'Dance For Joy' a Space Age Iris which we do enjoy at home, has slightly smaller but intriguing bloom's in a display that comes early in the season and then re-blooms later. It has that X factor in the form of the spoon shaped petaloids.
Monty Byers was truly one of the most original and ardent breeders of irises in the iris world. In that world his niche was expanding both with accomplishment and promise--until death cut short all inspiration and activity. But his iris creations still remain to pleasure our gardens and to remind us of his gifts to us. Monty's iris catalog business, Moonshine Gardens, in association with his business partner, Bill Gibbs, was an almost immediate success, sparked by Monty's ebullient enthusiasm and drive. His breeding interest centered around two classes of irises not altogether at the top of general popularity: the horned, spooned and flounced (Space Age-and designated SA in the catalog) and the section of irises that is steadily growing in popularity, the reblooming irises (identified in the catalog as RE). His development and insistent promotion of these two sections through his catalog and voluminous correspondence was a decisive factor in raising them to the rank of popularity and wide acceptance that they now hold.
Edited extracts from Monty Byers obituary by Ben Hager
Available in New Zealand from the Amazing Iris Gardens, In the US of A you could try Autumn's Folly Farm who have a great catalogue of Space Age Irises or, Williamson Farm Flowers, they also have a great selection of NOID's which are well worth a look
AIS Checklist
DANCE FOR JOY (Monty Byers, R. 1991). Sdlg. E66-1. TB, 30" (76 cm), VE-EM & RE. S-salmon & orchid pink,yellow edge F-salmon pink overlaid reddish orchid,B-orange red,salmon-orchid spoons-flounces;C37-2: (Sky Hooks x Condottiere X C6-3 (Spirit of Memphis x (Moon Mistress x D. Meek horned sdlg.))
Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter
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