Growing Irises Out East: A Visit to Draycott Gardens

 by Alleah and Heather Haley

Susan Miller (center) and Alleah Haley (right) during our visit to Draycott Gardens

Earlier this spring, we took a trip into northern Maryland with our dear friend Susan Miller, Vice President of the Eastern North Carolina Iris Society. This area is on the opposite end of American Iris Society Region 4 and was the site of their Spring 2022 Regional Meeting. During this meeting, attendees were invited to visit four host gardens, including Draycott Gardens - home to Siberian and Japanese iris enthusiast Carol Warner and her husband David Bollinger.

Alleah enjoying irises plantings behind Carol and David's home

Draycott Gardens has been in operation since 1991 and is located in Upperco, an unincorporated community in far northern Maryland (about 10 miles from the Pennsylvania line). Draycott means “peaceful retreat” or “secluded spot” and is the name of a village in central-southwest England, the ancestral home of the Warner family. Carol and David's 10-acre property was part of the farm Carol grew up on.

Although Carol’s mother grew irises, they were uninspiring. Thus, it was not a family connection that piqued Carol's enthusiasm for irises.  After building her house, Carol was gifted a box of irises from a lady she knew and she proceeded to start planting them along the driveway. Breaking up this soil required a pick axe, and Carol thought the irises wouldn't amount to anything. However, this isn't what happened.

The irises along the driveway grew well and came into bloom the following spring in a beautiful array of modern patterns and colors, including pink. PINK! Carol was hooked. Carol belonged to a garden club and her club went to visit the nearby Harp iris garden during bloom season. Owners Maynard and Retta Harp had founded the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Iris Society. They told Carol about the FSK rhizome sale and Carol went to buy irises. She had seen Siberian irises in the Harps’ garden and returned to buy some in the fall. They invited her to become a member of FSK; she did and the rest is history.

One of many flower beds integrating irises with beautiful companion plants 

 

Carol Warner (center) conducting a training session on Siberian irises for regional meeting attendees

Today, Draycott Gardens is home to both bearded and beardless irises--all planted among an impressive array of companion plants, carefully-selected shrubs, and mature trees. Striking were the peonies, rhododendrons, and a huge collection of flowering plants that these former California girls Heather and Alleah couldn’t identify. Carol prefers the beardless irises because they’re more carefree. In her climate, bearded irises have to be sprayed to control leaf spot, and mulching for weed control needs to be limited because of their tendency to rot. Carol’s garden faces the southeast, has sun all day, and has good drainage. With an average of 42 inches of rain and 19 inches of snow each year, she doesn’t have to irrigate.

 
Although Carol's husband David isn't as passionate as she is about gardening, he enthusiastically supports her efforts. David happily keeps grass down with his zero-turn mower, moves soil from one place to another with a small tractor, and uses his considerable computer skills to aid Carol in the various activities that come with owning a commercial iris garden.

More blooms to enjoy among irises growing for resale

During the regional meeting, we arrived at Draycott late, just in time for lunch. We parked in a large grassy area just off the driveway and were quickly waylaid on our gentle climb towards the house. Our trio was immediately enamored by the gorgeous landscaping that welcomed us and delighted by  multiple well-tended beds of bearded and beardless irises growing together in perfect harmony.

Heather was is quick to spot historic iris 'Loreley' (one of her personal favorites)

Alleah is quite fond of historic iris 'Skating Party'

 

A spectacular clump of 'Dividing Line' growing among peonies in bloom

'Little John' is a creation from Region 4 hybridizer Don Spoon

 

Once we made it to the backyard, we were greeting by even more expertly cultivated beds of bearded and beardless irises... as well as a fantastic cast iron gazebo tucked elegantly into the treeline between the home and business garden beds. 

Carol's delightful metal gazebo

 

Although our family has been growing bearded irises for many years, we are relative newbies to the world of beardless irises. The regional meeting was scheduled too early in the year to see Japanese irises in bloom, but the Siberian irises were out in droves. Carol's iris collection is extensive and varied, and we were thrilled by the assortment of older and newer introductions. Among the Siberians we oohed and aahed over were ‘Roaring Jelly’, 1999 winner of the highest award for Siberian irises, the Morgan-Wood Medal. Standards are lavender grey with red-purple veining; falls are greyish, heavily shaded red-purple with a white signal veined near-black. Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks of Massachusetts are also the hybridizers of ‘Ships are Sailing’ (1998, SIB), which won the Morgan-Wood Medal in 2007. With very large blue bitone flowers and veined yellow-gold signals, ‘Ships are Sailing’ is stunning and especially vigorous.

 

'Roaring Jelly'

'Ships Are Sailing'

We also got to admire Siberian irises like ‘Great Falls Love’ (Dean Cole 2007). This cultivar is a medium blue near self with white signal on the falls; very ruffled and curled. Although 'Great Falls Love' was indeed lovely, Dean Cole’s 2021 Siberian introduction ‘Beespeckled’ absolutely took the cake! This ruffled iris tosses up mottled rose-wine standards with lavender edges, stretches out turquoise-colored style arms; and shows off mottled blue-violet falls with golden yellow signals veined in dark purple. A real standout!

'Great Falls Of Love'

'Bespeckled'

 

Draycott Gardens does not list bearded irises on its website, but they do offer about 250 varieties of beardless irises for sale. Offerings include things Carol has hybridized and chosen to introduce, as well as the creations of Hiroshi Shimizu of Japan and Dean Cole of Gorham, Maine. Shimizu attended a Society for Japanese Irises convention in Carol’s garden several years ago, and they worked out an arrangement for him to ship seedlings (primarily pseudatas – a species cross between Japanese iris hybrids and Iris pseudacorus) to her for evaluation, registration, and introduction. 

 
We were so taken with our visit to Carol’s garden during the regional meeting that we accepted her invitation to return and capture more pictures of it before heading back to North Carolina. During our second arrival, Carol greeted us from her golf cart as she speeded along sprucing up the garden. Later that day she would be playing handbells at her church’s Sunday service, and return to host an “Open Garden” event for friends, church members, horticultural society guests, and folks enticed by garden announcements courtesy of the local radio station. 

Our Sunday visit allowed Susan to capture a delightful moment of Heather (left) and Alleah (right) 

 
A million thanks to Carol and David, for your hospitality, and for sharing the beauty of your farm and gardens with our family and so many others.  For anyone curious about "growing irises out East," a visit to Draycott Gardens is a MUST!

American Iris Society 2017 Awards 'Judy, Judy, Judy' The Morgan-Wood Medal

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join with us in congratulating Robert Hollingworth for outstanding Siberian Iris 'Judy, Judy, Judy,' the winner of The Morgan-Wood Medal, The American Iris Society 2017 Awards.

'JUDY, JUDY, JUDY' (Robert Hollingworth 2010)  Photo by Robert Hollingworth

This exceptional Siberian iris is described by the AIS Wiki as follows:

'Judy, Judy, Judy' (Robert Hollingworth 2010) SIB 35" Early mid-season bloom. Standards medium red-violet, style arms light blue; falls white, with medium red-violet dots merging into outer plicata band. Ensata 2010.  HM 2013, Walther Cup 2013, AM 2015, The Morgan-Wood Medal 2017.

Thank you, Robert, for a stunning Siberian iris, a well-deserved honor.

'JUDY, JUDY, JUDY' (Robert Hollingworth 2010) photo by Robert Hollingworth

Interested in Siberian Irises?  Please visit "The Society for Siberian Irises" website.

"Talking Irises" TALL BEARDED IRISES: COMPANION PLANTS for PINK, RED, and PURPLE IRISES

By Susanne Holland Spicker

'RED SKIES' (Ghio '07)

"The garden:  Where inspiration and creativity begins and it never ends"

This time of year I like to pause and evaluate the previous gardening year. By now in zone 6 the irises have been divided or transplanted into new areas. Perennials were planted in the fall. Poor performers have been moved or composted. Seeds and new plants have been ordered and will be planted in the beds in spring after the chance of all frost has passed.  New iris cultivars have been narrowed down to a few favorites and ready to order for summer planting. This continual evolution of the garden keeps it manageable and fresh.

'OXFORD COUNTESS' (Blyth '07)

In a favorite iris bed I like to experiment with shades of pink, red and purple irises. I've then planted several varieties of companion plants among them that have the same bloom period, and similar sun and water requirements.

Tall Bearded irises from top center: 'DANDY CANDY' (Ernst '01), 'OXFORD COUNTESS' (Blyth '07), 'DARING DECEPTION' (Johnson '12), 'TICKLE ME PINK' (Van Liere '11), 'LIMERENCE' (Blyth '09)

'ROMANTIC GENTLEMAN' (Blyth '02)

I've enlarged the bed several times now because of the sheer number of exceptional iris cultivars in these colors to choose from! I keep a visual record of the irises I have, so when planning for companion plants, I can easily choose appropriate ones. 

Tall bearded irises, top row, l to r:  'EYE FOR STYLE' (Blyth '06), 'RASPBERRY WINE' (Schreiner '01), 'PERSIAN BERRY' (Gaulter '77), 'OXFORD COUNTESS' (Blyth ;07), 'TICKLE ME PINK' (Van Liere '11), 'APRIL FANFARE' SDB, (Black '14), Row 2, l to r: 'SWEETER THAN WINE' (Schreiner '98), 'PLUM PRETTY WHISKERS' (Spoon '03), 'ROMANTIC GENTLEMAN' (Blyth '02), 'LIMERENCE' (Blyth '09), 'MONTMARTRE' (Keppel '08), 'ELIZABETHAN AGE' (Baumunk '05), Row 3, l to r: 'CHANGE OF PACE' (Schreiner '99), 'WEARING RUBIES' (Blyth'00),'FLORENTINE SILK' (Keppel '05), 'EPICENTER' (Ghio '94),'JENNIFER REBECCA' (Zurbrigg '85), 'GAY PARASOL' (Schreiner '74), Row 4, l to r: 'LENTEN PRAYER' (Schreiner '98), 'CHINESE TREASURE' (Blyth '83), 'MACHISMO'(Blyth '04), 'RINGO' (Shoop ;79), 'CAT'S EYE' SDB (Black '02), 'ARTISTIC WEB' (Tasco '10)

A portion of the bed:

Forefront:  'PERSIAN BERRY' (Gaulter '77)

To extend bloom time in the spring garden, I've added several Standard Dwarf Bearded irises (SDB's). They bloom earlier than the tall bearded irises, and are the perfect plant to put in the front of a bed.

'CAT'S EYE' (Black '02) SDB

Pictured below are some of the combinations of color in the bed. Companion plants include foxglove, lupine, poppies, peonies, delphinium, clematis, widow's tears, meadow rue, Asiatic lilies, and Siberian irises. The first flush of hybrid tea roses begin when late blooming irises are still flowering as well.

Tall bearded iris top row, l to r:  'DEEP CURRENTS' (Johnson '09), 'MING LORD' (Blyth '06), 'OXFORD COUNTESS' (Blyth '07), 'LENTEN PRAYER' (Schreiner '98), Bottom row, l to r: 'PLUM PRETTY WHISKERS' (Spoon '03), 'ARTIST'S TIME' (Schreiner '74), 'EMBRACE ME' (Van Liere '08)

From top l to r: 'ROLE REVERSAL' (Ghio '10), 'EXTRAVAGANT' (Hamblen '84),'MIDNIGHT REVELRY' (Schriner '05), Bottom, l to r: 'IN THE MORNING' (Innerst '04),'GITANO' (Keppel '07), 'PARISIAN DAWN' (Keppel '06), Garden bed: f to b: 'LOUISA'S SONG' (Blyth '00), 'POEM OF ECSTASY' (Hagar '97)

Tall bearded irises, Top, l to r: 'APRIL FANFARE' SDB (Black 2014), 'GENIALITY' (Brown '81), 'QUEEN IN CALICO' (Gibson '80), 'CAT'S EYE' SDB (Black '02), 'ROMANTIC GENTLEMAN' (Blyth '02)

Tall bearded irises, top row, l to r: 'PLUM PRETTY WHISKERS' (Spoon '03), 'CLOSE UP' (Tompkins '72), 'BUBBLE BUBBLE' (Ghio '05), Bottom row, l to r: 'DEEP CURRENTS'(Johnson '09),  'SWEETER THAN WINE' (Schreiner '98), garden shot, forefront to back:'DATE BAIT' (Meek '85), 'EVER AFTER' (Keppel '86), 'RINGO' (Shoop '79), 'RASPBERRY WINE' (Schreiner '01), 'ROSE' (Gaulter '78)

As I anxiously count down the days until spring, I'm always glad I've prepared the beds in fall by pruning, cutting down, labeling all plants, and cleaning up and discarding all debris; it makes spring clean up much easier and faster. Doing this decreases the chance of disease or other problems. Having garden maps and pictures to study helps me keep track of each plant--this is what's worked best for me, and if you don't have a system, it may for you, too.  

Tall bearded irises front to back: 'BOLD EXPRESSION' (Ernst '03), 'PURPLE SERENADE' (Schreiner '05), 'MAGHAREE' (Blyth '86)

I've enjoyed sharing some of my favorite irises and their companion plants, but I'd love to hear from you and what you're doing in your flower garden this year. I am always inspired by others and their gardens.  

Tall bearded irises from front left: 'CHAMPAGNE ELEGANCE' (Niswonger '87), 'MIDNIGHT REVELRY' (Schreiner '05), 'LATIN LOVER' Shoop '69), 'GAY PARASOL' (Schreiner '74), 'HEATHER CLOUD' (Hamner '81), 'GITANO' (Keppel '07), 'POEM OF ECSTASY' (Hager '97), 'IN THE MORNING' (Innerst '04), 'LOUISA'S SONG' (Blyth '07) 

Note: For more pictures and ideas on companion planting, go to

 "World of Irises", October 7, 2013 and December 2, 2013

Hey, Listen Up: Advice to Young Siberian Irises

By Bob Hollingworth

If only irises had ears, what could we achieve? At last it’s May here in Michigan, the heavy winter snows have finally melted, the daffodils are in full array, and the Siberian irises are awake again and throwing up shoots that are now several inches tall. The long heavy snow cover this winter was a wonderful mulch and they have come through in excellent shape with no obvious losses – perhaps the only positive from this winter, which our meteorological expert at the university described as “a once in a lifetime event and you can bet on it.” He’d better be right. Even now it’s hard to believe that only two months ago the seedling rows in the photo taken last week were under 12-18 inches of snow that had been there since late November.

Siberian seedlings, late April 2014

So as the annual cycle turns, it’s time to start thinking of what we shall see in another few weeks as bloom is at its peak. And particularly, from a hybridizer’s viewpoint, how will some of the recent seedlings that seemed notable last year perform this year? Will that rather puny but lovely seedling take off and grow now? Will the one with only three buds throw a few branches as it grows up? Is that exciting photo from last year for real, or did a bit too much Photoshop give it artificial glamour? Experience indicates with certainty that not all these wishes will come true, but one success can make up for several disappointments  Getting all the good qualities together in one plant just ain’t easy.

So let’s walk down the newer seedling rows, make some mental wishes, and talk to the plants about what they need to do to succeed in life. Here we have a tetraploid seedling (11R9B3) that combines the red and yellow shades nicely. The flower looks fine, and the plant is robust, but last year, like so many tetraploid seedlings, it bloomed a bit low in the foliage – will it rise up this year?

11R9B3

Growing next door is a promising yellow tet seedling (11R1B12), of which there are no large number around. This has the same problem – massive growth but needing  just another two inches of stem to be perfect. Just grow up a bit will you guys? You can do it with some positive thinking.

11R1B12

Seedling 11Q3B1 was a complete and pleasant surprise among the new tets, since it bloomed a good foot higher than its siblings, ending the season with stalks 45” tall, but the flowers, although pleasing, are really not all that original. What I really wanted to see was the plicata-like pattern on a yellow ground. And here it is, on a sister seedling, 11Q3A7, but that one bloomed much lower. So will this seedling in its second year elevate its performance to match its sib? Just look over at your sister there – if she can do it, so can you. Surely you aren’t going to let her beat you. Go for it.

11Q3A7

11Q3B1

And a little further along here’s a plant (11Q7B5) that was treated with the chemical colchicine, which changes the genetics and induces tetraploid flowers. It seemed that a corner of the plant might be tetraploid and the flowers looked pleasingly different from the general run, but they gave no seeds in crosses with established tetraploids. Just a matter for patience, optimism, and effort again this year. It didn’t work out last year, but I you I know tried, and that’s what counts. This time you’ll make it for sure...

11Q7B5

Continuing with red and yellow mixtures, several diploid seedlings bloomed for the first time last year with interesting colors (12Q3B3, 12S3B2, 13P4B6). Of course, they will need to grow and flower well, but that’s another hurdle to be cleared.

12Q3B3

12S3B2

13P4B6

Ten years ago these would have been to die for, but in that time we have seen lots of such combinations introduced, primarily by Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks, so to be taken seriously, these must have something different that makes them not just “me too.” We shall see. Dare to be different, but keep in mind that three falls is quite enough; four is just a bit too different. And all of you, if you’re going to fade after the first day, try to do it slowly and gracefully. Then we get to 12S8B4. Not much to say here except that's exactly what I had hoped for, just keep it going. Great deep color contrast, nice bud count. A petite plant, but no matter, there’s room for those in the garden too. Wow, you’re looking great, but that foliage might be a tad untidy, could you straighten it up just a bit?

12S8B4

An area that continues to fascinate me for whatever reason is the multipetal Siberians. They present a special challenge in that each flower can have a different combination of flower parts and some look much tidier than others.

12S2B21

Seedling 12S2B21 was one of several in a cross I made for smaller multipetal flowers that on first bloom last year seemed to have come out very well, and, for once, most of the flowers were similar and quite tidy with just one layer of falls under a central bouquet of multiple standards and florets. Fingers crossed that it does as well again this year – and puts on a bit more growth. Perhaps you’d like a little extra fertilizer?  

11M7B5

Another goal is either a yellow amoena or pure yellow multipetal. It seems that seedling 11M7B5 is taking us well along to this objective. Just stay tidy and grow up a bit, and one day you could be queen of the show.

So we shall find out in just a little while which, if any, of these seedlings has paid attention to my advice and encouragement (threatening plants does no good I find and makes for a bad atmosphere in the garden). Discovering which have responded is what make anticipation so delicious. Although I might not let on to the plants, there is a price for not paying attention: and that’s a one way trip to the compost pile where heedless irises go. Their better behaved companions move on into the next stages that can end in getting their own name, an introduction to the wider world, and a shot at fame.