Tall Bearded Iris SPANISH GIFT

 Spanish Gift is in a small and select collection of George Shoop's Irises at home. The bloom has a very chiselled masculine look that displays on strong well branched stems that always have a great bud count. Healthy vigorous growth resulting in a large clump quickly is a huge plus, and even this last bloom season at home which at best could be kindly described as mediocre 'Spanish Gift' was one of the few outstanding performer. 

George A. Shoop, Hybridizer, Portland Oregon.1966
SPANISH GIFT 1965. Bright orange with deep orange-red beard. Wide, ruffled, flaring falls. Well branched. Large, strong stalk. 36". Seedling 60-16-1. $25.00

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, January 1970, Number 198.
The Overlooked Wonders, Joseph J. Ghio, Santa Cruz, California.
In our rush to see the newest and most discussed irises, we often overlook some fine, even great, varieties. Once overlooked, an iris rarely makes it through the quagmire of obscurity to receive its just reward. Occasionally an overlooked iris does clear the clouds and enters the shining light it deserves......It is our opinion that the following irises have been overlooked and underestimated. They are worthy of far more recognition and fame than has been accorded them...............................
SPANISH GIFT (Shoop '67) is an apricot-orange of fine branching and bud count. A rhizome will produce an "instant" clump; and in Santa Cruz it is an everblooming iris, a trait to cultivate in more irises!

Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog 1970.
SPANISH GIFT (Shoop, '65) EM. 35" Each $7.50
Warm, glowing, bright orange self; the beard is still deeper orange red on a creamy central ground. Here is a fine follow up on the heels of the variety listed just above from this same hybridizer.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, January 1972, Number 204.
Youth-Views. Radical Views Perry Dyer.
In the orange class, again the older one appears to be the best all around. SPANISH GIFT (Shoop, '65) is by far the most vigorous orange on the market, and probably has the best form.

AIS Checklist, 1969.
SPANISH GIFT G.Shoop, Reg. 1964 Sdlg. B60-16-l. TB, 36" (91 cm), M ; Orange self; deep orange beard. Bright Magic X B55-39. Shoop 1965. HM 1967.

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 GYPSY RINGS

 "Yes, it is a good-looking iris! Also unmistakably Shoop--or at least Shoop derived". Phil Edinger 2012.

This imposing and colourful iris had me baffled for a while as the photo that accompanied the Iris when it was purchased differed somewhat to the iris when it bloomed at home. A search on the internet came up with zilch, and the only available catalogue descriptions were from Bay Blooms (NZ) Spring/Summer catalogue 1998  which merely stated "This variety has been much admired. All over cream with a pink influence throughout", and a earlier Jean Collins Iris Gardens (NZ) catalogue had telescoped the description to just, "Cream with a pink influence", so not a lot of information overload here. Now as we all know a official checklist description apparently trumps all, but when you ID iris that old adage "Trust but verify" definitely applies, so conformation that we were onto a winner has come from the catalogue and Bulletin advertisement descriptions sent from America, a helpful addition to the knowledge base and are copied below. At 45 years old its colouration is still very much 'today'. Like Jean Stevens, George Shoop was one of the great master's of inbreeding using a limited number of out crosses in his breeding programme.
Blooming with a entrancing colour combination the plant has good vigour, and a iris that will continue to be much admired at home.


GEORGE A. SHOOP, Hybridizer, Portland Oregon. 1967 Introductions.
Gypsy Rings (Shoop 1967). EM. 36". A flaring, ruffled flower with pink standards and white falls with one-fourth inch yellow rim, and a pink-tangerine beard to add to its feminine charm. Well-branched. Fine grower. Gay Whisper X 59-6-1.
 Sdlg. 63-18-1.......................$25.00

Bay View Gardens, Joseph J. Ghio, Santa Cruz, California. Iris 1969
The Elite Ones
GYPSY RINGS* (Shoop '67) Standards are soft pink and the falls are white with a yellowish rim. Unique...........$15.00 

Schreiners,  Salem,Oregon, Iris Lovers Catalog 1972
Gypsy Rings (Shoop 1967) EM. 36"  A charming flared and ruffled iris with pink standards and white falls that have an attractive, one-fourth inch border of yellow and a pink tangerine beard to add to its feminine charm. With its beauty, unusual color pattern and model growing habits it is easy to see why this iris is so well liked.

 Melrose Gardens, Stockton,  California, The Connoisseurs Catalog,1973
Gypsy Rings (Shoop 1967). Pink standards flushed lemon along the ruffled edges and white falls with a wide yellow border all the way around; pinkish tangerine beards--and it all makes a really beautiful flower.

Jean Collins Iris Garden, Cambridge Road, R.D.1 Tauranga.
GYPSY RINGS Cream with a pink influence...........$2.00

BayBloom Nurseries, Cambridge Road, R.D.1 Tauranga. Spring and Summer Catalogue, 1998.
GYPSY RINGS. This variety has been much admired. All over cream with a pink influence throughout......$5.00

AIS Checklist 1969
GYPSY RINGS G. Shoop, Reg 1967 Sdlg. 63-18-1. TB, 36" (91 cm), E-M ; S pink; F white with 1/4" yellow rim; ruffled; pink-tangerine beard. Gay Whisper X 59-6-1. Shoop 1967.

The grower I purchased this iris from is no longer in business so I cannot help as to where you can buy it.
I have recently (yesterday) purchased another George Shoop 1960 vintage iris labelled 'Spanish Gift', reported to be a very bright apricot-orange coloured iris with a deep orange-red beard, hopefully another visual treat when it blooms so I'll keep you posted.

Big hat tip to Phil Edinger for the initial catalogue research from America. 

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 "PEACH SPOT "

Another Re-blooming dazzling, zestful colour combination from George Shoop still flowering off and on well after all the other Tall Bearded Irises have packed their blooms away until next year. Fragrant with just the right amount of ruffles and a lovely grower. This photo taken today after some heavy downpours of rain last night and this morning.

GEORGE A SHOOP, 2009 N.E. Liberty, Portland, Oregon 97211, 1973.
PEACH SPOT (Shoop '73). TB. 36" Midseason
White, lightly ruffled standards. White broad falls, with a medium colored peach spot covering two thirds of the fall. Good substance and form. Tangerine beard. Branched. Fine plant. New-different. 68-30-1 HC '72
Snow Peach X sib....................$25.00

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October 1975, Number 219.Vintage Year. Larry L. Harder, Nebraska.
PEACH SPOT from George Shoop gives us a color pattern not seen for a long time: white with a large peach spot on each fall.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, Summer 1978, Number 230. Flightlines, Medians, Joe Gatty, California:
If you wish to have fun IBs try a cross of PEACH SPOT or SNOW PEACH with DOVE WINGS. The row of these that I bloomed were a fun lot of seedlings-all amoenas with fall pattern of apricot, peach and violet on white.

AIS Checklist 1979
PEACH SPOT (G. Shoop, R. 1973). Sdlg. 68-30-1. TB 36" (91 cm) M. S. lightly ruffled white; F. white with large medium peach spot; tangerine beard. Snow Peach X sib., Shoop 1973. Highly Commended 1972, Honorable Mention 1974


Available in America from Riverview Iris Gardens, Bluebird Haven Iris Garden, Blue J Iris, The Iris Farm

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Iris "LATIN LOVER "

40 years old next year, another reliable Historic Iris I grow and its a re-bloomer. Good Straight stems, multi budded with branching, and a plant with high Health and shows good increase. The beard colouration is a wonder of nature and plant breeding, it's a great feature and I love it!

AIS Bulletin April 1969, page 88;
GEORGE SHOOP (Hybridiser) Portland Oregon.
LATIN LOVER (Shoop 69) Mid-season. 36" Lavender-pink standards, ruffled and closed. Grape-wine falls with a distinctive lavender-pink rim on the top and reverse side of the ruffled, flaring falls.Tangerine beards. Good substance and form. An exciting new bicolor. Good stalk and plant. 64-16 (long line of pink amoena seedlings x Whole Cloth) X Wine and Roses. 
H.C.1968, 34 votes..........................$25.00

Cooley's Gardens catalog 1974:
This wine and pink bicolor is most distinguished with its rich, velvety grape-wine falls and a lavender-pink pin stripe around the edge. Standards lavender-pink, well closed - tangerine beard. Strong stalks and good growing habits.



AIS Checklist 1969
LATIN LOVER (G. Shoop, R. 1969). Sdlg. 64-16. TB 36" M. RV3PF. S light lavender-pink; F grape wine with light lavender-pink rim; tangerine beard; ruffled. (Inv. pink amoena sdlgs. x Whole Cloth) X Wine and Roses., Shoop 1969. HC 1968,HM 1970, AM 1972.

The variety is available in New Zealand from commercial iris growers who I have had no dealings with to date, or commercial iris growers that I have purchased plants from but would not recommend others to do so.
Available in America from Riverview Iris Gardens, Bluebird Haven Iris Garden, Blue J Iris, The Irises of Shadowood.
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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