Finally, I got to fly away again – Mid-America Iris Garden

By Maggie Asplet

As the title says, I finally got to come back to the United States and made a visit to Mid-America Garden in Salem, Oregon. It seemed like a lifetime ago since I was there. Had it really only been in 2019? 

I was all set to return in 2020, flights booked, and then the world as we knew it came to an end...or that is what it seemed. March of 2020 had a couple of rather traumatic iris-related events. First, being told that New Zealand was going to go into lockdown due to coronavirus. Second, during the same week, MPI (our import regulator) rang to tell me they destroyed seed from my 2019 crosses by mistake. On top of the hybridizing work being gone, I didn't know when it would be possible to return.

Finally, in 2022, I got to fly away again. This trip certainly had its challenges, such as completing rapid antigen tests before I could travel. On top of this, bloom season in Salem, Oregon included rain, rain, and more rain. Somehow, I did find a way to make some crosses in between the showers.

 

Irises during bloom season

 

I scheduled my arrival earlier than usual, as I wanted to spend time hybridizing with the standard dwarf bearded irises. The first few days were spent walking up and down the rows looking at all the wonderful creations produced by Thomas Johnson, Paul Black, and Lynda Miller. Quite mind-boggling really. I'd never seen so many new varieties in one place. Before I could even begin hybridizing, I had to become familiar with what was there. And what better way than to watch a master at work. So many beautiful irises. Luckily, there were breaks in the weather to get some crosses made.

Paul Black hard at work

Now, I will share some irises that I used in my crosses. I crossed two of Paul Black's miniature tall bearded irises ('Hot Orange' and 'I'm not Timid') with each other, but the others are just examples of smaller irises that were available to “play” with. As to how successful these efforts were, I won’t know until 2024. If I’m lucky it might flower in 2023 and that is only if the cross was successful and a seed pod developed. That is the next stage, waiting to see what did or did not work.

MDB – 'Hot Orange' (Paul Black, 2019)

MDB – 'I’m Not Timid' (Paul Black, 2020)

SDB – 'Dancing Around' (Thomas Johnson, 2017)

SDB – 'Believe' (Thomas Johnson, 2021)

SDB – 'Little Miss Sunshine' (Thomas Johnson, 2020)

SDB – 'Get Ready' (Thomas Johnson, 2020)

SDB – 'Pumpkins' (Lynda Miller, 2020)

Unfortunately, it was really, really very difficult to get much hybridizing done. I mean, just look at this next image. Saying it was "wet" is an understatement.

Walkways between iris rows got very soggy

Terrible weather during bloom season certainly created many challenges, such as finding something dry to put on my feet. An array of footwear was required.

Something new...

something borrowed (thanks Tim)...

... and something I usually bring with me – jandles*.

*Jandles – Inspired by footwear he had seen in Japan, businessman Morris Yock and his son Anthony began manufacturing this simple rubber footwear in their garage in 1957. The name ‘jandal’ combined the words “Japanese’ and “sandal.”  Thankfully, now I know where the name comes from.

Another wet day's occupation was counting irises. Here is Thomas walking the rows, counting and evaluating the damage from the poor weather conditions.

From my perspective, another great frustration was the lack of flowers; mainly due to the lack of warmth. It was really hard to believe that weather in Oregon was no warmer than back in New Zealand. Here you were going towards summer, while at home we were going towards winter and the temperatures were very much the same.

Irises waiting to bloom

Due to the lack of flowers in the tall bearded irises, I extended my stay with hope that they would soon come into flower. Even that was still a great challenge. Before we look at the taller irises, I would like to show you some images of the wonderful gardens at Mid-America and Sebright Gardens. Some of you may not be aware of the second business, Sebright Garden, specializing in shade plants from hostas, ferns, epimediums to fuchsias. Plenty of other plants as well.

 

Beautiful plantings at Sebright

Hostas and other shade-loving plants

View of Mount Jefferson from the garden

Many containers with a wonderful variety of plants

Finally, I got to see flowers on the taller irises and it was time to get hybridizing some of the "others", anything from border bearded, to arilbred, to tall bearded.

Bloom arrives in the bottom field

More irises in the house field and the seedling beds

The above image is the new seedlings for possible introduction in 2023 or 2024. So many gorgeous flowers to choose from.

 

I was also treated to seeing an American Killdeer Plover – nesting.

Now, here are images of some of the different ‘bigger’ irises I used. Not necessarily in the same cross.

AB – 'Lucky Roll' (Paul Black, 2022)

AB – 'Red Eye Flight' (Paul Black, 2022)

IB – 'Lumistreak' (Paul Black, 2022)

IB – 'Impressive' (Paul Black, 2022)

TB – 'Spine Tingler' (Thomas Johnson, 2022)

TB – 'Sorbet Swirl' (Keith Keppel, 2018)

TB – 'Dark Universe' (Keith Keppel, 2019)

TB – 'Rise Like a Phoenix' (Paul Black, 2017)

TB – 'So Hot' 

TB – 'Scattergram' (Lynda Miller, 2021)

One of my wet weather occupations was making Apple and Rhubarb Crumble – even some for the freezer.

I always enjoy my trips to Mid-America, as it is a time of catching up with other members of the American Iris Society. On this occasion, it was the flower show for the Oregon Trail Iris Society. Makes you feel like home and a good time to join in on a judges' training workshop, this time led by Kevin Vaughan. 

The results of some crosses that were made in 2019 at Lynda Miller's of Miller's Manor Gardens never got sent to New Zealand. This time, we decided I would take them home with me and declare them at the border when entering New Zealand – NO PROBLEM at all. So, in the future, I will be bringing seeds home with me.

Stopping to make some last crosses on the morning I left.

The field I left behind

And my last cross – just cause I could.

TB - 'Dreams and Schemes' (Barry Blyth)

TB - 'Bombshell' (Thomas Johnson, 2021)

A very special thank you to Thomas Johnson and Kirk Hansen for putting up with me; it is much appreciated. See you next year.

IRISES: The Bulletin of the AIS - Summer 2022 Edition

 By Andi Rivarola

A warm welcome to those who are seeing IRISES, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society for the first time. If you are a member of The American Iris Society I hope you enjoy this new issue.

The Summer 2022 issue of the AIS Bulletin will be available online soon, accessible via the Emembers section of the AIS website. The print copy has been mailed via the U.S. Post Office. On the cover, arilbred iris, 'Chihuahua Night' (Howie Dash 2019, AB OGB), winner of the President's Cup at the 2022 Las Cruces Convention in New Mexico.

Note: to access this area of the website, you must have a current AIS Emembership. (AIS Emembership is separate from the normal AIS membership.) Please see the Electronic Membership Information are of the AIS website for more details.

The 2022 National Convocation of The American Iris Society was held this year in Las Cruces, New Mexico earlier in the spring. It was a very enjoyable event and we hope that you enjoy the full recap carefully displayed within this issue, including:

Convention Awards: on page 2.

Hello, AIS Newcomers!: on page 30.

The Wes and Cynthia Wilson Garden, "Iris Inspire Us": on page 38.

The Optional Tour: White Sands Missile Range, on page 40.

Scarlett Ayres Garden, on page 42.

The Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum Garden: on page 46

Thoughts of a Convention Co-Chair: on page 48.

Seen in Las Cruces: on page 82.

Favorite Guest Irises: on page 83.

Other wonderful stories in this issue:

A Tribute to Dave Niswonger by none other than Barry Blyth on page 18.

Don't miss, Section Happenings, on page 20. 

On Beginners Corner, Do Plants Have Memories?, on page 28.

The AIS Foundation Ackerman Youth Essay Winners on page 68.

And lastly, Catalogs—Online, on page 69.

There's a lot more to see and read in this edition of IRISES, either in digital or print format. 

Not a member of the American Iris Society? Please see our website for information about becoming one: http://irises.org/

Happy Gardening!

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Support the Work of The American Iris Society by Becoming a Member:

• Annual Print Membership receives Irises, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society, published four times annually.

• Annual E-membership receives Irises, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society, to view online. 

• Participate in AIS’s bi-monthly Webinar Series featuring AIS experts from around the U.S.

• Get connected with AIS members from around the world, via our Facebook Group Iris Lovers, and other social media channels.

• Get to know about our lesser known irises, such as species, spuria, Louisiana, Siberian and other beardless irises.

• Participate in the Annual convention. The next convention will be in Dallas, TX in 2023.  

• Support AIS's mission of education, conservation, research, preserving historical archives, and outreach projects.

• Did you know that The American Iris Society is the registration authority for all rhizomatous irises worldwide?  

• The Iris Encyclopedia is available 24-7, 365 days a year, and filled with a wealth of iris knowledge. Stop by for a visit!

  
  

Thinking About Historic Iris Catalogs

by Bob Pries

A few nights ago, I was lying in bed while my mind conducted its own internal argument about iris catalogs. One Part of my mind said, “Have you gone nuts! There are 4,600+ catalogs embedded in the Online Library. What good are they?" The Other Part retorted, “But they document the history of irises.”

A collection of iris catalogs

The first Part replied, “No one cares about history until they are old and see that they are now a part of it. What good does it do now?" And Other Part said, “They can help with identification of older irises surviving today.”

Original description from Goos & Koenemann Catalog, 1909 (p.30)

'Loreley'

Photo by Heather Haley

A different catalog describes this iris as having purple-based foliage 

Part said, “Okay I’ll give you that, but the descriptions they carried were often not much better than the weak historic registration information." Other-Part was now feeling rather sad. Perhaps Part was right and this is an obsessive addiction. 

I confess I love to look at all plant catalogs. Even as a 9-year-old I can remember filling out a form in Popular Gardening Magazine that listed about 100 free gardening catalogs. You could check a box and the magazine would forward your name and address to the company. I checked all the boxes and mailed the form. Soon scores of catalogs came to my door and I learned about water gardening, roses, rock gardens, and of course irises. This may have been where I first saw Lloyd Austin’s catalog and his horned irises.

An original photograph and description of the"World's First Horned Iris" is part of Lloyd Austin's 1957 Catalog.

Photo by Mike Unser

Austin’s catalog had a contest whereby if you found the 12 typos in his catalog he would send you free irises. I scoured the catalog for days but only found 11. I had my list all planned but never sent the order. At $0.50 a plant, a substantial part of my allowance would be required to meet the minimum order.

Other-Part was now thinking of reasons that a catalog archive could be useful. Each catalog is a record of what is growing in that part of the country (distributors ignored). I could envision a map with counties in green where nurseries were located. This would look like the species distribution maps I have included under USA species on the wiki.

Link to the Biota of North America Program North American Plant Maps

http://bonap.net/NAPA/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Iris

Individual cultivars could be mapped and one could see what hardiness zones a particular clone had thrived in. One could also map by time period, and one could see how iris nurseries moved across the  United States, their populations expanding and retreating through time.

Catalogs can also tell us the change in popularity of different classes of irises over time. Just having crudely paid attention I can say definitively that English irises were once very popular and today they can rarely be found. I remember in the late 1800s as many as 150 cultivars were available compared to about 50 tall bearded. Japanese irises seem to have held their own with usually up to 150 varieties available in many years and perhaps still so; but, of course, Japanese irises have been outpaced by TBs today.

The geographic distribution of at least early cultivars may be interesting if sorted by their species ancestry. I would bet that Iris aphylla relatives were distributed further North than I. pallida relatives. I think we sometimes forget that some early irises were not as cold-hardy and that many tall beardeds which grew well in the South did poorly in the North.

By this time my Parts were getting tired and my brain decided to sleep. I would be interested to hear why you feel it is worth assembling a catalog archive.

Get That Order Planted

 

by Jeff Bennett

Irises planted in one-gallon pots

At this time of year, everyone seems to be receiving orders of irises they found online and just had to have. After reading posts in Iris Lovers last spring, I’m going to write about what I do when my orders arrive. For those of you that have your iris beds ready in advance of your orders arriving, this article is not for you. For the other 94.5% of us that planned to order only a few irises or none at all, but then kept adding another to your shopping cart and now have an order of 32 new (to you) irises coming, and are not sure where you will plant them right away, this article is FOR YOU.  And, that is just an order from one seller. The other seven orders you didn't plan to make are also on their way.

There seems to be an explosion of people ordering more and more irises in the last few years. Is this because people had to stay home during the pandemic? Was it spurred by immediate access to pictures in online iris groups? I’m not completely sure, but my guess is that it is the latter. Most iris societies are not getting bigger, but iris sales sure are. It would be great if more iris purchasers had also joined their local iris society or became members of The American Iris Society. If you are in the United States or Canada, use this link to find iris clubs near you. Okay, I'll get off my iris society soapbox now.

So your box of irises has arrived. You open it up to see what they look like, compare your invoice to what’s in the box, look at the size of the rhizomes, and check for any issues. Some plants are quite large, some average, and then there might be an occasional smaller one. I don’t see smaller rhizomes as a disappointment, but a challenge. Maybe this grower’s climate is just not right for this variety, but all the DNA is there and therefore there's a potential for a spectacular performance. If your purchase arrives terribly shriveled up, then you may want to check in with the seller for a replacement or a substitute.

Now that your first order has arrived, you realize that you haven’t gotten the iris beds ready by improving the soil and removing all the weeds that are visible. But the irises are here and two more boxes are coming later in the week and more the following week. Your iris society rhizome sale is happening soon and you want to snatch up some bargains there too. In the meantime, you probably SHOULD get these rhizomes planted right away. The sooner the rhizome hits soil, the sooner it will begin growing new roots and the little nubs on the side can start to expand into additional rhizomes. 

My priority has been to check each delivery, then get them potted and labeled up in the order they arrive. Next, I put them into my Excel spreadsheet with the columns for the iris name, hybridizer, year introduced, abbreviation for the type of iris (TB, IB, LA, SPU, AB, etc.), and who I purchased it from. In the last column I record the price I paid.

Bagged potting mix with fertilizer

As for potting, I plant newly arrived irises into one-gallon pots. I use a very good potting mix that also has a slow-release fertilizer. A 50-quart bag will fill 28 one-gallon pots full of soil. Priced at $18.00 per bag, that’s only 64 cents per pot. I think this is a reasonable investment for those $5, $10, or $50 irises. Don’t forget to put your iris labels in at planting time. You will not remember later. This method gets irises off to a great start while I get the beds ready when time is available. 

One-gallon pot and potting soil

I have found that I have almost zero losses compared to planting the shipped rhizomes directly in the ground. When irises are potted, I get to see them up close and more often so I am able to address issues quicker if they arise. In the ground, a rhizome may fall over or a squirrel may dig it up and expose it to the sun and heat before I find it. 

Potted irises with blue plastic labels

Place your pots where they will get at least six hours of direct sun, preferably morning to early afternoon sun. Water once to twice a week.  Within two weeks, I can already see the cut leaves growing taller and new green leaves coming up also. Because I’m in California and in a mild climate near San Francisco Bay, I can plant these potted irises into the ground at any time of the year without a hiccup. You know your climate best as to when your soil is workable. If your irises get a good start in the fall, they will really take off once warmth comes to their roots as spring approaches. This is true if they are in the ground or still in the pots. Just get them into soil right away and worry about where you will put them later.

Potted irises waiting for in-ground planting