TALL BEARDED IRIS IRWELL SOFT HEARTED

Blooming today in the Autumn afternoon sun shining its light on this re-bloomer. Tall! some 9 inches taller than its registered height coming in at 97cm (39"). Buds are tipped violet with a tan gold outer opening to creamy white standards that have just a blush of violet lavender and are heavily infused with a bright gold shade in the midribs. Falls are indeed the off white with strong gold shoulders, gold on the reverse, all completely finished with an amazing bold yellow beard. The bloom stalk in this photo has had frosts and buckets of rain thrown at it and it didn't give up so there is a strong possibility that when it blooms in its regular mid season time slot later this year it will be an iris to watch out for!! 

2016 New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist
IRWELL SOFT HEARTED (Ron Busch, R. 2010). Sdlg.1771-4110. TB, 30" (76 cm), M. S. white, gold center; style arms gold; F. off-white, gold shoulders, gold reverse; beards yellow. Parentage unknown.

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 IRWELL JAZZ TIME

More of 'The Late Show'
I have 4-5 plants of Irwell Jazz Time and they have bloomed non stop for the last 4 weeks, and I must of taken 30 or 40 photos of it, but because of the colouration and the striations on the falls the blooms have a tendency to confuse the camera, they never seemed to look acurate but we got there in the end despite the heavy rain.

2016 New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist
IRWELL JAZZ TIME (Ron Busch, R. 2010). Sdlg.1657/3057. TB, 30" (76 cm), E. S. lavender, purple flecked, slight purple midrib; style arms gold, purple midrib; F. cream white ground, ¾" purple plicata band; beards lemon. Parentage known.

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 IRWELL BANDIT

More of 'The Late Show'
Ron Busch Irises are renown for their rebloom so it comes as no surprise to me that some more of his Irises are starting to poke up extra bloom stalks after last weekend's 120mm and this weeks 50mm of rain.
The above "Irwell Bandit" blooming yesterday, for me it's the second year of re-bloom. Good height (115cm-45 inch) Stalk with two branches and 12 buds on the rebloom stem, . Vigorous grower, clean purple bottom foliage.

As well as 'Irwell Bandit' over the last few weeks we have also re-blooming at home Irwell Simplicity, Irwell Jazz Time, Irwell Enchanted Circle, Irwell Morning Bright, Irwell Fancy Dragon and Irwell Playboy. I will post on the blog photos and Checklist descriptions of these in the next few weeks.

2016 New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist
IRWELL BANDIT (Ron Busch, R. 2010). Sdlg. 1819. TB, 30" (76 cm), M, Re. Standards white flushed lavender; style arms lavender white; Falls red violet, white veining around tangerine beard, off-white edge. Parentage unknown. PBF.  The Iris Garden, 2011.

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 IRWELL SIMPLICITY

Yes I am keeping notes regarding plant habits and bud count and all the other important things but I do not have enough time to extrapolate the data to the blog at the moment.
There are about twenty 'Ron Busch Irises blooming at the moment some in different gardens in different parts of the North Island so gathering the information and taking photos are the priorities at the moment. The dots will be joined and filled in later so if you need the bud count, or information of plant health you will have to return at a later date.
I hear some call these photo's glamour shots but I like to think of them as a method to ID irises and by time I have finished 'The Ron Busch Collection' will be well documented and after-all that's the end game. So here is another of Ron Busch 2010 stunning introductions blooming at home today.

2016 New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist
IRWELL SIMPLICITY (Ron Busch, R. 2010). Sdlg. 1764-4015. TB, 30" (76 cm), EM. S. white, yellow base; style arms white; F. white, ¾" lavender margin edged pale lemon, pale lavender spot with texture veining; beards yellow. Parentage unknown. PBF.

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 ©.
The copyright of course includes the well known Iris photo kleptomaniac in France known as 'Irisenligne' who seems to back to his bad old habits again.

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Tall Bearded Iris IRWELL CASUAL FLIRT

I knew the early blooms would include some of Ron Busch incredible catalogue.
So here is one of the early starts after a night of heavy rain.

2016 New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist 
IRWELL CASUAL FLIRT (Ron Busch, R. 2010). Sdlg. 1852-4044. TB, 30" (76 cm), EM. S. lemon, violet midrib; style arms old gold, wine midrib; F. rose wine plicata on white; beards bronze. Parentage unknown. The Iris Garden, 2014.

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 ©.
This of course includes the well known Iris photo kleptomaniac in France known as 'Irisenligne' who seems to back to his bad old habits again.

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New Zealand Tall Bearded Iris IRWELL FANCY

I have been sent photos of seedlings recently from some international Hybridisers at the top of their game that look somewhat like this iris. The reason why I point this out is that 'Irwell Fancy' was registered in 2010 after nearly a two year delay and the seedling number indicates this iris is much older than it's registered date, more importantly though it shows just how much Ron Busch was at the top of his game many years ago!
'Irwell Fancy' is taller than registered height and produces many blooms, nicely shaped large flowers in beautiful colours with a metallic golden edge on the falls.

New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Checklist 2012
IRWELL FANCY Ron Busch, Reg., 2010. Sdlg.1839/4031. TB, 30" (76 cm), E. S. white, yellow base; style arms white, violet midrib; F. violet rose, yellow white around orange beard, yellow edge. Parentage unknown. The Iris Garden 2009

A 'Huge Hat tip' to Carol Rogerson of 'Kiwi Iris Delights' for the use of her stunning photo.
Photo Copyright and Credit Carol Rogerson.

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RONALD WILLIAM BUSCH 1935-2012

RONALD WILLIAM BUSCH 1935-2012

New Zealand iris breeder Ron Busch passed away peacefully on the 21 August 2012 at the age of 77.

Earlier this year he was awarded the Dykes Medal, the highest iris hybridising accolade, for his 2008 introduction 'Norma of Irwell' named after his lovely wife, Norma.

Ron worked at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) at Lincoln, Christchurch, improving potatoes and other vegetables. As a passionate plantsman, Ron's interest extended from plant breeding at the DSIR to his efforts at home. He first started breeding irises in 1958, after reading the chapter “Breeding Bearded Irises” in Jean Stevens’ “Iris and its Culture”. He thought 'I could do that' and there is no doubt he did. He registered his first Iris in 1969 a Tall Bearded he named 'Open Country'.

Ron joined the Christchurch Iris Circle (CIC) in 1964 and held office at various times. He was always very happy to give advice on hybridising and the group were most pleased to have a quality hybridiser among their membership. His breeding interests covered Siberians, Cal-sibs, Standard Dwarf Bearded and Tall Beardeds He also imported Arilbred and oncobred irises in the sixties and his garden at that time contained many Aril and Arilbred varieties and seedlings.

His aim was to improve colour, form and substance in the irises he bred. Never secretive with his breeding program, always planning ahead, he delighted in experiment, and passionately wanted everyone to join with him in the iris breeding journey. He contributed much to the iris world, leaving behind a substantial and rich legacy of 188 registered varieties including some yet to be introduced and more potential registrations to be selected from the many recent seedlings.

His late home and garden located at Irwell Village in Canterbury had a kindly climate coupled with great soil that allowed the irises he loved so much to grow under ideal conditions.

Ron left this world as a hybridiser should - at the beginning of spring, just as nature prepares the garden for new bloom. So each year when Spring awakens the earth he loved so much, his colourful and vibrant flowers will once again burst into bloom, and somehow I don't think he will be too far away.

I will miss our chats.
Rest peacefully Ron.

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