Friday, June 23, 2017

Spot Of Tea

There are only a few MTBs (Miniature Tall Bearded Iris) in my garden.   This one from Paul Black in 1988, won the the Caparne-Welch Medal, the top award for MTB, in 1995.  The flower his is just 6" high. The fleck of dusting on he falls are a part of flower. Seeing this bloom is like finding rare treasure easily overlooked.



Lines!

I am fascinated by iris with distinct lines.  A few years ago I visited Mid-America near Salem Oregon and Thomas Johnson said that lines were one of his goals.  Here's one that's new to my garden from Larry Lauer.  "Lovesick Blues" has beautiful violet falls on a white ground.  It put on a fine show for 8 days peaking May 7 this year.

This bloom is the first year after planting.  It must be noted that a first year bloom and good increase is no guarantee that it will establish itself well.  The original rhizome was grown professionally and is packed with energy.  It's my job to pamper it for the following years.


'Lovesick Blues' (Lauer 2007 SDB)




Thursday, June 22, 2017

Two SDBs Blooming in Their First Season

This wonderful SDB plicata has established itself nicely in its first year.  Introduced last summer by Thomas Johnson it likes upstate NY so far.  The flower is small but dramatic with a lush orange beard. This bloomed on May 9 in Mendon.

Parade Star (Thomas Johnson 2016 SDB)
Last year was my first order from Hugh Stout.  The quality of the order was impressive.  GRIS has placed our club order for our public sale July 22 and 23 at Pro-Moore Farms in Henrietta.  Here's 'Frankenberry,' Stout's 2016 introduction looks good and bloomed in its first year.  The dark cherry red is veined in black. The beards are purple with bronze tips.

'Frankenberry' (Hugh Stout 2016 SDB)

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Purple Paws 2017

I'm a relative newby among irisians.  Please know that my lexicon is limited, but I won't let that stop me from sharing what I see and using the vocabulary that I have.

As the last tall bearded begins to fade it's time to review the year in iris bloom. This is one of the earlier bloomers to impress this year.

Paul Blacks 2014 introduction is 'Purple Paws.' It's lovely as single bloom.  Creamy yellow standards are peppered with a medium purple plicata.  The falls are whiter, edging in yellow. The purple lays on the shoulders and speckles to the edge.  laying on this a white beard is tipped with dark purple. 

'Purple Paws' (Paul Black, 2014 SDB)

The season's performance was excellent.  Planted in 2014, the clump has established itself well. The show began May 6 and continued for two weeks.  Less than a foot high the clump has a diameter of about 2 feet.  It's getting about time to divide...




Thursday, June 8, 2017

Meanwhile, Back in Mendon

After a week in Des Moines, a week getting ready for a party and the GRIS iris show, the aforementioned party, show AND Wonder Woman I am finally pulling it together to start catching up with photos of all the beautiful iris I have seen this year.

I'll start off with the most recent pics from Diamond Rise.  These are late bloomers and there are still a few that have not bloomed yet.

First my favorite, 'Action Packed.'  Every flower is unique, but this tempts me to modify that unmodifiable adjective.  There's nothing I have see that is a jammed packed with features than this creation by the Willy Wonka of hybridizers, Paul Black.  Look deep inside this stunning display of wine veined standards and velvety red-black falls. You will be rewarded with style arms that could inspire a chapeau for Dolly Levi.  It makes that year-long wait worth it.



'Action Packed' Black 2011 TB
Here's a pink that is not subtle. This is the first year in my garden. I hope it sticks around.

'Destination Fabulous' Schreiner 2015 TB

How could and MTB take the Dykes Medal?  Here's how!

'Dividing Line'  Bunnell 2015 MTB American Dykes Medal 2014
 Shades of royal violet purple provide a monochromatic stage for the dramatic ruffling to take center stage.
'Feast Of Kings' Black 2012 TB
Thomas Johnson's Wister Medal winning 'stitched' plicata grows on me every year it blooms.  And bloom it does! And grows vigorously.  Certainly I will divide this beauty this year.

'Ink Patterns' T.Johnson 2007 TB Wister Medal 2013
 Another Sister winner that has finally decided it likes my garden.  Great bloom this year. I am convinced that golden beard ties the bi-color together and makes a great iris exceptional.

'Kathy Chilton' Kerr 2006 TB Wister Medal 2012
 Not for everyone, I love Thornbird.  This Dykes medal winner grows very well for me.

'Thornbird' Byers 1987 TB American Dykes Medal 1997
Yield is. as it's name implies. an arresting school bus (Kodak?) yellow. The delicate brown rays under the beard can be missed, but add the perfect touch to break up this yellow self.

'Yield' Black 2012 TB