By Renee Fraser
It was a great disappointment to those of us who love irises when the Triennial Siberian and Species Iris Convention had to be postponed for a year. A mild winter and a record hot early spring forced all of the blooms 4-6 weeks early, so the Convention will be held in June of 2013. As consolation, I asked Brock Heilman, a talented photographer and member of the Michigan Iris Society, to share a few photos of the gardens to be featured on next year's trek.
These are some of the gardens that will be available for tours at this year's convention.
Judy Hollingworth, whose husband Bob is a contributor to this blog and a famous hybridizer of Siberian irises, has created this Eden.
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| Hollingworth Garden |
Hybridizers send their creations to gardens where the Conventions will take place, and growers and hybridizers take care of them, sometimes for several years, to assure a spectacular bloom and a wonderful show of new varieties for the convention attendees.
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| Guest Irises at the Kaufmann Garden |
This is not your father's siberian iris! Look at the incredible colors being created by iris hybridizers.
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| 'Salamander Crossing' (SIB Schafer/Sacks 1999) |
Novel colors and forms of irises are on display at convention gardens.
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| 'Lakeside Ghost' (SPEC I. laevigata Harris 2012) |
Astonishing new color combinations are being developed.
'Tipped In Blue' (SIB Schafer/Sacks 2010)
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| Hollingworth Garden |
This is just a taste of the beauty awaiting you. We hope to see you at the Convention in June 2013.
