Higher Thought Pyxy Styx x Royale with Cherries (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  I was gifted the Pyxy Styx clone by way of my friend, @divineareslain. While I am generally not motivated by “hype” cuts, he insisted the Pyxy Styx was worth growing, and gave me some indoor-grown flowers. I thought it was indeed some high quality ganja, and wanted to see how it would do in my outdoor setting. I pollenated this plant with Royale with Cherries, and after seeing them both flower that year, the pairing seemed almost ideal in hindsight. Both plants are colorful, fruity, did well outdoors, with good density and frost factor. This is one of the resulting progeny from that cross.

Appearance:  These plants were so cool to see grow outside. They grew large with chunky stems, chunky buds, and a noteworthy color. While some of my plants this year had purple accents from the Colorado Autumn temperature drops, Pyxy Styx x Royale with Cherries was the only plant that entirely turned purple. Stems, leaves, you name it—purple. It was really beautiful on its own, and added beauty by contrasting to my other entirely green plants. The plants grew huge colas on them, purple dense buds that were really covered in resin, giving them a frosty appearance. Really stout structure, vigorous and compact without being small. Finished flowers remind me almost of Grandaddy Purple or Grape Ape from years ago; the buds are small, rounded, heavily covered in resin, with all kinds of purple/reddish hues to them. The bag appeal is great. Resin glands feature huge heads, and I would guess that this variety yields pretty heavy in the wash.

Aroma:  A somewhat equal blend of the parentage, this one does lean to the fruity and candied side. While I think the fruit could be more complex, it is mostly a sort of generic cherry with tones of grape present. There are sugary-sweet, almost artificial notes as well that are reminiscent of Pixie Stix and other processed candies. Sweet, skunky, and very loud when it’s in a bag in your pocket, the aroma from afar is very enticing indeed, and you really cannot hide the fact you’ve got any weed on you. Up close, the smell is fruity like a cherry hard candy, sweet, and sugary. I do think this variety is worth looking through more, as I am sure this particular plant’s sisters harbor more nuanced and deeper aromatic profiles. However, friends did seem to enjoy this one and seemed to comment positively on the smell, so it must only be lacking a bit for snobby critics like me!

Flavor:  Following the aroma, the flavor is fruity with notes of cherry up front, and surprisingly more of a skunky rubber thing going on in the taste than in the smell. There are also strong herbal and botanical notes that I can’t quite place, but do remind me of being in an apothecary with varying dried botanics. It’s relatively complex, but I personally like a super-complex, candied fruit thing if the weed is going to be fruity, such as Cherry West. I appreciate fruit flavors that pop, and the fruit here is just a bit too generic for me. That said, nobody would say this weed tastes bad. I just prefer the mouth-coating punch of ‘87 Limepop (most of the time) when I’ve got them both on the shelf.

Effects:  A classic indica, and potent. Most indicas aren’t so strong that they inspire paranoia, but Pyxy Styx x Royale with Cherries does that to me from time to time. Maybe it is the sheer quantity of resin, but this plant always gets me in a red eyed, squinty, dream state where I have trouble keeping a conversation with strangers (and likely those I’m familiar with too). It is the great kind of high for sitting at home and watching movies or playing video games or whatever other low-responsibility, low-motor activities you might want to engage in. It’s great for getting the munchies, the giggles, killing pain, inspiring classic stoney thoughts (although I certainly wouldn’t say it brightens your bulb) and sleep. This kind of weed of course has it’s place and most of us have had it before, but is not the kind of feeling I want to have all the time, and definitely not all day.

Overall:  Overall, I think there is something here. I also know there are things to be improved on in these seeds, and selecting from a large number would be a worthwhile endeavor. I loved the resin, color, and structure of this particular plant. I loved how loud it was. However, I think the bouquet could be improved, could be fruitier and more complex. This plant was also very attractive to bud caterpillars, while all of the ‘87 Limepop and Black Lime 15 next to it didn’t have any caterpillar damage. Maybe there are sisters to this plant that are caterpillar-resistant—my point being, these are good and everyone who smoked the (caterpillar-free) weed really enjoyed it, myself included. However, any seasoned growers know that there are levels to cannabis, and I think this one has a notch to go in order to be classified as an “elite” that you might clone again and again. Definitely worth the grow, and I’d love to see more expressions in my own and others gardens.

Full sun, full term, outdoor flower rarely appears this good after the drying process. Pyxy Styx x Royale with Cherries is a looker.

Freeborn Selections '87 Limepop (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Embarrassingly, I cannot recall if I bought these myself at Emerald Cup in 2018, or got them in an online auction—I believe it was the latter. In any case, they come with the Freeborn Selections bona fide packaging, and were initially sold as a cross of a 1987 Durban Poison/Pakistani F1, and Meangene’s famous limepop male. However, as has been related directly from Meangene on some podcasts, it would seem that the female used is most likely NOT a Durban/Paki F1, and is more likely an OG cut. This makes sense to me, as you’ll find it sure does smoke like an OG. In any case, it is some solid weed that comes with the Freeborn label.

Appearance:  Live plants grew massively—tall, with many branches, and substantial node spacing. As they matured, I thought these would be the biggest yielders I’ve ever grown. They were just huge plants that were really cool to watch grow. Once flowering hit, it became more apparent that the flowers were going to setup more like a classic OG, and the plants did not feature the massively dense colas that I foresaw them with earlier in the season. The colas were abundant and long, but buds grew somewhat fluffy with a relatively high amount of leaf, and finished entirely green, in spite of Colorado Autumn temperatures. The finished buds are a bright lime green with small stems, and are absolutely covered in resin like a high quality OG plant. The outdoor flowers do not appear to be outdoor-grown, and certainly don’t smoke that way!

Aroma:  Complex, layered, and stunningly attractive, ‘87 Limepop is overall and up front a very limey, chemically, citrus-heavy OG that smells kind of like Country Time Lime/lemonade mix that you might also be able to clean your floor with. Profoundly skunky, the flowers are incredibly loud and I would not recommend them in illegal states. Skunky, limey, sour, sweet, dank, with notes of cleaning products, hairspray, and petroleum-based fuel, the smell really is the complete package. Nobody will find it lacking.
Worth noting, is that our family took on a puppy soon after I harvested these. The puppy’s breath was spot on identical to some of the smells coming from my ‘87 Limepop jars. Our pup’s breath was kind of skunky and just kind of nasty in a unique way, as most puppy owners will know. It smelled so spot on this weed that I thought I had inadvertently brought some of the weed indoors with me. In any case, profoundly dank and wonderful.

Flavor:  Not to be outdid by the aroma, the flavor is on the same level of profundity. It is layered, nuanced, and intense. Lime and chemical notes are in the forefront, and one’s entire mouth, throat, palate, and nasal passages are completely coated in the richness of this smoke. Like an OG, the flavor is far-reaching and intense, and so enjoyable that you’ll keep smoking it despite of the oncoming headrush. My loved ones couldn’t help but comment after I would smoke or vape this one, always mentioning that I should go brush my teeth….sometimes, just after I brushed my teeth. The intensity and diverse character of this weed is so compelling that you really cannot stop smoking it until you’re too high to continue.

Effects: The effects of ‘87 Limepop are what bring me back repeatedly. It’s one of those smokes that hits you right away, beginning with an almost tobacco-like head rush to let you know that you’re in for it. However, the effects don’t come on completely for a full 15-20 minutes after smoking, a real creeper despite its immediate impact. I’ve mentioned it before in this review, but overall this smokes like an OG Kush variety. It is at least as hard-hitting in its effects as in its aroma, and there is no mistaking the intensity and potency of this ganja. ‘87 Limepop is supremely heady, inspiring new thoughts and perspectives while also being capable of bringing on giggles, paranoia, and social awkwardness. It can be pretty edgy at times due to potency, but is also euphoric and just so interesting. Effects are prevalent in the body as well, manifesting a strong, tingling warmth that just feels so nice. Great for sleep or sleeping in, getting cozy in bed or with a loved one feels amazinng on this weed. Smoking ‘87 Limepop is a long lasting experience that concludes with classic weed symptoms—sleepy, hungry, happy—and if you’re like me, wanting to repeat the experience once the euphoria finally fades away.

Overall:  Even two years after harvesting this plant, it is still some of my favorite smoke, and is my go-to daily. It is really the complete package that any consumer could desire; from the nearly white-crystalline appearance in a bag, to the extremely loud aromas that translate to spectacular flavor, with the effects really coming on as the grand finale. The only fault I can really find with this line is that it is a bit tough to process and trim, relative to other commercial varieties found today. If I am really looking for other things to gripe about, it would be that I was misled by the Pakistani and Durban lineage, but honestly who cares in the end. If it smokes great, that’s what I want to smoke, the genetics are good enough for me. All of that to say, the faults I might manufacture about this variety are pretty easy to offset with the other incredible features this variety offers. OG Kush has always been a challenge to consistently get into seed format. There are so many OG seeds, but they often don’t produce anything that will replace a clone-only OG. ‘87 Limepop is certainly an exception, and I would hold the smoke of this variety up to any clone-only OG, or really any elite for that matter. The aroma and taste are so profound that they really can garner no reasonable complaints, and are truly beautiful. The effect is stunning in more than one way, and is my personally-favorite aspect of this ganja. Putting the whole package together makes for such a compelling and complete smoke that I have a hard time even smoking my friend’s fresh indoor harvests. ‘87 Limepop is another stunner that embodies everything I love about Freeborn Selections and Meangene. it is safe to objectively call ‘87 Limepop an elite plant that could please anyone in the crowd.

Freeborn Selections Cherry West (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Labeled as “Cherry West Backcross,” I received these seeds from @meangenefrommendocino a few years ago. They have since gone through several iterations, and I believe are currently available as a BX4 (meaning the variety has been backcrossed four times). Reputed as an early finisher as well as for its unique and diverse terpene profile, Cherry West is one of Freeborn Selections most differentiated varieties. I grew two females in two different gardens.

Appearance:  Plants grew small, short in stature and bushy in structure. Despite the two females finishing at August 25 and September 9 in Colorado when temperatures are still fairly high and Summer-like, the plants finished with a variety of colors ranging from light and dark greens to purple and even some reds. Finished and dried flowers are a dark green, with muted tangerine pistils. If one looks closely enough, there are some purple accents to the flowers, but the purples and reds are not as pronounced as they are on the living plant. Trichomes and calyxes are relatively small but plentiful. The flowers are fairly chunky in structure, more like pinecones than fingers. Living plants are pretty to look at while the dried flowers are relatively unremarkable, especially in today’s climate of “blingy” weed.

Aroma:  The high point of Cherry West, consistent with its reputation, is its aroma. Both living plant and dried flowers are a pleasure to smell, and ignite ones olfactory senses with pleasing sensations. Cherry West is certainly its own thing, but is reminiscent of Trainwreck, a variety of cannabis that was somewhat legendary in prohibition days but which I have not personally seen available in many years. It also reminds me of some Dutch weed, probably due to the high terpinolene (please don’t let that be a turn off. Cherry West is awesome). There are cherry-like fruit notes, bringing jolly ranchers and cough drops to mind. Overall the plant and dried flower are like a sweet, cherry-menthol cough drop, with distinct notes of sandalwood spice and even lemon-lime and lysol-like cleaning chemical tones present. This weed is also surprisingly skunky with classic “dank” tones, setting it apart from these older cultivars and sure to please the modern American palate. All of these notes make for a very diverse and complex aroma, one that seems to be universally appealing. People love huffing the jar as much as they enjoy breaking buds apart, and sniffing one’s fingers is essentially mandatory.

Flavor:  A clean and complete transition from aroma, the flavor is also very enjoyable. It is sweet, with notes of cherry cough drop (some menthol present) as well as its sweet-spice tones that remind me of the above-mentioned Dutch varieties as well as Trainwreck. The flavor differs from aroma in that the chemical tones are not as present, and instead a botanical earthiness is there in the smoke, not unlike the sensation one gets when walking into a tomato greenhouse. Tokes from a bowl range from cherry to lemon-lime, but always the sweet-sandalwood-spice is present. As diverse and far-ranging as the aroma, the flavor is a really enjoyable sensation and keeps me coming back.

Effects:  After watching this one grow and mentally placing it in a category with autoflowers and other oddball plants, I have been pleasantly surprised by the stoniness and very pleasant “satisfaction” element of Cherry West. Many strains bred for traits like early finishing tend to lack in potency and the satisfaction of smoking, either making me want to smoke much more than normal or even craving a different/another cultivar even just after smoking. Cherry West however is a warm, pleasing hybrid smoke that leans toward indica traits. It is relaxing and mellowing, but also inspires the unique perspective and way of thinking that is one of the pillar benefits of cannabis use. After a long day, a bowl of Cherry West brings on reflective thoughts both about the world as well as oneself. I also find music to be exceptionally enjoyable with Cherry West, and I find myself listening to songs I might normally skip with relish. Impressively and somewhat surprisingly, Cherry West’s smoke exhibits some of the best things we all know and love about cannabis.

Overall:  Maybe I had relatively low expectations of this one to begin with, as I have seen a lot of mixed feedback regarding Cherry West. Some growers have complained that it is essentially an auto-flowering plant, and others have expressed their dislike for the terpinolene-rich aroma. These reports certainly colored my anticipation for the harvest, but I have found it to be unique in many ways, and enjoyable in almost all. The aroma while growing and dried is relatively similar, and highly varied, making for a complex olfactory experience that frequently prompts jar-sniffers to say, “wow, that’s crazy.” Profound words, I know—but in seriousness, Cherry West does have a distinctive and diverse aroma that I (as well as those I’ve shared with) really enjoy. This translates well into the flavor of the smoke, and I really savor green hits from a bowl—the complexity is varied enough that sometimes the first hit tastes more like cherry cough drops, and at other times is more like a lemony-sandalwood spice. Equally as enjoyable, in my opinion, are the effects. Not at all overwhelming, but surprisingly satisfying—I love the relaxed mellow effect that is still strong, and the reflective and insightful thoughts it brings. Cherry West also imparts a sweetness to music, new or old, that is deeply enjoyable. My favorite way to enjoy Cherry West has been at the end of a long, sober day, alone on my deck or porch with some headphones on. I love smoking CW while listening to music, looking up at the stars, and reflecting on my day and life. Another one of my favorite features of this weed is the early harvest—I love that it spreads out the work of trimming, and gives me some fresh weed to smoke while watching the other varieties mature. In fact, I have almost finished smoking all this weed while most of my plants are still in the ground. Cherry West is one more win for Freeborn Selections—an incredibly unique variety in almost every way, and one that is certainly worth keeping around and potentially breeding with.

Emerald Mountain Legacy x Freeborn Selections Royale with Cherries (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  A collaboration of two exceptional breeders, Cherry Royale is a play on Cheese Royale from Pulp Fiction (or Royale w/ Cheese…?). A cross of the famed Royal Kush and Mean Gene’s Cherry Limepop, there’s really no way to lose here. These two varieties are proven outdoors, equally full of color and aroma, and certainly not lacking in effect. A friend purchased these seeds and generously gifted me a portion of the pack to look through. I felt obliged to breed with them, and so I made many F1 outcrosses as well as F2s with my favorite female of the bunch.

Appearance:  These are really beautiful plants, especially when grown outdoors and subjected to varying temperatures. My plants finished in October with reds, purples, violets, greens, and yellows all present to some degree, parts of the plant looking like a package of skittles the color is so diverse. Buds are dense and well-formed, and the plant itself has a sturdy structure with relatively low leaf-to-calyx ratio. In fact, the only plant that was more eye-catching in the garden this year was Pyxy Styx, due to her exceptionally dark and purple coloring, bordering on black at times. Royale with Cherries was only slightly eclipsed by this plant, but she was stunning in October exhibiting purples, blues, reds, yellows, and of course many shades of green—truly a full spectrum of color and vibrancy!

Aroma:  Absolutely my favorite aspect of this weed, Royale with Cherries is packed with aromatic sensation. Diverse and complex, it is challenging to articulate the subtleties. Royale with Cherries pulls notes from both parents. Fairly reminiscent of Royal Kush, there are notes of fuel, skunk, rubber, and floral tones. I would say the aroma is funky and “dank” more than fruity, although some sweeter fruit tones are present as well. There are fruity notes that are enjoyable and very present, yet vague at the same time—is it grape? Cherry? Hard for me to say, and seemingly shifting at times. In any case, it is like a Royal Kush with a lot more fruit up front, the fruitiness feeling even juicy at times. Really a highlight.

Flavor:  Mouth-coating and pleasurable, like a sweeter and fruitier Royal Kush. My mouth is coated in skunk, gasoline, and “dank” flavor, while the vague fruitiness is also secondarily present. There are botanical and floral notes, as well as burning rubber, pushing the whole petrol vibe, yet remaining sweet with the kind of candied grape/cherry generic fruitiness with it too. Like a remixed Royal Kush.

Effects:  At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is not all that much unlike Royal Kush! This is mellow and relaxed, great for a day on the beach or staring across mountain views. It’s a warm effect which blankets the consumer with a sense of ease, well-being, and peace, and is somewhat euphoric too. The happy and relaxed vibes are an ideal combo, and part of what most of us really love about ganja to begin with. Personally, I think that sometimes euphoric weed has a place—sometimes relaxed weed has its place—but most often, it is the varieties that can emphasize both euphoria and low-stress feelings that I appreciate the most. For effect alone, this was my personally favorite plant of the season.

Overall:  One of my favorites from the outdoor season, Royale with Cherries is a unique and enjoyable variety. Featuring some of my favorite traits of Royal Kush, smoking Royale with Cherries is simultaneously both nostalgic and novel for me. The aroma, flavor, and character of effect that I associate with Royal Kush are all here, but with added nuance and detail. The colors on the plant and finished flowers are truly stunning, and I imagine the flowers in an indoor garden would be incredibly resinous, colorful, and beautiful. The structure is nicely dense, with a relatively easy trim. However, my favorite aspects of this plant are really the aroma and effect. The smell is almost intoxicating in itself; maybe this is because it is so clearly recognizable as a relative of Royal Kush, which I have always thoroughly enjoyed. However, the added fruit tones and sweetness are great compliments to the funky, skunky, gassiness of Royal. I’d love to look through more of these seeds as well as see them in an indoor setting. I believe the F2s I made, as well as the F1 with the Pyxy Styx mom, will be really worth running.

Freeborn Selections Headband x Sky Cuddler Double Kush

Origins and Backstory:  Grown indoors by my friend @beneath_the_dirt, I gifted him these seeds after I acquired them from @freebornselections. The 707 Headband was used, in contrast to Loompa’s or the Underdawg OG. I believe Meangene used the SCDK to pollenate a variety of plants, and I have some of the other crosses of the Sky Cuddler Double Kush.

Appearance:  The plants and flowers are reminiscent of Headband, clearly exhibiting many traits from their mother. However, the plants are more vigorous than Headband, higher yielding, and the buds are much beefier. No purple or blues arise even in cold temperatures, and these plants remain a strong healthy green with vibrantly-orange pistils all the way to harvest. As can be seen in the photos, there is no lacking of cola buds here! The plants grow large with massive, thick, and towering floral structures—potential home defense items in a pinch! Seriously though, the yields and structure are quite impressive. These plants offer robust frames that fill out with massive buds, relatively easy to trim.

Aroma:  Again, resembling mostly Headband, these plants are stinky and skunky, with some sweetness. Skunk, gasoline, and sweet burning rubber are prevalent, but none jump to the fore of consciousness. The WD-40 and melon notes, characteristic of SCDK, are sadly missing. Rather than combining in a novel way, it seems that Headband aromas dominate the cross. I am not complaining about it, but nothing was really added to the Headband aroma via SCDK, at least in the few females that I saw. This is classically dank weed, skunky, funky, burning rubber and nasty feet—but I was hoping for a bit more terp “pop” with unique tones that I am accustomed to getting from Meangene.

Flavor:  Following in the aroma’s footsteps, this is classic dank weed. The flavor is relatively intense, and the mouth is coated in that sweet skunky, gassy, burning rubber, acrid flavor that most smokers know well and associate with OGs or Headband. The burning rubber and a sense of asphalt or some kind of artificial, petroleum-based product is notable.

Effects:  Similar to Headband, but somewhat reminiscent of GMO—odd, because this same grower had GMO and Donny Burger in his garden. The effects are indica-dominated, not quite as heady as headband, but more chill, relaxing, and “down.” This weed is for low-energy activities indoors, at least in my estimation. I imagine this could be quite effective for physical pain management, but is lacking some of the euphoria that I personally love to experience from ganja. Primarily, Headband x SCDK is sedating, numbing, sort of dumbing, anxiolytic, and relaxing.

Overall:  Overall, the females of this cross that I saw were really dominated by the Headband. Headband’s influence can be seen in the appearance and growth characteristics, and even more profoundly in the aroma and flavor. I love Headband, but I’m not sure the SCDK greatly improved the smoke here. The aroma is dank but not quite as enticing as pure Headband; I feel the same about the flavor and effects. All of it is good, and it’s not lacking in anything I can put my finger on, other than the unique, kind of mind-boggling factor that I so frequently experience with @Freebornselections seeds. If you are a commercial cultivator, these plants could be incredible for you. Due to the impressive structure and yields, these could also be a building block for a breeding program—a few off-the-beaten-path terps thrown in, maybe some color or some other factor, and all the sudden I think there could be something special produced from these. That said, I personally will be moving onto other terpene monsters from Meangene that are a bit more unique and off the beaten path.

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