Tall Bearded Iris CIRCUS STRIPES

Some in the past have criticised 'Circus Stripes' because it lacks consistency with its plicata striations..................Now ain't that amazing huh!!!!
'Circus Stripes' is a classic campanula violet or grape juice [Ref 1] coloured plicata on a 'pure as the' white base .
Domed standards have striations radiating from the bottom of the midrift towards a heavily coloured solid edge. Wide and flaring falls with vagarious striations that end in a semi solid but also feathered margin. Great branching, blooms often opening 2 or 3 at once on strong stalks. Swollen buds are an additional visual feature. After 38 years 'Circus Stripes' is still daring and irresistibly original.

Schreiner's, Salem, Oregon, 57th Annual, Iris Lovers Catalog, 1982.
CIRCUS STRIPES   (Plough, 1976) EM. 36"
How well named! This Iris is theatrical in the boldness of its etched markings. Its campanula violet veining in the center turns into heavier plicata edges on the petal tips as if a paint pot was spilled over white ground. Dramatic and stagey in appearance. You and your friends will surely stop and look at this exciting novelty. A well branched and most satisfactory grower.HM 78

AIS Checklist 1979
CIRCUS STRIPES  G. Plough, Reg. 1975. Sdlg. 69-17-3. TB 30" (76 cm) M.     S. white, edges veined campanula violet, heavier at tip; F. white, overall veining of campanula violet; white to yellow beard. Winner's Circle X 66-73-19, sib., Eden Road 1976. Honorable Mention 1978

Colours can vary from garden to garden or different soil types
As usual, clicking the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter.

[Ref 1]

[Ref 1]

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[Ref 1] Maerz and Paul, Dictionary of Color, 1st ed. color 219

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Historic Arilbred Iris ' WITCH DOCTOR'

It has rained a lot in the past few days with very strong winds. Checking the garden this morning the arilbred 'Witch Doctor' had unwrapped itself from its large buds to show us just how good looking Arilbred Irises really are. Most likely sterile. Beautiful and mysterious form, massive buds which are nearly as interesting as the bloom itself !!!

Rainbow Hybridizing Gardens, Placerville, California.
Lloyd Austins World Famous Iris Color Guide Book, 1959.
WITCH DOCTOR (Plough, 1955) E-L 28" A new giant that will be an eye stopper in any garden for it is like an improved Conquest. Standards blue lavender with buffy tan midrib. Falls from centre down are grayed-blue-lavender with buffy tan haft and heart. Beard yellow, blue at tip. Starts early and blooms for a long season. HM 1956 JC 1957 (Cream Sdlg. X Capatola)

Marble Iris Gardens, Grandview, Washington. Iris Colorama Catalog, 1961.
WITCH DOCTOR (Plough, 1955) E-M 28 in. Unusual, large onco of grayed blue-lavender with a buffy tan haft at the heart. Has a tendency to bloom early and conitnue for several weeks. This is one of the largest Iris we grow. H.M 1956

The Aril Society International Illustrated Official Checklist 2006
WITCH DOCTOR OB- (Gordon Plough, R. 1953). Sdlg. 47-6-5. AB, EC, 28" (71 cm), EL. Lavender gray blend. TB sdlg. X Capitola. Iris Test Garden, 1955.Honorable Mention 1956, Judges Choice 1957, Clarence G. White Memorial Award,1960.

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

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Tall Bearded Iris WINNER'S CIRCLE

I first viewed 'Winner's Circle' with much admiration many years ago in the iris display gardens of 'Bay Blooms'  Tauranga. I have never seen it listed in any commercial growers catalogue in New Zealand for the last fifteen or so years, and it had me thinking it had just disappeared for good. Fortunately this past bloom season I was lucky to see it blooming in not one but two gardens in the Wairarapa and got to bring several starts back home ( Now there's a Yippee-yi-o-ki-yay moment).  Standards are a dark pontiff purple and have a white infusion up through the centre. Falls I find are slightly darker toned with a velvety sheen and have that distinctive white circle rayed out from the vivid violet beard as its signature. . Bloom was smaller and stem height shorter than the registered and catalogue descriptions due to plants growing in overcrowded Iris beds in the garden I viewed (almost had the hallmarks of a Border Bearded iris) but it has just bolted away now growing without the competition at home. Fertile as a pod parent. Sibling to 'Night Out'. Joins some others of this distinctive style  'Speed Limit'(Lauer, '91),'Cocktail Hour'(Robert Dunn '82), 'City Lights'(Mary Dunn,'90), and 'Exotic Star' (Plough,'74) in the garden.

The Iris Year Book 1975, New Irises In the United States by Ron Mullin
'Winner's Circle'(Plough) is a dark blackish violet with white circles on each of the falls. The circles are about one inch in diameter, making this iris one of a kind

Gilbert H. Wild and Son. Inc. Sarcoxie Missouri Peonies-Iris-Daylilies 1981
WINNER'S CIRCLE (Plough 1972)
E.M.L. 38" Large bloom with very broad rounded petals, classically domed standards and flaring falls. Deep black violet very rich and glowing standards, falls are the same  but have a large silver dollar size area of pure velvety looking white just below the beard. H.M.1973 A.M. 1975

Bay Blooms Nurseries, Cambridge Road, Tauranga Spring / Summer 1996 Catalogue
WINNER'S CIRCLE
A very classy looking variety with standards of a dusky, blackish-violet and falls that are the same colour but with a round white flash below the beard. Flaring flowers on branched stems.

AIS Checklist 1979
WINNER'S CIRCLE (G. Plough, R. 1971) Sdlg. 66-73-7. TB, 34" (86 cm), E-L Standards deep blackish violet; Falls same with 1" round white flash below beard. Wintry Night X Stepping Out. Eden Road 1972. HM 1973,  AM 1975.

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 'EDENITE'

This great flowering Red Black iris grows in a large clump at home and puts on an amazing early display. Vigorous growth with clean light green foliage. Blooms are a super smooth deep red-maroon black, velvety, a true self and are the epitome of elegance. Large and rounded full form. Not commonly sold commercially in New Zealand. It was originally sold to me labeled as "Black Swan", but that label was put to rest the day it first flowered.

Eden Road Iris Garden, Wenatchee, Washington. 1959 introductions.
EDENITE--- EM. 30 in.( Great Day x Sable Night) Entire flower is deep red-black with falls having a sooty black appearance. Flower is large with wide petals. Fertile both ways. H.C. '58 ...........................$35.00 net.

 Schreiner's, Salem, Oregon, Iris Lover's Catalog, 1964.
Here is a startlingly different dark iris. Absolutely different from other dark's in that it is a deep, intense, almost sooty deep red-maroon. Crisp, closed standards and flaring falls. Sombre and attractive.HM 1959. AM 1961. 

Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog, 1963.
'Sooty' black with a deep red undertone; a seedling of Sable Night The uniform blackness of this flower immediately attracts all who see it in the garden. Domed standards and flaring falls. Blooms rather early.

Richmond Iris Gardens, Hill Street, Richmond, New Zealand. IRISES 1967-1968
EDENITE E-M 35" A dark intense Iris, of deep maroon. Crisp closed standards and flaring falls, most attractive

Schliefert Iris Gardens, Murdock, Nebraska, 29th Annual Catalog, 1970.
EDENITE (Plough, '59) A large sooty black, from the red side. The entire flower is a deep red-black with the falls having a sooty black appearance.A.M. '61.

Courtesy Schreiner's Iris Lover's catalog for 1964

AIS Checklist, 1959.

EDENITE (Plough, R. 1958). Sdlg. 55-11-14. TB 30" EM. RN1. Sooty red-black. Great Day x Sable Night., Eden Road 1959. H.C. 1958, H.M. 1959 A.M. 1961.

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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