repeat flower.
2. The other hybrids are vigorous climbers, whereas this rose is a shrub rose.
3. The flowers are semi-single and the others single.
4. This is the first of the hybrids to show yellow in the flowers.
A back cross dictionary definition is 'to cross a hybrid with one of its parents'. It would probably be unusual to have so many coincidences as above. It is all to do with the recessive genes, in this case remontantcy, size, number of petals and yellow colour, which are probably all recessive and which become prominent in a back cross. (This could be worth a comment from those of our members better acquainted with genetics.) The plant of Squatter's Dream in our garden at Thirlmere did not thrive in the heavy clay soil and showed only moderate vigour but here at Mittagong, in contrast, another plant has been a wonderful foil to the pinks and reds and whites of the other roses in the garden and has flowered almost continuously throughout this last summer and is still covered in bloom. The high centred bud typical of the tea roses and R. gigantea can be seen on the back of our cover. That the photograph was taken in the spring is evident from the clematis flowers in the top right hand corner.

Website/Catalog  (2003)  Page(s) 100.  
 
Squatters Dream. Hybrid Tea. Medium Yellow. Clark, A. 1922.

Website/Catalog  (2002)  Page(s) 5.  
 
Clark Squatter’s Dream, 1923. Shrub. Single rich ochre wavy-edged flrs contrast with the deep green foliage on a dense twiggy bush. To 1.5m.

Book  (2002)  
 
p43 The tall modern rose ‘Sutter’s Gold’ and Alister Clark’s ‘Squatter’s Dream’ were chosen to harmonise with ‘Fortune’s Double Yellow’…..

p45 And on the other side of the path Alister Clark’s ‘Squatter’s Dream’ – a mystery rose this one, from an unknown seedling crossed with a seedling of Rosa gigantea. Alister was often not very particular about recording his crosses. This rose is a charmer – rich gold, flushed with apricot, and single, not unlike ‘Mrs. Oakley Fisher’. It has virtually no thorns and is continually in flower.

p262 Squatter’s Dream [listed as growing at Forest Hall].

Website/Catalog  (2000)  Page(s) 11.  Includes photo(s).
 
Outside back cover. Colour picture.

p11. Squatter’s Dream. Hyb. Gigantea. 1923. Clark/Aust. Hedging. Single, Stamens prominent. Slightly fragrant. Evergreen, attractive leaves. Recurrent. 1.3m x 1.3m. Yellow apricot blend.

Website/Catalog  (2000)  Page(s) 40.  
 
Squatters Dream 1923. Polyantha Medium yellow semi double blooms that fade with age. Small compact bush with glossy bronze foliage. Fragrant. 1.0m.

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 10.  Includes photo(s).
 
Squatter’s Dream – 1923. Gigantea cross x gigantea cross. Hybrid Gigantea Bush rose. Long pointed apricot-orange bud. Semi-single, fragrant, slightly cupped, bright saffron yellow flowers fading creamy yellow, fully recurrent.

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 564.  
 
Squatter’s Dream. Modern, Modern Shrub. Medium Yellow. Repeat-Flowering. The bright medium yellow flowers on this variety become much lighter with age. Single and moderately fragrant, they look attractive against the dark bronze-green leaves. This bush has a dwarf growth habit Zones 7-10. Clark, Australia 1923. Rosa gigantea seedling x Rosa gigantea seedling

Magazine  (1999)  Page(s) 55. Vol 21, No. 2.  
 
Jen Smyth, Victorian State Rose Garden. It has been interesting watching the heritage roses as they progress. I think my favourite rose these past few months is Squatter’s Dream from Alister Clark. It has flowered constantly, is very floriferous, and has the most beautiful long narrow orange buds.

Website/Catalog  (1999)  Page(s) 42.  
 
Squatter’s Dream available next season upon request only.