The Iris Garden: Premio Firenze -- Florence, Italy

Part I: The Start of a Beautiful Garden
By Andi Rivarola

Just as many of us in the U.S. were enjoying the gardens near Portland, Oregon during the National Convention of The American Iris Society, Italians and other European iris lovers were attending their own world iris gatherings. This post is about one such event, The Iris Garden and "Premio Firenze," in Florence, Italy.

The Iris Garden in Florence located at the Park Michelangelo was created to host the Annual International Competition, and its main prize, the “Premio Firenze” (Florence Award), was given for the first time in 1954. Crucial to the development of this event were Mr. Flaminia Specht and  Ms. Nita Stross Radicati, members of the Friends of Flowers Society. Active hybridizers, it was their energy and drive that brought the event to Florence, a city with an interesting historic relationship with the iris.

The then Commissioner of Fine Arts and Gardens, Piero Bargellini, immediately sensed the importance of the initiative, he worked actively to support it and he pushed for the municipality to assign an area on the eastern side of the park.

The Garden was an original project by architect G. Zetti and opened in May 1957, after plant donations were made by many foreign growers, including a large collection of historic irises donated by The Presby Memorial Iris Garden in Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.

In 1967 the lower area was built to house a pond in marshy ground surrounding the Japanese and Louisiana irises.

Mr. Saverio Pepe Enjoying the view

The Iris Garden is run by the Italian Iris Society, founded in Florence in March of 1959 mainly for the purpose of managing the garden designed to accommodate the International Iris Competition and protect the numerous collections of plants it received.

More on Part II...



Note: This article was original posted in Italian by Saverio Pepe, a resident of Florence, who kindly gave permission to use his material and images for this blog post. 

Translated by Andi Rivarola 

"Talking Irises" ENJOY YOUR TALL BEARDED IRISES ALL YEAR LONG! Creative ways to preserve your iris photos

 By Susanne Holland Spicker

Tall bearded irises 'Proud Tradition' (Schreiner 1990), 'Queen's Circle' (Kerr 2000), 'No Count Blues' (Schreiner 2009)

"The gardens that make us happiest flourish because we have taken the time to make sure they feed our souls and fill a special place in our lives." (Lindley Karstens)

Tall bearded iris 'Daring Deception' (Johnson 2012)

For several years I have been taking some of my iris photos and making them into cards, posters, and photo books, adding favorite thoughts and quotes to the image. I have chosen a few to share in the hopes that they may inspire you, or just bring a smile to your face. Most of the iris images are first-time bloomers in my 2015 garden.

Tall bearded iris 'Winning Edge' (Ghio 1997)

Tall bearded iris 'Coming Up Roses' (Gatty 1992)

Tall bearded iris 'Engagement Ring' (Ghio 2011)

Tall bearded iris 'Ascii Art' (Moores 1997)

Tall bearded iris 'New Leaf' (Ghio 1997)

Tall bearded iris 'Magical' (Ghio 2007)

Tall bearded iris 'Global Crossing' (Van Liere 2012)

Tall bearded iris 'Wedding Belle' (Keppel 2007)

Tall bearded iris 'Vienna Waltz' (Keppel 2000)

Tall bearded iris 'Tickle Me Pink' (Van Liere 2011)

Tall bearded iris 'Queen's Ransom' (Van Liere 2012)

Tall bearded iris 'Devonshire Cream' (Sutton 2000)

I love the quote from A.J. Balfour:  "What a desolate place would be a world without a flower! It would be like a face without a smile or a feast without a welcome.  Are not flowers the stars of the earth?"

Tall bearded iris 'Long Embrace' (Van Liere 2010)

Tall bearded iris 'Aristocracy' (Keppel 2006)

What are some ways you enjoy the beauty of your irises through the year? Do you have any creative ways in preserving their beauty when they're not blooming?  I'd love to hear from you!

Understanding Louisiana Iris Part 2: I fulva

By Joe Musacchia        

                   

           

Parula Warblers

     
I. fulva has a great history. It is the species most responsible for this group of irises being called “Louisiana” irises. Besides the fact that four of the five species grow and naturally hybridize in Louisiana, I. fulva was first called “Louisiana Flag” by John James Audubon in 1821. He used an illustration of I. fulva on which to put his painting of the Blue-Backed Yellow Warblers, and in his notes referred to the plant as a “Louisiana Flag.”  It became all the rage as the first red Iris. The warblers in the painting are now known as Parula Warblers.

Traits of I. fulva:

Red I. fulva showing multi flower positions
 and branching

I. Fulva has an extensive range from the Gulf Coast well up the Ohio Valley.  I. fulva is listed as 'endangered' in Kentucky and Tennessee, and is listed as 'threatened' in Illinois. I. fulva is not usually found in standing water, although it will tolerate shallow water for long periods. The preferred habitat is the damp or wet banks along ditches and swampy areas. The flower stalk is thin and straight, or slightly zig-zag, eighteen to thirty-two inches tall. They can be found with one to two branches with flower sockets that may be doubled. The main stalk generally has 4 bud positions. 

Fulva 'Lottie Butterscotch'
A yellow showing semi-umbrella form 

I fulva blooms later than I. giganticaerulea, in mid-season in Louisiana. It has an open semi-umbrella form with flowers two and a half to three and a half inches across. The common color is a rusty red, but darker red forms are not uncommon. Yellow is found now and then, but is not common.  The underlying color of I. fulva is yellow, so the flowers that lack red pigment are yellow.

The rhizome of I. fulva is long and slender, but not nearly as long as I. giganticaerulea. Consequently, it does not travel as much, and forms tighter clumps. Its root structure is also much shallower. When grown in loose soil, and when many flowers are open, the stalks tend to go over in strong wind. This is not a problem in its native growing areas with more clay in the soil. Like I. giganticaerulea, in the heat of the summer I. fulva tends to go dormant, but grows through the winter here in Louisiana. Unlike I. giganticaerulea, in colder regions such as Central New York, it

Benny Trahan holding a typical Fulva
showing the height and color. This was
taken on a tour in southern Louisiana at
a SLI convention  

blooms nicely, usually in late June and will grow all summer with adequate water there.                      

I. fulva genes add diversity to the Louisiana iris hybridizer’s mix; a lot more flowers, branching, less traveling with tighter clumps, and an extended range where Louisianas can and will grow and bloom. Most of all, we must not leave out color. Red and yellow are a welcome addition to the Louisiana iris color palette. 

Fulva 'Ouachita Half-Moon'
The smallest most unique collected fulva I have seen.
The flowers are 1 - 1 1\2 inches on a 12-15' stalk
with branching and 4-5 bud possessions

Coming Up:  The Traits of   I brevicaulis                                                                                                                                    

What if? Reblooming Iris Breeding in Zone 6:KY

by Betty Wilkerson

My current goal, for breeding better rebloomers in my garden, is to use a handful of good looking seedlings as pod parents.  Two of my introductions, which I plan to use for this purpose, are 'All About Tranquility' and 'About Tomorrow.'  'All About Tranquility' is 'Chinese New Year' X 'Theme Master.'  The color pattern is one of my favorites and the branching is very good. 'About Tomorrow' also has great form and branching. It is from 'Treasured' x 'Renown.'

'All About Tranquility' (Wilkerson 2011)

 'All About Tranquility' was growing at the UT West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee in a bed maintained by JAIS.  Photo shared by Sue Ann Barnes former Region 7 RVP.

'About Tomorrow' (Wilkerson 2011)

Below are some of the seedlings I would like to use with the above pod parents.  Some have been used and others will be if things ever fall into place.  Sometimes Mother Nature steps in and stops your best plans.  Buds are frozen back. Pollen isn't fertile.  Seed rot.  Many things can happen to thwart your plans, but most of the crosses have around a 50 % chance of taking.                                                                                         

'1605-02re' (Wilkerson seedling)

I've used fall or cycle rebloomers with some of the summer rebloomers.  1605-02Re is such a fall rebloomer, and these are the irises represented:  0915-01:(((Victoria Falls x Vanity) x Immortality) x Love Lines) X 1025-03 (Feed Back x Champagne Elegance).

2410 (Wilkerson seedlings) 

'2410'contained several tall seedlings with a variety of colors, white, purple, and bitone blue.  1624-01re ('Sweet Addiction) is ('Star Gate' x ('Bridge In Time' x ('Feed Back' x 'Titan's Glory))) X 2019-05 (Lunar Whitewash x Romantic Evening). Both seedlings used in this cross were white.  

1907-10Re (Wilkerson seedling)  

This seedling is the strongest rebloomer from 1907 ('Blatant' x 'All Revved Up').  This cross produced several rebloomers, two summer bloomed.  'Cool Character' was introduced from this cross.  

Rebloom breeding is more difficult than trying to improve a color or pattern.  On the plus side, you are already dealing with strong, healthy plants.  Always a good thing.

What would you use with these in an attempt to create good rebloom in the inner continental areas?  

Yellow-flowered Pacifica Iris, from species to modern hybrids

Kathleen Sayce

Starting with yellow flowers, one of the most common colors in wild Pacific Iris populations, I will work through the color spectrum in coming months, though not in strict rainbow order! 

Ken Walker, SPCNI's photo archivist, gave a talk on this topic at AIS's 2012 Convention in Ontario, CA. I will include photos from that talk when I get to some colors and patterns.

Species of all colors tend to narrow petals with a few veins, a small signal, and no to limited ruffling. Hybrids developed with broader falls, more ruffled edges, larger style arms and standards, and with a dizzying array of veining patterns, larger signals, multiple colors in the signals, and slashes down the center of the falls.

So, beginning with yellow, I start with the Golden Iris.

Iris innominata in a garden setting, this one has fairly narrow petals and brown veins on the falls.

Iris innominata, Golden Iris, is one of the gorgeous species in the Pacifica group. [OK, there are no non-gorgeous PCIs, some are simply gaudier than others.] In the wild, I. innominata petal color varies from white through pale yellow to dark gold and almost orange. Veining varies from almost none to orange, red, dark red or brown.  Wild petal width varies from very narrow to moderately wide and slightly ruffled. Wild plants are small, usually well under one foot (25 cm) in height. Flowers are usually held above the foliage. Foliage is dark green, and evergreen. This is a very attractive garden plant even as a wild species. 

Unregistered PCI Burnt Sugar is a slightly huskier innominata-type with a more complex signal, dark red veins, and larger leaves and flowers. 

Yellow flowers are also seen in wild populations of I. chrysophylla, I. douglasiana, I. tenax and in natural hybrids. Garden-selected plants that range from pale yellow to dark yellow have been developed in the past century, with the brakes off on veining, ruffling, signal size and color, and other traits.

PCI 'Garden Delight' is a lighter yellow with even more complex signal and veins on falls. Flower stalks tend to flop over, however, so it's best grown with other plants to provide support. 

As breeders worked on yellows, petals got larger, wider, and more ruffled, and signals and veining patterns increased in complexity. 

PCI 'Sierra Amarillo' is darker yellow than 'Garden Delight', and is also floppy in the flower bed. The flowers are delightful, however, and worth growing with other plants to hold them up. 

Some new seedlings from tall-yellow seed from Joe Ghio include the following flower, which is still being evaluated in my garden. 

This Ghio-sourced seedling has more ruffles and delivers a nice blast of light yellow.

Other new hybrids include one seen here before, an unregistered yellow Pacifica Iris that delivers floral complexity on a sturdy plant, with nicely upright flowers, not too ruffly. It even holds up in the rain fairly well. 

This pale yellow PCI has a complex signal with multicolored veins and a hint of blue on the falls; see this on the right hand flower in particular. Flowers are slightly ruffled, but not solid 'dinner-plates' of overlapping petals. No name yet––I'm pondering Golden Dawn, or Golden Twilight. It's nicely upright in flower. 

I return to judging guidelines regularly to remind myself that good Iris flowers have to hold up in weather, and be strong plants, not simply have beautiful flowers. Garry Knipe and I talked a couple of years ago about a sturdy yellow PCI that would flower in early spring with the daffodils. I can't wait to see this one!

TALL BEARDED IRIS, MY FAVORITE PURPLES, PART TWO

By Dawn Mumford 

As promised, here is part two of my favorite purples.   To see the first part, click here. 

As you know, I love the color purple. Here are some more purple irises that I recommend for your gardens. 

'Splashacata' (Tasco 1998) This won the Dykes Medal in 2005.  This is a nice iris in every way.  

This purple must be listed in the favorites category: ‘Dusky Challenger’ (Schreiner 1986). It has been in the top 25 on the Iris Society's popularity poll ever since it was introduced.  It won the Dykes Medal in 1992, and with good reason.  It is huge, well formed, with very strong substance and luxurious thick beards.  I find no fault with it. 

Another one that keeps popping up on everyone’s favorite list is ‘Jesse’s Song’ (Williamson 1983).  This ‘Historic’ (30 years old or older) is a great performer.  It is usually one of our first irises to bloom in May and also one of the last to finish some time in June.  It has masses and masses of blooms in between. 

 ‘Aristocracy’ (Keppel 2006)  is a great addition to any garden.  Photograph courtesy of Susanne Spicker, taken in our garden. 

‘Gitano’ (Keppel 2007)  A striking blend of two colors that I normally wouldn’t think would look good together, but they do.  

I have severe allergies and can't be outside for long periods because of all the trees and weed pollen  (and we have an orchard with about 400 trees).  I AM NOT ALLERGIC TO IRISES, THANK GOODNESS.  I like to make arrangements so I can live with the iris that I love so much.  I especially like arrangements with various shades of purple and yellow together.  Because those colors are opposites on the color wheel or complimentary colors. they make each other look more intense.   In this vase I have ‘Aristocracy’, ‘Dusky Challenger’, ‘Glowing Smile’, 'Bicentennial’,  ‘Conjuration’ , and either 'Silverado, Silver Years, or "Sterling Silver' (I can't remember which). 

You know how some diets encourage you to write down everything you eat?  You find you have been eating more than you realize.  Until now, I didn't realize how many purple plicatas I have, and this isn't all of them either.  I should probably restrict myself from buying more plicatas, but , like a diet, that's no fun! 

Pictured: ‘On Edge’ (Schreiner 1986), ‘Everything Plus’ (Niswonger 1984),  ‘Eagle’s Flight’ (Schreiner 1986), ‘Swept Off My Feet’ (Schreiner 2014) photo courtesy of Schreiners, ‘Rondo’ (Schreiner 1973), ‘Stepping Out’ (Schreiner 1964), ‘Country Squire’ (Gaulter 1966), ‘Going My Way’, and ‘Cozy Calico’ (Schreiner 1980).  

I love all of these with their minor differences. I also have a smaller section of purple plicatas that are more blue and less rose, below.

‘Creative Stitchery’, (Schreiner 1984), ‘Stitch In Time’ (Schreiner 1978), ‘Rare Treat’ (Schreiner 1987), ‘Modern Classic’ (Knocke 1975), ‘Rare Quality’ (Schreiner 1987)  I have had 'Creative Stitchery' and 'Stitch In Time' almost since they were introduced.  They feel almost like family.  

'Starwoman' IB (Marky Smith 1997) I only have 3 IBs and this made the cut. It won the American Dykes Medal in 2008.

'Daughter Of Stars' (Donald Spoon 2000).  This luminata is just breathtaking.  

I have a friend in Maryland who grows iris and reads the World of Irises. After reading Part One of My Favorite Purples she said
"your love of iris comes thru strong and clear. I love your pictures of each and the interesting little tidbits on each...like each one is a close and personal friend of yours."

I have been thinking about how true that statement is. Some of them are "like family",  and like my children, I worry about their safety.  I'm always so relieved when they make it through another winter and come to see me.  They are starting to bloom now so excuse me, I need to go see who has made it through another winter.  

I love to read your comments so please tell me what you think.