Historic Iris 'ZUA'

ZUA, in my opinion one of the great lookers in historic irises . Bred by Mrs William Crawford, (Anna Boyd), La Porte, Indiana. In 1890 Mrs. Crawford began cultivating peonies, eventually specializing in the growing of Peonies and Irises at Crawford Gardens, publishing her first Iris catalogue in 1920. The iris is classified as an Intermediate. Shows good increase, great fragrance, flowers handle moderate wet weather well, and is a definite talking point in our garden. A hardy plant that can handle neglect which is perhaps one of...

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Standard Dwarf Iris "pumila THE GEM"

'Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. Aldous Huxley, "Proper Studies", 1927 PUMILA THE GEM photo taken in the Morning Sun a couple of hours ago. This Iris was first introduced 1933. Often miss-labelled or confused with I.kochii.  The neighbour came over at 6.30am to help shift the cattle and found me lying on some sacks taking photos of dwarf irises including the above, sure had his head scratching for a while!  A H Burgess and Son, Iris Specialists, 1933, WAIKANAE,...

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Standard Dwarf Iris 'TONYA'

TONYA Pictured in the garden this afternoon. The significance of this iris is that information received from Carlos Ayento of Brighton Park Irises an expert on Schreiner Iris introductions, is that it is no longer available in America the home of its hybridiser Robert Schreiner and was until recently considered to be lost. It was recently found growing in Germany and is still grown and sold in New Zealand by Richmond Irises see New Zealand Links above. Schreiner's Iris Lover's Catalogue 1962. Early blooming 12" to 14". This cute...

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Standard Dwarf Iris 'NORMA VALERIE'

Flowering in the garden this morning New Zealand Bred 'Norma Valerie' a Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris in shades of soft watercolours. Hybridised by Ron Busch, this variety is always covered in blooms every season and shows good increase. Strong clean high health Foliage, showing PBF. An interesting Fertile Parent;I recently talked to Ron about this iris and we concluded that Norma Valerie is an Iris that takes a season or two to reach its full potential but when it gets there it is an Iris that I am more than pleased to have it in...

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'KOWHAI' TREE THE GOLDEN GLOW OF SPRING

..KOWHAI (Sophora tetraptera)New Zealand's Native Spring Blossom Tree absolutely at the start of its best over by the Woolshed yesterday.Over a period of the next two weeks The tree will have just about all the blossom ripped off it by the Tui's as they drink the honey contained in the flowers so all of this gold will fall on the ground. We have three trees all of 12 metres in Height growing in this location and is one of my favorite Native tree's***...

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Iris Seedling Photo's Last in this Series

..Once again I would like to express my Sincere Thanks to Adele and Wayne Harrison for sharing their amazing Seedling Photos.As previously stated in this series © All Pictures Copyright W.Harrison***...

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More Top Aril Seedlings Raised in New Zealand

..Yes as promised more pictures, and a few more to come!!!© All Pictures Copyright W.Harrison***...

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Top Aril Seedlings Raised in New Zealand

..So glad to catch up with Adele and Wayne Harrison today from Bannockburn in the South Island Lakes District. These two outstanding Horticulturists are growing some of the finest Arilbred seedling's I have seen in New Zealand and the good part is they kindly gave permission for me to publish their pictures. The fantastic news is that the Aril Gene pool in New Zealand just got a whole lot better.More pictures to come!!!!!© All Pictures Copyright W.Harrison***...

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Spring has Sprung which starts with The Daffodil Show

..If you are in Masterton on Saturday be sure to visit the Daffodil Show. All are most welcome***...

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