Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris ALEXANDRA TWILIGHT

Another of the beetroot red colour so popular or is the word prevalent within the Standard Dwarf Iris class. 'Alexandra Twilight' has a parentage like a double dose of Cherry Garden. Bred by Helen Falconer a well known New Zealand gardener from Central Otago. Produces a good measure of blooms, that display themselves well above the foliage. Hardy. Helen Falconer received the NZIS Lucy Delany Award for 'Alexandra Twilight' when it was displayed as a seedling at the Central Otago Iris Safari in 1993. (The NZIS Lucy Delany Memorial Award is presented to the raiser of the most outstanding New Zealand Bred Dwarf or Median Iris seen at a Iris Safari for that year.)

Waimate Iris Garden, Waimate,  2000.
Alexandra Twilight: Falconer 1999. Plum standards with black thumbprint. Early........$4.00

New Zealand Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist 2014
ALEXANDRA TWILIGHT (Helen M. Falconer, R. 1997.) Sdlg: 1/90. SDB. 11" (27cm), E. S. plum;  style arms orange, streaked plum; F. deeper plum, plum black thumbprint spot; beards purple; slight fragrance.  Cherry Garden X Barnstormer. Waimate Iris Garden 1999/2000. Lucy Delany Award 1993 (NZ).

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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Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris, LIANNE

 A New Zealand Bred standard dwarf  iris from the '70's. Standards and falls are are a clean lime-wash apricot colouring with darker apricot brown veins around the beard which spill towards the falls . Great increase, and good health. If you can find it , buy it!! Lucy Delany contributed hugely to New Zealand's Iris breeding History registering 20 irises mainly dwarfs and median irises, and her amazing navy blue coloured siberian iris 'Moon Moth' is an absolute stand-out!.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1974, Modern Trends in Dwarfs,page 93, Barbara B. Whitehouse.
The "ray" pattern is similar to the halo pattern but consists of longer veined like streaks of darker or contrasting colours spreading out over the falls around the beard and covering a larger area than does the halo, which is seldom no more than ¾ to ⅜ inch in length. Several very nice irises show this pattern..............................'Lianne' (Lucy Delany '73) light, gold-apricot with brown ray pattern.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1983,Dwarf bearded Iris from New Zealand, page 97, C.E. C. Bartlett.
In the summer of 1981 I received ten rhizomes of some dwarf bearded irises from New Zealand
Lianne (Lucy Delany '72)  Sdlg X Orange Blaze. S.D.B. A most attractive little iris at the lower end of the S.D.B.range. Standards pale apricot gold, falls same with veined halo of brown around the white tipped orange beards. A good grower and increaser and the colour is rather unusual. Its quality is confirmed by it having received 4th place in the Vienna Trails in 1979.

New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Checklist 2014
LIANNE (Mrs L. Delany, R. 1972).   SDB, 11" (28 cm), EML.   S. light gold-apricot blend; F. same, heavily veined brown halo; white beard tipped orange.  Sdlg X Orange Blaze.   4th International Small Iris Comp. Vienna 1979.   Richmond Iris Gardens, 1972/3.

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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Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris SMOKEY BABE

Another pleasant surprise this bloom season!
This iris colouration reminds me of the Intermediate Iris 'Confederate Soldier' both are an odd concoction of colours, but find the right place in the the garden for them to grow and they turn out to be winners.
'Smokey Babe' is a good grower but does have a little trouble getting all its bloom stalks above the foliage in its first year, although I have been informed that it sets itself right in its second year of growing. As you can see it's a smoky lavender plicata,with upright and open standards, moderately ruffled falls and a mysterious but sweet fragrance. Beards are white tipped blue lavender and are certainly a stand-out feature.
'Smokey Babe' has been bred by the late Mrs. Lynette Black who also registered two other Standard Dwarf Irises, 'Plum's & Custard' (registered at the same time as 'Smokey Babe') and 'Kiwi Lass'. Mrs. Black who lived in Heriot a small settlement in West Otago was a Test Garden Director for the NZIS from 1992 until 2000. Now I know where I can purchase 'Kiwi Lass' but as for 'Plum's & Custard' who knows? anyone reading this that does know, drop me a line.

New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist 2011

SMOKEY BABE Mrs L. Black, Reg., 1996. Sdlg. 89-54-H. SDB, 10″, (26cm), ML ; Smokey lavender plicata markings on cream white ground; beards blue lavender; ruffled; pronounced sweet fragrance. Muchacha X Court Magician. Netherby Gardens, 1996/97.

This was one of a few Irises I was more than just a wee bit dubious about purchasing and then having to grow this iris at home, the reason for my apprehension, well you would have needed to see the photo used to sell this iris on Trade me was pretty bloody awful, OK lets not beat about the bush the photo was appalling and frankly if the Iris bloomed at home looking like the trade me photo it would of been on the compost heap already. I made the decision to purchase knowing that most New Zealand hybridisers have a good eye, also very few people I assume would register an iris that looked as bad as the Trade Me photo and as you can see my good faith paid dividends! Can someone inform me why does anyone want to make a Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris look like an out of focus Three Prong Frizbee on acid??
As 'Smokey Babe' and several other irises from the same supplier showed once they started growing that they where shipped with fungal infections (I assume as a bonus for no extra cost) they where all subjected to a rigorous spray programme with a systemic fungicide (Taratek 5F) and this also could have had an affect on the bloom height.

Its sad that some clueless commercial growers of irises in New Zealand can't be bothered having a robust spray programme for fungal infections like leaf spot and think it is OK to send you infected plants, but they also want to charge a premium price for doing so. If you do nothing its rapidly becomes like a leaf spot chain letter. The solution? just don't purchase irises from these growers again but make sure you write to them and let them know your displeasure. I do! And they sure as hell don't make it to the New Zealand Iris Growers link list above.

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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New Zealand Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris FOREST GLADE

'Forest Glade' has been blooming its socks off at home and shows no signs of stopping just yet. It produces beautiful two buds per stalk with consistency no matter what the weather conditions throw at it. Strong vigorous growth with hearty clean foliage, all of the great plant habits that we have come to expect from a Jean Stevens introduction.
As an aside, the pollen parent of 'Forest Glade's' is an iris named 'Sulina' and has its own interesting history. It's a 3 inch deep violet seedling pumila, one of two (Carpathia was the other) grown and selected from a collection of seeds Robert Schreiner obtained from the University of Cluj in the Provence of Transylvania. Considered by Robert Schreiner to be a lower Danubian form of the pumila species, 'Sulina' and 'Carpathia' are named after one of the three channels that carry the river Danube to the Black Sea. Another of Robert Schreiners famous dwarf breeding irises was named 'Nana' this variety is a collected form of pumila, grown from seed sent from the Crimea. All three of these irises were never registered but were introduced by Schreiners and all were used extensively by many hybridisers and are noted in the parentage of more than just a few MDB, SDB, and Intermediate Irises.

Waterson Iris Garden, Wanganui, Irises 1960-61
FOREST GLADE
One of the new class of irises called "Lilliputs", raised by the crossing of the tiny pumilas with the Tall Bearded Irises. This little iris is very exotic in colouring, charming in effect. The standards are palest citron yellow - almost cream - while the falls are a clean soft olive brown with green overlay and with a wide margin around them of the same citron yellow as the standards. Free flowering and vigorous. 9 inches..........................17/6

THE IRIS (Australia) 1962, 'Comments from Tasmania', Page 70, Marion Calvert.
Forest Glade. One of the lilliputs (raised by Stevens of N.Z.). Standards palest citron yellow, while the falls are a clean olive brown with a wide margin of the same citron cream as the standards. It is very attractive in the garden and much admired by all who have seen it. 

A.I.S. Bulletin #184, January,1967, 'Varietal Comments, Region 3', Page 61,Charlotte Ganz.
A very striking flower with lemon standards and olive reddish falls edged lemon. It achieved more height here than it had "Down Under" but still was not in proportion, a failing of which Mrs Stevens is aware. It is a pity because the colors are so lovely.

New Zealand Hybridisers Checklist 2011
FOREST GLADE Mrs J. Stevens, Reg., 1960. Sdlg.1/f361. SDB 10″, E, Y3. S. pale citron yellow; F. green-toned olive-brown, edged citron yellow; yellow-cream beard. D127 X Sulina. Waterson Iris Garden 1960-61

Waterson Iris Gardens were the first to introduce 'Forest Glade' in 1960 the same year of its registration not Sunnyside Gardens, 1969/70, as shown in the official AIS Checklist description .
I think 'Forest Glade' is still commercially grown in New Zealand somewhere, but I purchased mine on Trade Me from hctnz (Lyn Nell) a Mid-Canterbury gardener who sends generous plants that have great plant health and who I have no hesitation to recommend highly.


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 Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris HENHAM

'Henham' Noel tells me is a good growing iris. Named after grandson Henry & used part of surname.

New Zealand Hybridisers Checklist 2011
HENHAM Noel Lapham, Reg. 2011 Sdlg. 05-79/2. SDB, 11" (28 cm), E

Standards light yellow, lighter towards center; style arms white, slight lemon midrib; Falls, yellow-brown, light yellow rim; beards white, orange tips,paler at end. Zero X Yippy Skippy.

A 'Huge Hat tip' to Bev and Noel for the use of their photo. Send them an email and get their catalogue, you will be surprised the selection available.
Photo Copyright and Credit Mossburn Iris Gardens.

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New Zealand Standard Dwarf Bearded SAY SO

      More of the New Zealand Bred Standard Dwarf Bearded Irises hybridised by Noel Lapham as promised and available for sale this year from Mossburn Iris Gardens.
Noel has explained 'This iris lucky to be registered after growing it for eleven years, "SAY SO" is an interesting colour, with striking white beards'.
I am sure that an Iris that has been grown at Mossburn Gardens for eleven years has considerable merit

New Zealand Hybridisers Checklist 2011
SAY SO Noel Lapham, Reg. 2011 Sdlg. 01-F. SDB, 9" (23 cm), M
Standards dark blue violet; Falls dark blue violet, cream at hafts; beards white, tipped yellow in throat. Parentage unknown. Mossburn Iris Garden 2011.

Once again a 'Huge Hat tip' to Bev and Noel for the use of their photo.
Photo Copyright and Credit Mossburn Iris Gardens

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New Zealand Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris KIM MAREE

I am quite partial to Blue and White coloured plicata's in the Lilliput's as they add a special carrying power to the emerging spring garden. Noel Lapham thinks that there are a lot of iris with this colouring but this one is a brighter colour. Obviously a Lapham family favourite as 'Kim Maree' was selected by their daughter, and has been named after her.

New Zealand Hybridisers Checklist 2011
KIM MAREE Noel Lapham, Reg. 2011 Sdlg. 04-7/2. SDB, 11" (28 cm), M
Standards white ground, dark violet rim; style arms violet, lighter edge; Falls, white ground, violet rim and hafts; beards white, yellow tips in throat. Chubby Cheeks X Crispin Babe. 

A 'Huge Hat tip' to Bev and Noel for the use of their photo.
 Photo Copyright and Credit Mossburn Iris Gardens

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New Zealand Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris 'KINKAID'

Over the next week or so I have the privilege to feature 4 more New Zealand Bred Standard Dwarf Bearded Irises hybridised by Noel Lapham and available for sale this year from Mossburn Iris Gardens.
Noel tells me that KINKAID was very popular last season and that he will be Breeding with it this season, grows well. Its one that's on my order sheet

New Zealand Hybridisers Checklist 2011
KINKAID Noel Lapham, Reg. 2011 Sdlg. 07-11/1. SDB, 11" (28 cm), E.  Standards, dark violet, light lemon ground; style arms light violet, deeper midrib; Falls, white ground, dark violet rim and veins; beards white, tipped purple at end, deep yellow in throat. Chubby Cheeks X Lore. Mossburn Iris Garden 2011.

A 'Huge Hat tip' to Bev and Noel for the use of their photo.
Photo Copyright and Credit Mossburn Iris Gardens

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