Tall Bearded Iris BURNT TOFFEE

The unusual is to breeders and some select growers a delight, toss in a unknown parentage or two and the intrigue goes to overdrive!! 'Burnt Toffee' is another of what I like to call my "Colour Chaos Irises" with it's original mysterious colour concoction. Smoky copper red-violet standards, brick red edged hafts with a airbrushed violet blue centre that expands down the falls and a decided margining of gold bronze, a blue beard tipped with bright old gold. Orange blossom fragrance. Impressive branching (3 plus spur). 'Burnt Toffee' disease-resistant foliage is a deep blue green, but plant has only average growth, eventually producing a stunning clump in the garden. For some though an acquired taste.

Schreiner’s Iris Lovers Catalog 1977
BURNT TOFFEE, (Schreiner 1977) ML. 37"
No one color completely characterizes this Iris for it subtly blends a gradation of several colors. Its standards are medium red-violet suffused with golden bronze. The falls present a change of pace. Their center is a pronounced blue-violet wash that diminishes to the precise border edging of gold-bronze. The beard starts as blue tipped but gives way to old gold deep down in the throat. Hafts are a metallic olive-gold-bronze. This smoky colored Iris is indeed unique! Three branches, 7 to 9 buds.

Eden Road Iris Garden, Wenatchee, Washington. 1979 Catalog.
BURNT TOFFEE, (Schreiner 1977) ML. 37" (Unknown)
Very effective blending of dark chocolate and blue-lavender. Beard is dull gold to blue. This one will make you stop and enjoy its rich coloring.

Tempo Two, Barry and Lesley Blyth, East Road, Pearcedale, Victoria, Australia, Season 1983-84
BURNT TOFFEE (Schreiner '77 USA) ML 37". A unique smoky Iris that subtly blends a graduation of several colours. Standards red violet suffused golden bronze. Falls gold bronze with blue flush through centre around blue beards. Good branching. (Parentage unknown) HM '79

AIS Checklist 1979
BURNT TOFFEE Schreiner's, Reg. 1977. Sdlg. G 1519-3. TB 37" (94 cm) ML.  Standards  light chocolate, flushed blue-lavender to center along midrib; Falls richer chocolate with darker chocolate hafts, blue blaze in center; dull gold to blue beard. Unknown parentage., Schreiner's 1977. 

Big hat tip to Calos Ayento of Brighton Park Iris fame for the 1977 Schreiner's description its much appreciated.

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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Tall bearded Iris EXOTIC BLUE

 

Exotic Blue is another of those astonishing irises that is stunning in its unusual simplicity. Perhaps one of the most out of the square descriptions I read was Lloyd Austin  determination that 'Exotic Blue' was a kind of green and in fact 'Exotic Blue' was listed with the other 'Fascinating approaches to Green'  classified irises in his catalogue (nearly two pages of this colour tone).
This iris along with Burnt Toffee, Crimson Tiger, Infernal Fire, Millennium Falcon, Tiger Honey, and the Border Bearded Irises like Jungle Shadows, Batik, Network, and the surprisingly named  Baboon Bottom, when they bloom at home always give me time to ponder the unstable genes that are always just below the surface in the Bearded Iris genetics. You can never beat the element of surprise! Keeps you grounded.

Randolph Iris Garden, Ithaca, New York. 1958 Introductions.
EXOTIC BLUE $15.00
Lavender blue tinged with greenish brown. having a heavy matching beard which accentuates its exotic charm. 32". H.C. 1957. Runner-up for the President's Cup at the 1958 Annual Meeting.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, July 1959, Number 154, Part 1.
Varietal Comment, Region 7-Nashville Vicinity, Adelaide D. Peterson, Brentwood, Tennessee.
Exotic Blue (Randolph), more than just aptly named. This is a connoisseur's iris which almost defies comparison. Medium in height, with falls a bit narrower than are generally popular, it nevertheless is a type of color break that is a hybridizer's dream come true. Several shades darker than powder-blue, it has a dark blue, olive-tipped beard, an olive green area at the haft with 'purple veining deep inside. While most viewers here stood around it in awe, one irisarian thought it terrible. That's the way with this iris, you're likely either to admire it tremendously or dislike it entirely.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society,October 1960, Number 159.
Varietal Comments by Region 15 Members by Thornton M. Abell, Santa Monica, California.
A few things seen in the Los Angeles area before leaving for the AIS Convention in Portland.
Also in Lura's and Barbara's gardens we saw Randolph's EXOTIC BLUE, a most intriguing flower, a smoky greenish blue with a rusty-violet beard; although  somewhat narrow in form, it was effective.

Rainbow Hybridising Gardens, Placerville, California. Lloyd Austins World Famous Iris Color Guidebook, 1963.
EXOTIC BLUE (Randolph, '58) EM 34"
From our AIS President Dr. Randolph comes this hybridizer's dream come true. Of such spontaneous appeal it was runner-up for President's Cup the year it was introduced. Yes, it's exotic & quite different. A distinctive blend of lilac blue and greenish brown with a matching olive-tipped brown beard. A connoisseur’s iris that defies comparison. [(Mata Hari x Black Forest) x White Wedgwood] JC '59.

AIS Checklist 1959
EXOTIC BLUE  Randolph, Reg. 1957  Sdlg. 51-223-5. TB, 28" (71 cm), M ; Light lavender-blue self, with darker center; brown beard, tipped blue. (Mata Hari x Black Forest) x Wedgwood. Randolph 1958. HM 1958.

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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Intermediate Bearded Iris AZ AP

Not a lot of Intermediate irises featured on the Web. These irises flower between the standard dwarf bearded iris and the tall bearded iris, and have a considerable value in adding continuity to the bearded iris season. 'AZ AP' , is another of Alan Ensminger's award-winning Irises. Blooms show occasional flecks of Broken Colour that could be inherited from its 'Jungle Shadows' heritage. A good strong grower that has a longer bloom season. An absolute asset in any garden.There is a limited amount of Alan's irises available in New Zealand which is a pity but we do have a few of his award-winning irises which is better than none at all.  Alan Ensminger, was presented the  Bennett C. Jones Award for Outstanding Median Hybridizing from the Median Iris Society in 2007.

Varigay Gardens Lincoln, Nebraska.1980.
AZ AP EL. IB. 22"
We want you to know about this beautiful 1980 introduction, named AZ AP because in color it is an abbreviated Azure Apogee.
AZ AP is an intermediate - the child of Charmed Circle and and SDB seedling. It is one of those rare irises that can hardly be faulted.
When AZ AP was one year old, it had 3 bloom stalks and 12 increases. The increases were lined out, and in 1979 when AZ AP was two years old there were 57 bloom stalks and 63 increases.
AZ AP is so beautiful and such a good doer that soon everyone will grow it. If you want to be one of the first to grow this remarkable new Intermediate send your check for $15.00 to Varigay Gardens 

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October, 1990. Number 279.
Ensminger's Varigay Garden, James McWhirter (California)
This garden was the last garden I visited at the 1990 Omaha Convention, and it was an excellent one to end with. Although the day was overcast and even a little misty, the glorious color that greeted us when departing the bus was overwhelming. And even if we thought the color was going to be enough, the 75 foot row of AZ AP (Ensminger 80) was in full bloom to greet us a second time. The noise from the cameras capturing this spectacular sight was enough to keep all insects away. Truly a sea of bloom that will long be remembered
 
IRISES, A Gardener's Encyclopedia, Claire Austin.
Iris AZ AP (A Ensminger 1979)
This variety blooms for many weeks, producing skyblue flowers that are very slightly veined with purple around the edges of its petals. The bushy beards are bright blue. Height 56 cm ( 22½ in.) Bloom; early to late season. Parentage includes 'Charmed Circle', Spring Salute', 'Patience', 'Jungle Shadows', and I.pumila. Hans and Jacob Sass Medal 1987.

IRIS, Flowers of the Rainbow, Graeme Grosvenor.
Intermediate Iris Recommended Cultivars
'Az Ap' (Ensminger 1980) 60cm. classic mid-blue intermediate. Vigorous grower.

AIS Checklist 1979
AZ AP (Allan Ensminger, R 1979) IB, height 22" (56 cm), Early-Late bloom season. Cobalt blue (HCC 44/3) self; gentian blue (42/1) beard. Charmed Circle X 73-1: ((Spring Salute x ((Patience x Welch N503) x (Jungle Shadows x pumila))) x ((( Jungle Shadows x pumila) x ( Jungle Shadows x Cretica)) x ((Jungle Shadows x Cretica) x Kavan 11-66))). Varigay Gardens 1980. Honorable Mention 1982; Award of Merit 1984; Sass Medal 1987.

Available in New Zealand from several suppliers.
A big hat tip once again to Julie May of 'The Iris Garden' fame for her very fine photo.

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 Julie May and The Iris Garden ©.

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Border Bearded Historic Iris "JUNGLE SHADOWS "

'Jungle Shadows' tucked away among the peonies growing in its own little jungle at home . A sultry toned Border Bearded Iris of ideal proportions introduced in 1960, receiving the Knowlton Award in 1962. Registered by Helen Graham after the death of the originator Henry Sass. I treasure this iris for the chaos of colour and when introduced it no doubt created a step change in how we view and perceive what an Iris should look like. Chaos and controversy is always a great combination, well it is in my world.

Melrose Gardens, Route 1, Box 466, Stockton, California, 1960 Introductions.
The following Iris co-introduced with El Dorado Gardens, El Dorado, Kansas.
JUNGLE SHADOWS (Sass-Graham) 32". (Black Delight x black sdlg.)
Exotic and other-worldish. A color break for sure. The dusky grey base color is overblended and flushed with lavender, brown, olive and purple. A deep brown beard leads you to the mysterious depths of the flower.
Net. $15.00

Irises, A Garden Encyclopedia, Clarie Austin
Iris 'Jungle Shadows' (Sass 1959)
The standards are a mixture of grey and brown. These colours are flecked and stained throughout the petals which are further washed with a tint of dull violet brown. Inside the petals is a flush of purple. The ginger coloured beards are tipped with grey.This hybrid was introduced after the death of the hydbridizer. Height 99cm (39½ in.) Bloom mid season.

Fleur de Lis Gardens, Sioux City, Iowa.  1965 Catalog.
JUNGLE SHADOWS (Sass-Graham) BB 30". M
An odd blend of grey, with a flush of bluish purple and bamboo yellow which gives the flower a grey-olive color. Made further intriguing by a dark beard and violet-tinged hafts.

Mission Bell Gardens, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Hamblen, Roy Utah. Iris for 1973
JUNGLE SHADOWS (Sass '60) Sultry slate grey standards flushed purple with olive tinge at tips; falls flare and have brown hafts fading to gray tinged violet. Dark beard. Vigorous well branched. (Black Delight X Sdlg.) Knowlton Medal '67......................$1.00 

AIS Checklist 1959
JUNGLE SHADOWS (Sass-Graham, R. 1959). Sdlg. 1-57. BB 26" M. V5D. Blended brown-gray and purple; brown beard. Black Delight x sdlg. 54-95., Melrose 1960.

Available in New Zealand from Amazing Iris Gardens and in the USA from Iris City Gardens and Wildwood Gardens

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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