THE 2017 CLARENCE G. WHITE MEDAL - Aril and Arilbred irises with at least 50% aril content

Susanne Holland Spicker

Join with us in congratulating Rick Tasco for his stunning Arilbred iris "Sand Dancer". 

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco '10) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

The Clarence G. White Award recipient, voted for the best aril or arilbred iris (with at least 50% aril content) is described as follows by the AIS Wiki:  

'Sand Dancer' (Richard Tasco 2010) AB 32" Mid-season bloom. Standards creamy tan heavily veined red-brown, occasional purple vein, some red-brown dots near midrib; style arms bronze, purple blush near ridge, some purple splotches on back of crest, underside of crest veined bronze and purple; falls creamy tan ground, heavily veined and dotted red-brown and purple especially in center, lemon shoulder ground; beards dark brown base, tipped golden bronze in throat, bronze yellow in middle and at end; medium purple base foliage. Superstition 2010. HM 2012, AM 2014, The Clarence G. White Medal 2017.

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco 2010) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

Thank you, Rick, for an extraordinary Arilbred iris!

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco 2010) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

For a complete list of the AIS 2017 Award winners, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

Let the Sun Shine In

By Bryce Williamson

As I wrote in a previous blog “I’m Singing the Blues,” some traditional iris colors have been ignored by hybridizers in recent years. Among those colors ignored are browns—oddly always popular with the carriage trade—and yellow. Ignoring the latter makes little sense. Yellow to gold is such a wonderful color in the garden and brings a shaft of sunlight into plantings even on overcast and dreary days.

Here are some yellows and golds to perk up even the dullest day.

Abbondonza--Image by Paul Black

Abbondanza (Ghio, 2003). With flowers that bloom from the early season to late, standards are mango gold, infused pink; falls mango gold, heart and shoulders pink; beards tangerine. This is a color that bring yellow and fruit tones together in a warm combination.

Amarillo Frills--Image by Paul Black

Amarillo Frills (Hager 2002). Not the newest iris on the list, but an early to midseason blooming variety that is a laced yellow self including the beards yellow.

Beauty Becomes Her--Image by Paul Black

Beauty Becomes Her (Black, 2010) Blooming in the midseason until the end of iris bloom, standards and style arms are medium dark yellow; falls pale yellow blending to medium yellow edge; beards medium yellow, light yellow at end. I have liked this when visiting gardens in Northern California and it grows and blooms well for me.

Best and Brightest--Image by Paul Black

Best and Brightest (Black, 2012). Some greenish hints in the falls of this bright yellow; anyone who is starting a hybridizing program will find this an interesting parent.

Better Than Butter (Black, 2010). Yet another of Paul Black’s irises on the list, but this time it is a variety that will expand your season, starting to bloom in the beginning of the iris season and blooming to the end.  Here the standards are white with a narrow, bright yellow edge; falls are light to medium yellow darkening towards the edge. A narrow, muted gold band circles the falls.

Dance Till Dawn--Image Paul Black

Dance Til Dawn (T. Johnson, R. 2011). Fifty years ago, one of the major tall bearded hybridizers of that time, Orville Fay, believed that tangerine-red bearded yellows and golds were just around the corner; that goal has been elusive because of genetic linkage. With golden-yellow standards and fall, blazed white, the beards are tangerine to yellow.

Fallalary (Johnson, 2010). In the tradition of Rainbow Gold, this bright, sunshine yellow has a classic, round form, light ruffling, and heavy lace around the petals’ edges, but the flowers open without problems.

Golden Gaga--Image by Paul Black

Golden Gaga (L. Painter, 2012). This variety takes yellow-gold off into a different direction with blendings of caramel in the standards and falls, darker caramel towards the edges of the petals.

Golden Panther--Image by Rick Tasco

Golden Panther (Tasco, 2000). Multi-awarding winning iris. Its awards include an Award of Merit, President’s Cup in 2004 at the AIS National Convention, and the Dykes Medal in 2009. Registered as gold overlaid in bronze, I find that some years it is definitely gold and other years it is bronze. Either way, it is bright and attention getting in the garden.

Notta Lemon--Image by Paul Black

Notta Lemon (Burseen, 2010). Well, actually it is sort of a lemon, though more a lemon-yellow-gold. Starts to bloom early in the season and continues to open flowers until towards the end of the bloom season.

Pure and Simple--image by Paul Black

Pure and Simple (Maryott by Ghio, 2004). I like this quiet, soft yellow better than its more famous sister seedling That’s All Folks. The falls are cream white with a wide band of soft-yellow, the color of the standards. This one always grows well for me and was a standout in the five years of severe drought here.

Pure As Gold--image by Brock Heilman

Pure As Gold (Maryott, R. 1993). Some may ask why this 24 year old iris is on this list. First it is here because of the deep, smooth gold color; the second reason is that it can rebloom in much of the United States. Some consider this to be Bill Maryott’s best introduction.

Smart Money--Image by Paul Black

Smart Money (Ghio, 2010). When I first saw this iris while visiting gardens, I liked its yellow tones; however, when it bloomed for me the next year with light violet lines and speckles on the falls, I did not know what to think. In a day, the lines and speckles disappear. For anyone starting to hybridize, this has produced some very unusual seedling for Barry Blyth in Australia.

Sun Chic--image by Napa Iris

Sun Chic (L. Painter, R. 2010). A bitone effect in this lemon yellow with darker falls; good growth and plants that are reliable for bloom each year.

That's All Folks--image by Brock Heilman

That’s All Folks (Maryott by Ghio, 2005). Standards are brilliant gold; falls white with gold blending to wide, muted gold band; beards gold. People I know in Texas assure me that when well grown, stalks of That’s All Folks can get as tall as five feet. But I must point out everything in Texas is bigger. This bright iris stands out in the early garden from afar and demands attention.

Your My Sunshine--image from Rockytop Gardens

You’re My Sunshine (Fan, 2010). I have yet to bloom this variety, but this gold self, except for a small white flash at the end of gold beards, has come highly recommended to me for wonderful growth habits, sturdy plants, and stalks that stand up under adverse conditions. I am looking forward to its bloom in 2018.

I hope that this blog has reminded you of the value of yellow to gold irises in your garden. When it is time to add to your collection, bring some of these fine irises into your yard and you will be reward with a blaze of sunshine even on the coldest, wettest, and dreariest day by letting the sun shine in.

Space Age Iris of the Early 21st Century

by Jean Richter

The turn of the century has brought new hybridizers experimenting with space age iris, and these iris are enjoying unprecedented popularity. Following are some of the most recent space age iris to grace our gardens.

Riley Probst began his hybridizing career in Missouri, but now calls California his home. Here is his space age introduction from 2013, Power Lines.

Power Lines (Probst 2013)

Nebraska hybridizer Leroy Meininger has created a number of lovely space agers. Here is one from 2005, Beneath My Wings.

Beneath My Wings (Meininger 2005)

California hybridizer Robert Annand also introduced several space age iris. Although he passed away in 2013, some of his seedlings have been selected and introduced posthumously. Here is Bob's Pride from 2015.

 Bob's Pride (Annand by Marshall 2015)

Mississppi hybridizer Truman Scarborough introduced stately Emma's Plume in 2012. One of its parents, Thornbird, lends its unique color.

Emma's Plume (Scarborough 2012)

Another pair of Nebraska hybridizers, Leonard and Kathie Jedlicka, are also introducing space age iris. Here is their pink confection Isadora Belle from 2009.

Isadora Belle (Jedlicka 2009)

The Suttons were a fixture in the southern San Joachin valley in California for many years, but have recently relocated to Idaho. George Sutton introduced many space age iris before his passing in 2013. His son Mike is carrying on the space age tradition, as can be seen in his 2011 introduction Point of No Return.

Point of No Return (M. Sutton 2011)

California hybridizer Rick Tasco of Superstition Iris Gardens has introduced a number of space age iris. Here is his uniquely colored Solar Fire from 2003.

Solar Fire (Tasco 2003)

Rick also works at introducing space age characteristics into median iris. Here is his new 2017 intermediate bearded introduction Visual Pleasure.

Visual Pleasure (Tasco 2017) IB SA

One of the most prolific hybridizers of space age iris since 2000 is Texas hybridizer Tom Burseen. He is as well known for his quirky iris names as he is for the iris themselves. Here are three of his space age introductions, Cry Me a River from 2006, Air Hog from 2009, and Justa Musta from 2016.

Cry Me a River (Burseen 2006)

Air Hog (Burseen 2009)

Justa Musta (Burseen 2016)

As you can see, space age iris are more popular than ever, and have certainly come a long way from Lloyd Austin's first space agers of 60 years ago. What are your favorite 21st century space age iris?

Exceptional Performers in a Lousy Bloom Season

By Phil Williams

When one has grown Tall Bearded irises for 55 years and been an AIS member for 51 years, you see lots of improvements in the iris perennial, many disappointments, and far too many steps backward.

The iris should be a hardy, easily grown perennial plant.  Clearly many of the modern hybrids do not qualify. It is the result of a love affair with the flower and the perennial has suffered by too many irises with gorgeous flowers introduced with low bud count.  Most of today's modern hybrids are produced in mild climates leaving those of us in parts of the country with challenging growing conditions scratching our heads!

The judges’ handbook requires a minimum bud count of 7 buds per stalk in order to be seriously considered for any garden award.  The mention of bud count, reminds me that the sequence of those 7 buds opening into blossoms can result in a clump easily remaining in bloom for a full month.  There are introductions who promise up to 12 buds per stalk which could extend the bloom season ensuing for 5-6 weeks.

Grab A Grape--Image by Steve Kelly

That is made possible by growing a variety that opens only ONE BLOSSOM at a time on the stalk.  I have long ago ceased seeking varieties with multiple open blooms on a stalk.  My devotion is to a quality garden plant with 2-4 increases per year. I prefer stalks with high bud count and wide durable flowers with holding power (remaining open at least 3 days) that can remain upright during our beating rainstorms and strong winds.

This listing includes varieties with a maximum of 2 open blossoms at once.   My devotion to a quality garden plant with 2-4 increases per years also reflected in this list. (I do not enjoy dividing plants every 2 years that increase like a weed and I refuse to donate and share those plants with others at our auctions and plant sales!) Every plant on this list has been grown for a minimum of 2 years and survived the worst disease attack to ever strike here, fueled by late spring rains that blew northward from the marshes of Louisiana!

Two final last comments.  I try to avoid all irises that boast of an early bloom season.  Rare is the spring that our rows are not hit by early frost and freeze damage. Interesting that some varieties introduced as early consistently perform here in mid-season.  Go figure. No testing here for rebloom reliability.

Grab A Grape--Image by Steve Kelly

'Grab A Grape' (Steve Kelly  2017) Sdlg. PBD 09-2. TB, 36" (91 cm), M
Standards dark violet; style arms violet; Falls dark violet, orange tint on hafts; beards bright orange; slight fragrance. Paul Black X Decadence. 

Serene Lady--Image by Don MacKendrick

'Serene Lady' (Don MacKendrick 2017) Sdlg. 12-09. TB, 28" (71 cm), E-M

S. light heliotrope (HCC 636/3); style arms same, tinted tangerine at edges; F. same, hafts tinted tangerine; beards tangerine; ruffled; purple based foliage; slight sweet fragrance. 06-01: (04-01: (Wishful Thinking x unknown) x Lavender Park) X 07-02: (06-01: (04-01 x Lavender Park) x Feature Attraction). 

Chaps--Image by Nancy Price

'Chaps' (Nancy Price, 2016) Sdlg. 07-117F. BB, 28" (71 cm), M
S. and style arms yellow-tan; F. yellow-tan, darker ½˝ rim of tan; beards tan. Game Plan X Severn Side.

Edna Carmean--Image by Wild Iris Rows

'Edna Carmean' (Greg Hester, R. 2017) Sdlg. 10B4-1. TB, 36" (91 cm), M

S. light lavender-blue; style arms light lavender-blue and blue-violet; F. medium blue-violet, white wash around beards; beards white in throat, orange in middle, lavender end; ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. Jazz Band X Dance Recital. 

Caramel & Chocolate--Image by Rick Tasco

'Caramel & X Chocolate' (John Painter, 2015) Sdlg. J10-63A. TB, 42" (107 cm), M
S. lemon overlaid with brown veins and outer edge; style arms lemon, heavily veined and lined brown; F. black-burgundy-brown; beards antique gold. Rum and Coke X Latte.

Lemon Jade--Image by Rick Tasco

'Lemon Jade' (John Painter,  2015) Sdlg. J07-46A. TB, 38" (97 cm), M.
S. and style arms lemon-green; F. same, shoulders deeper; beards gold. L05-96: (J03-222A: (Honky Tonk Blues x unknown) x Richards 10201) X J04-6A: (Green and Gifted x Coffee Malt). 

Waves of Joy--Image by Rick Tasco

'Waves of Joy' (Richard Tasco,  2015) Sdlg. 09-TB-02-04. TB, 39" (99 cm), ML
S. naples yellow (RHS 11C), slight violet veins on midrib; style arms cream-white, naples yellow edges, violet ridge; F. violet (86B), naples yellow rim, light bronze shoulders and veins near upper portion of beard; beard hairs based white, golden indian yellow (17A) tips, minor violet tipped hairs at very end; moderately ruffled; light purple based foliage; pronounced sweet fragrance. Kona Waves X 05-TB-27-31: (Antiquity x 00-TB-05-01: (Can Can Dancer x Three Strikes)).

Gilded Girl--Image by Nancy Price

'Gilded Girl' (Nancy Price, 2014) Sdlg. 10-49-B. TB, 36" (91 cm), M
S. white, gold rim; style arms yellow-gold; F. white, gold-yellow overlay; beards yellow-gold; ruffled. Celestial Explosion X Dream Team.

Carpe Diem--Image by Mike Sutton

'Carpe Diem' (George Sutton 2012) TB, 36" (91 cm), M-L.
S. and style arms sulphur yellow; F. sulphur yellow, white area radiating out from beards; beards sulphur yellow with fuzzy yellow horns; bubble ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. Bride’s Blush X Q616: (Dark Passion x Midnight Thunder).

Point to the Sun--Image by Mike Sutton

'Point to the Sun' (George Sutton, 2013) Sdlg. U-1557. TB, 36" (91 cm), M-L.
S. white, pale mimosa-yellow flush at midribs and veins; style arms mimosa; F. white; beards yellow in throat, white at ends, palest lavender horns; slight spicy fragrance; ruffled. R-384: (Wishful Thinking x Eagle Landing) X Wedding in White.

Subtle Beauty--Image by Rick Tasco

'Subtle Beauty' (Richard Tasco,  2011) Sdlg. 05-TB-20-14. TB, 40" (102 cm), M
S. light chartreuse-cream veined slightly darker, red violet at base extending half way up midrib; style ams light chartreuse-cream, red violet flush along midrib and on fringed crest, blue under style arm; F. violet (RHS 87A), slightly lighter around beards and toward edge; beards white base, hairs tipped burnt amber-gold; moderately ruffled; slight fragrance. Haut les Voiles X Louisa’s Song.

Adventurous--Image by Mike Sutton

'Adventurous' (Michael Sutton, 2010) Sdlg. V-334-A. TB, 35" (89 cm), ML
S. barium yellow, slightly veined white; style arms barium yellow; F. violet blue veined light blue, ¾˝ ruby red band; beards barium yellow, violet blue at end; serrated edges; slight sweet fragrance. Soft Side X T-714-A: (R-3911: (Seakist x Snowed In) x Spot On).

Secret Land--Image by Kaska Cholewa

'Secret Land' (Robert Piątek,  2017) Sdlg. 10-118-D-RP. TB, 36" (91 cm), M
S. salmon, wide light orange rim; style arms lilac-blue and yellow; F. dark violet with darker rim, lighter streaks in middle, lilac veins around beards on white background; beards intense orange; ruffled; pronounced sweet fragrance. Naples X unknown. 

Cold Fusion--Image by Mike Sutton

'Cold Fusion' (Michael Sutton, 2011) Sdlg. U-308-A. TB, 34" (86 cm), ML & RE
S. white, heavily veined yellow, yellow midribs; style arms white, yellow crests; F. white zonal burst veined yellow becoming violet blue which bleeds into midnight blue, pale red-purple rim, dark purple wire edge; beards yellow; ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. S-481: (Connie Sue x Ghio 98-3F, Applause Line pollen parent) X Mountain Sunrise.

Day on the Bay--Image by Larry Lauer

'Day on the Bay' (Joseph Ghio, 2012) Sdlg. 05-19N4. TB, 30" (76 cm), VE-M
S. creamy lemon yellow; F. white, wide violet band that bleeds toward center; beards gold. Center Ice sib.

Rocky Brook Lady--Image by Kent Pfeiffer

'Rocky Brook Lady' (Chun Fan, 2013) Sdlg. F91-728. TB, 38" (97 cm), EM
S. and style arms pale yellow-cream; F. same, deeper in heart and shoulders; beards orange in throat, yellow in middle, pale blue at end; ruffled, lightly laced; slight musky fragrance. Melted Butter X Summer Gown. Fan’s Iris 2013.

Platinum Jubilee--Image by Rick Tasco

'Platinum Jubilee'  Joseph Ghio,  2013) Sdlg. 07-95C. TB, 36" (91 cm), VE-E & RE
S. blue-violet, more pink at base; F. same, pinker toward heart; beards tangerine. Restless Heart X Treasured. Bay View 2013.

Moonlit Mirage--Image by Evan Underwood

'Moonlit Mirage' (Barbara Nicodemus,  2013) Sdlg. D21-02. TB, 30" (76 cm), M-L
S. grey-white or whiter, fine gold edge; style crests same, style arms touched wine-purple grey-white; F. wine purple, few grey-white striations; beards gold in throat and middle, ends wine purple; lightly ruffled. Ozark Rebounder X Chantell’s Lace. Rockytop Gardens 2013.

Scandinavian Gal--Image by Rick Tasco

'Scandinavian Gal' (Thomas Johnson,  2012) Sdlg. TB129B. TB, 37" (94 cm), EM
S. brassy yellow with green tones; style arms brassy yellow; F. brassy yellow, lighter white flash, slight violet flash around beard; beards bright yellow-orange; slight fragrance. Blyth O139-B: (Wintry Sky x Mango Daiquiri sib) X Audacious Amber.

Angler Fish--Image by Dale Austin

'Angler Fish' (Gerald Richardson, R. 2013) Sdlg. 04-14-02. TB, 33" (84 cm), M 
S. and style arms pale lavender; F. light buff, stippled violet; beards light orange, upward pointing violet horns; slight fragrance. Sunset Storm X Thornbird.

Flirtatious Gal--Image by Barbara Nicodemus

'Flirtatious Gal' (Barbara Nicodemus,  2016) Sdlg. N55A. TB, 35" (89 cm), EM-M-L
S. gold-peach lightening around lower midrib; style arms light peach, peach crests, white at stigma; F. white, edged peach, deeper gold-peach on outer shoulders; beards white base, orange in throat, yellow-gold in middle, white end. Fogbound X Barbara My Love.