Saturday, May 30, 2015

The Day Before The Iris Show

Take a quick wander through the garden before the rainstorm hit.  I had some potential show stalks picked out, but tomorrow morning... it's anyone's guess.


Friday, May 29, 2015

Wings at Dawn and Beverly Sills

This Sunday is the annual Greater Rochester Iris Show at Marketpace Mall. Last year I won "Best of Show" with Stepping Out. I don't own a refrigerator to dedicate to maintaining potential blooms for a few days. That means that the perfect bloom will have to be in my garden on Sunday morning.  That being said each day I enter the garden and say, "too bad the show isn't today!"  Below is a spectacular new bloom that I think would stand a good chance of winning a prize.  The blooms are stunning but more importantly they are presented on a wonderfully branches stalk that displays each bloom clearly. There are no secondary buds pushing against the bloom.  It's just perfect.  But by Sunday... not likely.

This is "Wings at Dawn." a Schreiner's introduction in 2014.  Theft rounded standards of pastel yellow sit atop the standards of white blended through lilac to plum edges like a scoop of fluffy lemon-orange gelato.  Bright tangerine beards become a flounce matching the falls. Quite a beauty!



Then there is Beverly Sills.  This legendary Dykes Medal winner is really tricky to grow.  It was introduced by Ben Hager in 1978 and won the AIS top honor in 1985.  I have tried before and finally ordered it from Schreiner's in 2011.  Although establishing itself, nothing happened until this year. Five healthy bloom stalks are blooming this year.  Bubble Silverman has sung!


Diamond Rise: The Video (Draft)

When the season and the show and the parties are over, I'll edit this with others into something more slick, but for now here enticement to those who can visit and a taste for those who can't!


Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Peak Bloom

Peak bloom is NOW!  I am spending every minute possible in the garden getting ready for visitors next week... and next week may be too late to see the best of the season.  So here's a panorama shot and  I'll try to post some video tours as I get a chance.

Click to enlarge...











Sunday, May 17, 2015

Oregon: First to Schreiner

My iris visit to Oregon started at Schreiner's.  Near the parking lot was bed of seedlings.  This was the first to catch my eye.  YY197-D with yellow standards and mahogany falls has a nice growing habit and good substance.

The opportunity to see seedlings in the garden is a great joy!  Will they be introduced?  If so, when and what will there names be?



Thursday, May 7, 2015

MDB or Species


Anyone recognize this?  The height is MDB and perhaps it is an historic cultivar.  But if I were to guess I'd say it is a species of some sort.

The Iris are Coming, The Iris are Coming!

Yes they are.  The iris are coming just as I prepare to leave for Oregon.

'Pumpkin Center' (Bennett Jones, R. 1988)
This SDB is lovely spring yellow, with pale pumpkin.

  
'Jennyanydots' (Paul Black, 2011)
One lone bloom on a fine growth on this SDB stands proudly.

'Stitch Witch' (A. & D. Willott, R. 1975).
Another SDB has the classic white with violet plicata.

Is this 'Marsh Imp'?

This unknown early bloomer looks a great deal like 'Marsh Imp', an MDB. The height is correct as well.  The pure white MDB 'Snowy River' is also starting to bloom.


A bed of Forget-Me-Nots keeps a shady spot light and airy,

'Panda Paws' (unknown)
 

A beautiful tulip with the colors of USC.  Go Trojans!

Sunday, May 3, 2015

'Navy Flirt' First Bearded Iris of 2015

Last year at the GRIS sale I purchased some potted rhizome of this miniature dwarf bearded (MDB) iris.  I know these came from our local master of the medians, Wendy Roller. Though of course the MDB is not a median. Medians are all iris between MDB and TB (tall bearded) iris.

'Navy Flirt' (Tutmark, R. 1964)