Siberian Iris Schafer Sacks Seedling

Just turned up today in a email sent by Marty Schafer its a seedling that Marty has described as "is one of the most exciting seedlings that bloomed last year" Parentage S03-56A-10 X Miss Apple. Joe Pye Weed's Garden is Jan and Marty's mail order plant nursery specializing in Siberian Irises, Versicolors, and Species and Interspecies hybrids

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Of course a major hat tip to Jan and Marty for sharing the magic
Photo credit and copyright Schafer Sacks

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Siberian Iris "CAESAR'S BROTHER"

'CAESAR'S BROTHER' One of the most popular if not thee most popular landscape Siberian Iris variety . The flowers are medium blue with erect standards, very vigorous and easy to grow. I remember a conversation with a commercial grower of Siberians in New Zealand some years ago who stated "Customers visit the gardens and get to see the latest varieties I have imported from America, yet when they return to the shop nine times out of ten its 'Caesars Brother' which wins as the variety they want to take home to grow"
I grow it at home as a hedge of approximately 300 plants down the drive way, and must admit at peak bloom it looks good, bloom height is 36" which gives the garden visitors a greater appreciation of the flowers form. Bred by F. Cleveland Morgan, a pioneer Canadian breeder of Siberian irises. His best known irises are 'Caesar,' 'Caesar's Brother' and ‘Tropic Night', and all are still popular garden plants today. Photo taken in the morning light, and yes its Historic.

2006 Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises
CAESAR'S BROTHER Morgan, F. Cleveland Reg. 1931 SIB (dip.) (30" 76 cm) ML S. violet, narrow and upright; rich round violet F.; white signals and gold hafts (description from Adamgrove Catalog). Listed in 1939 CL as Caezar's Brother; spelling changed in 1949 CL. Kellogg 1932 HM 1936; MORGAN AWARD 1953

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter.

To find out more information on Siberian Irises go to The Society for Siberian Irises at http://www.socsib.org/.

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Siberian Japanese Iris Cross "LEXICON"

Registered as LEXICON, this nicely balanced hybrid is one of the newest additions to the Japanese-Siberian family hybridised by Christy Hensler
I first came into contact with Christy some years ago and I have always admired her "thinking outside the square" when it comes to Japanese and Siberian interseries hybrid breeding, its a difficult thing to do.
Here she relates her thoughts regarding this remarkable iris "LEXICON will make her début in 2012 at the Michigan Iris Convention. Her leaves don't look like any "Siberian" you have ever seen. She's an aggressive little doll who's never failed to bloom even after being moved in the spring. Barely fertile only with a sibling so far but I've started playing with Adrenaline Rush again, the F1 JI-SIB she came from hoping to pull a few more colors into the type."

Despite inconclusive criticism of her work with Ensiberians Christy Hensler has persevered. Plant breeders with a sense of adventure are a valuable asset in the Iris world for making us think that the Impossible now seems probable, long may they live.

To find out more information on Christy's work go to The Rock Garden web site http://www.povn.com/rock/index.html

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Photo credit and copyright and a major hat tip to Christy Hensler

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Schafer Sacks 2010 Introductions

POMEGRANATE PUNCH. Schafer/Sacks (Seedling No. S03-77-12), 23", EM. A richly colored iris which is a blend of yellow and red purple with orangey highlights on sunny days. The falls have a felty texture, nicely flaring with soft and rolling ruffles. The styles are ornamented with small ruffles and dark red picotee edges. Medium sized flowers are held just above the wide and erect foliage. Three buds present a nice succession of bloom. (Sunfisher x sib to On Her Toes) X (((((Star Cluster x Ruffled Velvet) x (Creme Chantilly x ((Atoll x Ruffled Velvet) x Butter and Sugar))) x Riverdance) x ((Forrest McCord x Isabelle) x Dawn Waltz)) x (sib to Dawn Waltz x Dandy's Hornpipe))
Just arrived from Jan Sacks two photos of Jan and Marty's 2010 introductions. Joe Pye Weeds Garden web site is updated for 2010 , give it a visit and admire the genius of diploid hybridizing. Revisit this post and I will update it with more information when it comes to hand. Ten years ago who could imagine the kaleidescope of colour's, its just amazing.




CINNAMON SUGAR . Schafer/Sacks (Seedling No. S03-28-3), 24", M. An impossible color to describe without using food analogies - the falls are smooth chocolate pink or sugared cinnamon. The standards and styles are the palest violet to cream, both with a warm glow of yellow at the edges. Signals are deep golden yellow softened by self colored veins. A prolific bloomer with stalks well distributed in the compact clump. Small to medium
flowers, four to six buds per stalk. Strong neat foliage. Tree of Songs X sib to Pretty Polly: (Gentle Lass x (sib to Dawn Waltz x Dandy's Hornpipe))

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Of course a major hat tip to Jan and Marty for sharing the magic.
Photo credit and copyright Schafer Sacks

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Siberian Iris "LILTING LAURA"

Anna Mae Miller is one of the living treasures of the Siberian Iris world and is a prolific hybridiser of hardy no nonsense high health Siberians
Lilting Laura is one of the most popular Siberians in New Zealand .The flowers are lavender shaded darker in the centre, accented with white styles. It is very vigorous and easy to grow.

2006 Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises
LILTING LAURA Miller, Anna Mae Reg 1989 Sdlg 85.20.17 SIB (dip.) (37" 94 cm) M & ML S. pale violet (RHS 87D); pale violet style arms, slightly darker (87C) midrib; F. violet (87A). Aqua Whispers X Lavender Bounty. Old Douglas Perennials 1990

Good size plants can be purchased for a very reasonable price in America from Wildwood Gardens who have a very good selection of Siberian Irises.

In New Zealand Siberian iris are wonderful landscape plants and do very well as cut flowers. The graceful flowers are carried above an elegant clump of grass-like, blue-green foliage which is attractive all season. Siberians bloom just after the bearded iris and just before the Japanese Iris, and can tolerate a wide range of soils, light exposures and moisture levels and are drought tolerant after they are established. They have almost no disease or pest problems. Ideal conditions are a sunny place with moist, rich, slightly acid soil.
They can also grow well next to pools or marshes and after the first frost their foliage turns a rich reddish-brown. Siberians can remain in place for years without division. When necessary, they should be moved and divided in late summer, preferably March- April.

To find out more information on Siberian Iris go to The Society for Siberian Irises at http://www.socsib.org/.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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New Zealand Iris Grower "TIKITERE GARDENS"

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Tikitere Gardens
104 State Highway 30
RD 4
ROTORUA 3074
Phone (07) 345 5036
Email address tikiteregardens@xtra.co.nz





Ann and Bill Robinson are the owners of 'Tikitere Gardens' which is located in the North Island's very scenic area of Rotorua. These extensive gardens, developed since 1987 incorporate a natural stream and established trees. Nursery sells trees, Acers, Rhododendrons, Hostas Daylilies. Great service and very good size Siberians.Recent Catalogue received lists over 40 modern varieties. Friendly to deal with and answer emails generally within 24 hours.

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Siberian Iris "GOLYBAYA LAGUNA"

When I asked if I could use this photo, Sergey's reply was certainly but he could not understand why as he did not like it much but qualified the statement by adding "but its all a matter of taste". I myself think it most certainly is a mighty good looking Siberian and the dark blue veining on the standards and the falls give the bloom another dimension in taste.

The pod parent is "China Bitone" which has the species Iris I.typhifolia on both sides of it's parentage and is registered as a species X. The pollen parent is unknown.

As always, clicking the image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Photo credit and copyright and a big hat tip to Sergey Loktev.

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Siberian Iris "WINE WINGS"

Siberian Irises with the so called modern flaring rounded form is so apparent in Wine Wings. A re-bloomer which clumps up well to make a colourful display. Whilst this iris is more than 30 years old and therefore is Historic, Siberian Iris just do not date like the Bearded Iris.

D.Steve Warner, Illini Iris Gardens Catalogue 1977 Introductions
WINE WINGS. Siberian sdlg.1150 EML 32" (Sensenbach #6 X Illini Encore)
This floriferous, long blooming red with a touch of violet received the most vote for HC in 1976 and make a beautiful clump

2006 Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises
WINE WINGS Varner, D. Steve Reg. 1976 Sdlg 1150 SIB (dip.) (32" 81 cm) EL & re S. light violet-red; F. violet-red. Sensenbach #6 X Illini Encore. Illini Iris 1977

Can be purchased in America from Tranquil Lake Nursery who have a very good eclectic catalogue of Siberians. In saying that, their Historic collection of Siberians make me wish they where just down the road from me.

For good advice on how to grow Siberian Irises visit The Society for Siberian Irises web site. The information can be downloaded as a PDF file

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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