Irises "Live at the Forum"

..There is a new kid on the block in the Iris forum segment on the internet. Founded by Polly Kinsman of Siberian Iris Gardens and Dee Stewart of Snowpeak Iris. "It's in the beginning stages, but what we are attempting to create is a forum where iris lovers can go to chat, and learn, similar to Dave's Garden, but with no charge for membership. It is on the new website Cubits, and is simply named 'Irises', Polly says. "We currently have over 100 members and are growing every day, and it is our hopes to have not only forums to discuss...

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Tall Bearded Historic Iris "GAY LIGHTS"

Gay Lights is an Iris that is reported to be uncommon in the Country of its registration (USA) yet this outstanding reverse bi tone, which is an unusual color tone is still available from three small commercial Iris growers in New Zealand who generally seem to be the home for back catalogue Irises (Long may they exist). This iris grows well in our garden, strong growth with good increase, blooming in a bed amongst the older browns like 'Inca Chief' and 'Frontier Marshall'. Can't say I liked it at first but growing with the...

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Tall Bearded Iris "LOCAL COLOR"

Fantastic increase and always gives that little bit extra by been a consistent bloomer over a long period.' Local Color', has as its pollen parent the mysterious and aptly named 'Gallant Rogue' bred by Barry Blyth yet named by Keith Keppel. 'Witches Sabbath' Bill Maryott's heavily ruffled purple black is the pod parent. With the same parents Keith also produce another stand out later blooming iris "Night Game". Schreiners 2002 Iris Lovers Catalog LOCAL COLOR (Keppel 1996)M. 40" This extraordinary dark violet-black bi-tone displays...

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New Zealand Arilbred Median Iris 'GREEN DELIGHT'

Arilbred Median 'Green Delight', a New Zealand historic iris.The registered description of 'Green self ' is somewhat simplistic and lacking in detail. In the Maerz and Paul Dictionary of Color, Citronelle across all the range (98, 99,101,102) is a better colour match for this iris.White beard tipped Spanish yellow. An easy Iris to grow with no problems apart from slow increase. Blooms with the intermediate irises mid-season.The Aril Society International 2009 Illustrated Official ChecklistGREEN DELIGHT OGB- (Mrs. Frances Love,...

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Tall Bearded Iris "ABOUT LAST NIGHT"

A cross of two 1980 irises, Bill Maryott's 'Witches' Sabbath' and Paul Blacks 'Oklahoma Crude' both purple blacks Irises with mustard beards, gave Paul Black a Deep Black Iris with yellow beards and a glowing red heart. A very attractive fragrant iris with the ability to rebloom an unusual trait in black irises so if you only have room for one Black Iris in your garden why settle for a solo performance when 'About Last Night' could give you an encore in Autumn.I have not tried it yet but it is reported to be fertile. I grow a clump...

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Tall Bearded Historic Iris "MARY RANDALL"

Growing at home this heirloom iris is a real visual treat and is a true pioneer in the colour tone Rose Pink. Clean and strong foliage and clumps up well. Mid season bloom.Considered to be one of the aristocrats of tall bearded hybridisation. Fertile both ways.  Fays Gardens, Wilmette, Illinois. Iris and Hemerocallis 1952. MARY RANDALL No. T48-3 SOLD OUT New Horizon X F2 Pink Seedling This deep rose pink self, with a bright tangerine red beard, is a new color in Iris- "Bengal Rose" in the R. H. S. Color Charts. The flowers...

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Tall Bearded Historic Iris "GOLDEN MAJESTY"

Possibly one of the best heirloom irises in class for its deep, clean yellow colouration that came out of the late 1930's with W.R.Dykes (the Iris) included in the parentage. Grows well at home, increase plus and the bright yellow blooms resists fade, the form is classic, now growing among some historic blues and variegata classed Irises and its gleaming with a plus.Stevens Bros, Bulls New Zealand, Novelties 1943-44 CatalogueGOLDEN MAJESTYThis iris ranks as one of the finest of its kind. An iris of gleaming gold!! Striking is this...

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Tall Bearded Iris "QUEEN IN CALICO"

'QUEEN IN CALICO' in my opinion is Jim Gibson's queen of the pink and purple plicata's and for its specific colouration has never been superseded. It is very appropriate that it appears in the pedigree of Keith Keppels 1999 introduction 'Tangled Web'. Still used in breeding today and equally impressive is the list of Hybridisers that have used this Iris in their breeding programs.It's the pod parent of Anton Mego's very fine tall bearded iris 'Slovak Prince' that was recently featured on this blog. Gardeners who "Only Grow...

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Tall Bearded Historic Iris "MONTAGE"

“It is wiser to find out than to suppose” Mark Twain This iris has had nearly more names than a member of Mossad. Originally when it first bloomed at a distance it did look a lot like Jim Gibson's 1980 reblooming iris 'Spyglass Hill' but it turned out regretfully to be another of my spur of the moment purchases from a Commercial Iris Grower in Gisborne and was wrongly labelled as Keith Keppel's 'Diplomacy' which was the Iris that I ordered. Readers should understand that this purchase is not a case of a genuine mix up, it is an...

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Keith Keppel Iris 2010 Catalogue

Two weeks ago Keith Keppel's Iris Catalogue arrived in the post. Each catalogue received becomes part of the truly amazing continuum from one of the hybridising Giant's of the Iris world. It's just to bad Importing Irises to New Zealand is a wee bit tough at the present time, but things could change!! Anyway for those visitors to the blog lucky enough to live in the USA go and buy yourselves some classy Irises and for the rest of us we will just have to enjoy the pic's, and dream of what could of been.Catalogue also contains a very...

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