Anton Mego 2012 Iris FLYING CYPRIAN

Anton Mego writes," 'FLYING CYPRIAN' attracts with non typical colouring. Standards are light blue coloured with non regular dark blue tint. From their parents falls inherit velvet plum dark purple colour with lighter margin. Falls surface is leathery like, not very typical. Cinnamon like orange beards supply the blossoms with unique patina.  Nicely branched stalks have minimal 8 buds".


AIS Checklist 2011
FLYING CYPRIAN (Anton Mego, R. 2011). Sdlg. AM-04/1510-1. TB, 34.5" (88 cm), EM. S. light blue washed darker blue; style arms light blue; F. velvety plum-purple blue with lighter edge; beards cinnamon orange; slight sweet fragrance. AM-00/0493-1: (AM-96/0119-1: (Wild Jasmine x Hello Darkness)) x AM-93/0038-1: (Edith Wolford x Queen In Calico) X AM-96/0162-1: (Fancy Woman x Hello Darkness).

   Heritage Irises like to spoil our online visitors with the very new as well as all our Iris Heritage and it is indeed an honour to display all five Introductions by Anton Mego for the year 2012. Anton has also advised that only he will be selling these Irises commercially this season. As always, clicking the image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Major Hat tip and sincere thanks to Anton Mego.

Photo credit and copyright Anton Mego

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Anton Mego 2012 Iris SWEET VICTORIA

Anton Mego writes," 'SWEET VICTORIA' is a child of beautiful parents. Pink and creamy blossoms have a perfect form. Really stiff, waxy  and wavy blossoms. On the stiff straight stalks are usually 6-8 buds. Striking dark orange brushes raise a very attractive impression".


AIS Checklist 2011
SWEET VICTORIA (Anton Mego, R. 2011). Sdlg. AM-04/1734-3. TB, 36" (92 cm), M. S. and style arms pink rose; F. light pink rose with cream centers; beards based white tipped dark orange; slight sweet fragrance; wavy. Kitty Kay X Paris Fashion.


 Heritage Irises like to spoil our online visitors with the very new as well as all our Iris Heritage and it is indeed an honour to display all five Introductions by Anton Mego for the year 2012. Anton has also advised that only he will be selling these Irises commercially this season. As always, clicking the image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Major Hat tip and sincere thanks to Anton Mego.

Photo credit and copyright Anton Mego

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Anton Mego 2012 Iris ROYAL SUNSET

Anton Mego writes," 'ROYAL SUNSET', Extraordinary parents supplied Royal Sunset with the best genetic material. Standards are nicely formed lavender white colour. Margins are creamy brown, around the beards running inside the standards. Falls are velvet black purple colour. Around dark orange beards is a small light stain. Nicely wavy formed blossoms. healthy growing, predisposed to reproduce with at least 8 buds".

AIS Checklist 2011
ROYAL SUNSET (Anton Mego, R. 2011). Sdlg. AM-05/1860-2. TB, 39" (86 cm), M. S. whitish lavender, creamy brown rim fading to whitish lavender; style arms creamy brown; F. velvety black purple, brighter close to beards; beards dark orange; slight sweet fragrance; wavy. AM-00/0559-9 X Starring.



Heritage Irises like to spoil our online visitors with the very new as well as all our Iris Heritage and it is indeed an honour to display all five Introductions by Anton Mego for the year 2012. Anton has also advised that only he will be selling these Irises commercially this season. As always, clicking the image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Major Hat tip and sincere thanks to Anton Mego.

Photo credit and copyright Anton Mego.

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Anton Mego 2012 Iris GOING BLUE

Anton Mego writes," 'GOING BLUE'  is sky blue with perfect, wavy beautiful shaped blossoms. After its extraordinary parents Going blue inherits only good characteristics. Stiff stalks produce 8 buds giving rise 3 blossoms simultaneously. Healthy plant, no special care needed". 


AIS Checklist 2011
GOING BLUE (Anton Mego, R. 2011). Sdlg. AM-05/2002-1. TB, 35.5" (90 cm), M. S. sky blue; style arms and F. clear sapphire blue; beards white based tipped yellow cream; slight sweet fragrance; very wavy. AM-03/124:
(AM-00/0539 ((Conjuration x Twilight Blaze) x Honky Tonk Blues) x AM-99/0398: ((Honky Tonk Blues x (Altruist x Sea Of Joy)) x Abiding Joy)) X Sea Power.

   Heritage Irises like to spoil our online visitors with the very new as well as all our Iris Heritage and it is indeed an honour to display all five Introductions by Anton Mego for the year 2012. Anton has also advised that only he will be selling these Irises commercially this season. As always, clicking the image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Major Hat tip and sincere thanks to Anton Mego.

Photo credit and copyright Anton Mego.

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Anton Mego 2012 iris GARDEN PLEASURE

Anton Mego writes, "GARDEN PLEASURE is a garden lighthouse. Beautiful contrast between the standards and falls. Standards are creamy yellow with darker veins. Falls are wine-magenta, center of petals are lavender blue. Falls margins are thin creamy brown lined. Nice form and wavy blossoms make Garden Pleasure really charming.  State of health and also the growth is very good. Stalks branch out really nice with at least 8 buds. Good parent". 


AIS Checklist 2011
GARDEN PLEASURE (Anton Mego, R. 2011). Sdlg. AM-05/1896-2. TB, 35.5" (90 cm), M. S. cream yellow with darker veins; style arms cream yellow; F. wine-magenta, center of petals are lavender blue, edges cream brown; beards yellow with orange tipped hairs; slight sweet fragrance; wavy. AM-95/0085-2: (Honky Tonk Blues x Rustler) X AM-00/0559-9: (AM-98/0312: (Twilight Blaze x Night Attack) x Slovak Prince).

   Heritage Irises like to spoil our online visitors with the very new as well as all our Iris Heritage and it is indeed an honour to display all five Introductions by Anton Mego for the year 2012. Anton has also advised that only he will be selling these Irises commercially this season. As always, clicking the image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Major Hat tip and sincere thanks to Anton Mego.

Photo credit and copyright Anton Mego.

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Intermediate Bearded Iris "SHAMPOO"

I have very limited information regarding the 1970-80 period of median irises,( As you can see below more information has come to hand since the original post date.) and I can find nothing about the Intermediate Iris 'Shampoo,' there is no mention of it in the AIS bulletins (I own a limited collection so lacks depth for this and other periods). I also just purchased 35 American Iris Catalogues from the sixties and seventies and eighties and surprisingly there is no listings of it in them. Now I find this unusual as the Iris received an Honorable Mention 1978, Award of Merit 1980, and the Hans and Jacob Sass Medal  1984, someone must of given it a great review somewhere. It is a vigorous Iris which handles neglect and I know this is true as it was originally growing in a 'heel in' bed over by the Woolshed and that I had thought I had lifted everything and transferred to some other gardens closer to the house. I went back the the temporary 'heel in' bed  during the bloom season and there she was, pushing up through the weeds, (over at the Woolshed weeds are referred to as pasture) flowering its socks off, almost like a desperate plea, 'WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET YOUR ATTENTION??? THIS IS MY BEST SHOT!!!'  So its a keeper no doubt about that, and yes its another of those 'Historic Iris' with ruffling.

Cottage Gardens, Hayward, California, 1977 Catalog.
SHAMPOO  (Virignia Messick, 1977).  IB, E, 18"   Yes, a ruffled intermediate bearded of a different color.  A very ruffled bronzed gold self, with a perfect branch.  It really is the color of a popular brand shampoo, and its new to this class  (Cambodia X Gingerbread Man)  HC '76.  $10.00

Eden Road Iris Garden,Wenatchee, Washington, 1979 Catalog.
SHAMPOO (Messick '77)  E. 18 in.  (Cambodia X Gingerbread Man).  Ruffled bronzed gold self.  Should be great to cross back to TB browns.  We want to use it with Melted Chocolate.  H.M. '78.....$6.50

4~ Square Iris Gardens, Eau Claire,Wisconsin, Cold Climate Iris, 1983.
 SHAMPOO (Messick 1977) Ruffled bronze-gold self
The reason I have included this short and to the point listing is that the catalogue states 'plants are grown in a very harsh climate. Temperatures from -40°F in winter and up to 100°F in the summer. Coupled with the harsh climate is a short growing season' this would most likely indicate 'Shampoo' is a hardy iris.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1990,  “Shorter Bearded Irises in 1990”,  page 61, C.E.C. Bartlett.
Another older variety which is always good is 'Shampoo' (Messick '77). It's strange greenish khaki colour is not to everyone's taste but bud placement and flower form are impeccable. In the right place in the garden where its colour can be complementary to soft yellows, limes and greens it is superb. Needless to say its immaculate form and placement make it perfect for Shows and floral art.

IRISES, A Gardener's Encyclopedia, Claire Austin.
Iris 'Shampoo' (V. Messick 1975)
The flowers are a colour that is difficult to describe, a rather strange greenish brown, or yellow-bronze overlaid with smears of green and grey. The petals are crystalline, and a purple-maroon flush surrounds the hafts. The flower is Scented. Height 40cm (18½ in.) Blooms early season.

AIS Checklist 1979
SHAMPOO Virginia Messick, Reg 1975, Sdlg. 68-70. IB, 18" (46 cm), E. Ruffled bronze-gold self. Cambodia X Gingerbread Man. Cottage Gardens 1977. HM 1978, AM 1980, Sass Medal 1984.

This Iris can only be purchased in New Zealand for the very reasonable price of $8.00 this season from Dublin Bay Irises ( A link is listed in the left hand column  Recommended New Zealand Iris Growers.)

A big Hat Tip to Keith Keppel for his candid observations and the above catalogue listings.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version. Reproduction in whole or in part of this post, its opinions or its images without the expressed written permission of Terry Johnson is strictly prohibited. Photo credit and copyright Terry Johnson and Heritage Irises ©.

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New Zealand Tall Bearded Iris "IRWELL SURPRISE"

 Truly wonderful new entries into the New Zealand iris world are few and far between but every now and again even my iris world gets a surprise. 

Its a sensational Iris that caught me completely unaware arriving in the form of a photo sent by Carol Rogerson the owner of South Pacific Epiphyllums who grows this iris. I had never seen this iris before even though it was registered in 2006.
It could of been called 'Caught me by Surprise' but then again when thinking of the varieties Ron has introduced to date he could of also have called it 'No Surprise Really' and I would have had to agreed.Now I know that the irises of Ron Busch have not had a smooth ride to success but you can't keep a good thing down forever.
Nothing like a visionary emissary to remind us of the wondrous Irwell Iris we all have to look forward to in the coming years.

I have had the privilege of reading Ron's very complicated Breeding notes and whilst the original registration states the parentage as 'Involved Irwell seedling lines', I have taken the liberty to fill in the missing parents. It does seem that broken color is most often linked with plicata, one way or another, and you will note the inclusion of various plicatas on both sides of the parentage.

2010 New Zealand Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist
IRWELL SURPRISE  Ron Busch, Reg., 2006. Sdlg. 1226. TB, 36″, (91 cm), ML. S. coffee cream over orange base; style arms orange; F. orange brown, deeper veining; beards tangerine.Involved parentage that includes Wild Apache, Youthful Charm, Rococo, Taholah, Tea Apron, Lula Marguerite, Velvet Robes, Laurie X  Tea Apron, Rococo, Youthful Charm, Latin Love, Velvet Robes, Lula Marguerite, Laurie, Earthling, Cutie, Pipes of Pan, Rich Melody, Melodrama; Rossmore Iris Gardens 2008

Photo Credit and Copyright Carol Rogerson, South Pacific Epiphyllums

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Keith Keppel Iris 2012 Catalogue

Yesterday the future arrived, doesn't happen often but that's the outcome when Keith Keppel's Iris Catalogue arrives 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!! Anyway for those visitors to the blog lucky enough to live in the USA go and buy yourselves some classy Irises.
Catalogue also contains a very large listing of Barry Blyth's Irises. Keith does write however, that this is the last year to purchase a wide selection of irises before....if plans are carried through...next year they will transition from a catalogue format to a limited listing.

This has become an annual event for Heritage Irises and I only received an email from Keith 2 days ago telling me among other things that the Catalogue was on its way so no complaints with the postal service this time.

Cover Shot feature Tall Bearded Iris 'VOLCANIC GLOW'
(Montmartre X Lip Service) All that's missing is the smell of brimstone! Smoky, smouldering hot luminata, with aureolin. yellow standards flushed brownish red in the centre portion. Zanzibar red falls, with velvety wash overall, carry a  narrow aureolin edge, while the white hot heart is edged bright golden lemon. Beards are also golden lemon. Ruffled, with terminal and three branches up to eight buds

For a catalogue, please send $3 to: Keith Keppel P.O. Box 18154 Salem, OR 97305

Be sure to visit Keith Keppel's web site listed in the Iris Links on this page

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version which no doubt you can save and print.

And of course a major hat tip to Keith Keppel once again for sharing the magic

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Tall Bearded Iris "PRINCE INDIGO"

An absolutely must have for a sixties historic iris collection is the sensational 'Prince Indigo'  It creates a staggering picture in the garden and one of its most important qualities, in my opinion is its extremely vigorous growth that produces top quality stalks that can carry up to nine buds each of a truly distinctive lustrous purple colour with good form that will not be mistaken for any other Iris.

Schreiner's Iris Lovers Catalog 1964
SUPERLATIVE NEW IRIS FOR 1964
PRINCE INDIGO (Schreiner 1964) L 38"
If space limitations restricted one to growing only 'TEN OUTSTANDING IRIS' one selection ought to be the finest deep violet obtainable. Since the days of Madame Gaudichau, deep violet has been recognized as one of the great color categories among iris. It's a hue found but rarely in the Floral Kingdom. This year, for the first time in many years, we have a magnificent representative of the class to offer Iris Fanciers.  PRINCE INDIGO cannot be called a novelty because of any peculiarity of color or form. It achieves uniqueness through sheer quality. The rich pansy violet hue, the absolute even coloring throughout, the glistening, luxurious pile, the generous size, superb branching and aristocratic bearing stamp this as an iris classic. The illustration here shows only part of its richness, it fails to show the the extra broad form characteristic of this worthy iris. No. R 631-1  $25.00  

Courtesy Schreiners Iris Lovers Catalog 1964

Schliefert Iris Gardens, Murdock, Nebraska, 29th Annual Catalog, 1970
PRINCE INDIGO (Schreiner 1964)
Unique through sheer quality!! Rich pansy violet with even coloring throughout; glistening, luxurious pile, generous size and superb branching. A.M.1967

Richmond Iris Garden, Richmond, Nelson.1971-1972
PRINCE INDIGO- L 38". The rich violet hue, the even colouring, the luxurious pile, the generous size, and the superb branching stamps this as an Iris classic.

Browns Sunnyhill Gardens Milton-Freewater, Oregon 1972 Catalog

PRINCE INDIGO
 (Schreiner 1964) Rich pansy violet self with blue-violet beard. Large, nicely formed flowers on tall well branched stalks. A.M.1967

AIS Checklist 1969
PRINCE INDIGO (Schreiners, R. 1964). Sdlg. R-631-l. TB 38" L. V1D. Pansy-violet self, violet cast beard. First Violet X King's Choice., Schreiners 1964. HC 1963, HM 1965, JC 1965, 1966, AM 1967.

Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Heirloom Iris "NEW DAWN"

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!
I thought this an appropriately named heirloom iris to celebrate the New Year.

NEW DAWN' is an Iris with star quality in both parentage and colouration. In 1928 Emily Jean Burgess (later Jean Stevens) somehow crossed the early flowering William Rickatson Dykes-bred, pearly white coloured 'Moonlight' with Sir Arthur Horts' late flowering purple bi-colour iris ‘Hermione’.  The resultant seedling with no description of colour or form was only ever labelled  'E97' and in 1931 Jean  crossed it with Arthur Bliss’s 'Mrs Valerie West' to produce the clean and finely textured primrose yellow cultivar. On its release in England, 'New Dawn' was often compared with 'Helios' which in the early 1930s, along with W .R. Dykes were the standard-bearers for yellow irises.  These had clean yellow standards with yellow falls that were reticulated, generally in a tone of light purple brown.'New Dawn' was a triumph in light yellow breeding because of its clean colouration on the standards and falls and was without doubt at least the equal to the introductions of the late 1930s in the same colour range, such as 'Happy Days', 'Golden Bear','Lady Paramount', and 'Primrose'. Jean had a firm opinion on striation or reticulation and often noted that it was a fault in Irises, as its presence almost invariably detracted from the purity of the colour tone.  She also used the term 'rough' in reference to veining.
'New Dawn' is an Iris with vigour, large numbers of bloom and has excellent increase, outperforming most of the more modern Irises. The large buds of intense primrose are a feature in themselves. Found growing in a garden in Carterton, my plants were given to me by the garden owner who had surplus plants established over the fence, growing alongside the railway line. Vigour is as good as 'Magnolia". Its the pollen parent to the New Zealand heirloom white iris 'Wychnor' featured on the blog last November.
Last years bloom season (2011) it was no match for the 140 km an hour winds that attacked our gardens in October, the blooms stalks just fell over, but all I had to do was stake the very numerous stalks and  'New Dawn' just continued flowering through the season for another four weeks  -  it was just like nothing had happened. The above photo was taken after the storms

The Iris Yearbook 1937 (BIS)
Seedlings Seen, R.E.S.Spender writes
New Dawn (Stevens)-- A seedling raised in New Zealand. It is a splendid grower, and is much improved Helios in colour,a pale lemon-yellow without streaks, and a fine shapely flower of real merit. It is I am told a Moonlight -Valerie West derivative.

The Iris Yearbook 1940 (BIS)
Some promising New Zealand Irises, Mr G P Baker writes
New Dawn, a straw coloured white, was particularly strong with three very massive flowering stems. The others were not quite of the same substance

The Iris Yearbook 1942 (BIS)
Discursions of an Iris Breeder, R. E. S.Spender writes; [Ref 1]
"The truth is Golden Hind (and its numerous descendants) has now given me all the yellows I could want or even find room for and I for one shall not attempt any further crosses with what is nevertheless the best parent for yellows I have yet come across, so just why it should be so, in view of its distinctly plebeian parentage, is one of those mysteries of  hereditary which is impossible to fathom.
About the same time that I started on these crosses I received the big yellowish-cream New Zealander, New Dawn from its raiser Mrs W. R. Stevens. New Dawn is (Moonlight x Hermione) X Mrs Valerie West, and is therefore, I should judge-assuming Moonlight to have had a good deal to do with the production of W.R. Dykes-not wholly unconnected with Golden Hind. No two yellows could be much more dissimilar, however, in build, and I should certainly not have used it except for lack of other material. It too proved an easy as well as valuable seed parent, though, unlike Golden Hind, it is not apt to produce the shapeliest of seedlings. But they have substance, they are always large and stout growers, and now and then one may get a perfect seedling from it. Crossed with Purple Dusk, it produced a really superb white, spangled with a gold dust, which is different from any other I know. I should think it may prove one of the best seed-parents now available although a good many of the seedlings from it may be inferior in form. But Mr Long, who has used Valerie West far more than I have may very likely have a good reason to challenge that."

Stevens Bros Catalogue, Bulls New Zealand 1937-38
NEW DAWN (Stevens)
Another outstanding seedling of our own raising which already has been highly commented upon in England. Of particularly heavy substance and finest texture, this Iris will stand up to a adverse weather conditions better than any variety we know. It has a vigorous constitution and a long flowering period. The large well formed flowers are a clear lemon entirely unveined. One leading English Iris critic has described New Dawn as "Superb in every respect" 3ft.

The New Zealand Iris Hybridiser's Checklist 2011
NEW DAWN  Miss E.J. Burgess, Reg., 1936. Sdlg.1/H2 TB, 38″, EML, Y4L. Standards and Falls clearest creamy yellow. S.2¾″ X 2½" . F. 2⅝" X 2½"  Beard sulphur yellow. Very good substance and shape. Lightly veined olive green at haft of the fall. Well branched, and stands up well to the weather. 38″  Description E.J.Burgess Studbook notes,‘1935 flowering’; (Moonlight x Hermione) X Mrs Valerie West. 'Introduced'  Stevens Bros Catalogue 1937-38.


[Ref 1] Dis`cur´sion;  a noun; The act of discoursing or reasoning; range, as from thought to thought

Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter

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