Tall Bearded Iris BLACK SWAN

How is this for a Classic 6o's Iris?? Tall Bearded Iris 'Black Swan' a red black of classic form, large blooms on well branched tall stems, with buds that open easily.Open standards and the edge of the falls are tightly ruffled, this coupled with its dark brown bearded and contrasting white stamens all help to make the Iris an easy iris to ID (the falls have that look like they have been rolled with a pastry crimper).  Fantastic plant health with generous increase, and clean green foliage that is accentuated with a beautiful purple base (PBF). There is a great Charles  Harrison studio photo taken under artificial light of Black Swan on the HIPS website which was published some forty years ago in the R.E. Harrison, 'Know your Bulbs and Perennials A book for Southern Hemisphere Gardeners', a very popular New Zealand written and published book at the time, but I think photos of Irises growing in garden situations using the natural light gives a better photo. But hey, Whatever floats yout boat!!!

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1960.
Black and Whites, Harry J. Randall, C.B.E.
In Mrs Anley's garden I saw BLACK TAFFETA (Songer, 1954) and BARNETT ANLEY, raised by Mrs Anley herself from (BLACK FOREST X EBONY QUEEN)X BLACK TAFFETA. Both are fine irises with wide petals and nice ruffling; but both have faint , white lines around the beards. This is not necessarily a fault, and to some growers it might be a virtue; but I mention it after seeing the very latest production from Orville Fay- BLACK SWAN. One must never judge an iris on its first-year performance in this or any other country. My provisional view, which is shared by many visitors to my garden , is that BLACK SWAN is the darkest and smoothest "black" we have yet seen in England. It has no haft markings, its dark brown beard harmonizes with the rest of the the flower, and the only contrast is provided by the pure white stamens which seem to shine like small, bright lights on a dark night. BLACK SWAN will be critically watched in 1961 when I hope that it will come up to my present expectations.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, July 1960, Number 158. The George Shoop Garden, Hugo Wall.
BLACK SWAN, introduced by Orville Fay this year, is a rich red-black of velvety texture and great substance. The thick, wide beard, created by a blending of purple and yellow hairs, gives depth and richness to the lustrous dark flower. A 35-inch bloomstalk and five increase indicated the vigor we have come to expect from Orville's plants.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1961    .
The American Scene - 1961 Barbara F. Walther, Director of the Presby Memorial Iris Garden.
By Sunday and Monday the weather had cleared a bit and a number of fine irises came into bloom and one which might be said to have taken the Convention by storm was BLACK SWAN (Fay). It continued to be the favourite of visitors throughout the blooming season of the gardens. It is a tall iris with a large flower which is beautifully formed, flared and lightly ruffled. Its colour is almost black. The standards show a underlying redness but the velvety falls are so dark that it is hardly discernible in them. It might be well to pause here and to state that the selections of irises and the opinions concerning them are those of the writer.

Cooley's Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog, 1962.
BLACK SWAN (Fay, '60) Each $15.00
As sleek and as ebon-hued as the graceful bird for which it is named, with both Black Hills and Sable Night in its parentage. It will satisfy those looking for just about the ultimate in dark Iris, great size, very wide petals, smooth velvety surface and a brown beard tipped black. 35 inches. HM AIS, 1960

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, January 1962, Number 164. Irises We Liked, Ralph and Helen Lewis.
Blacks
BLACK SWAN (Fay '60). An extremely large and very beautiful black flower, very well formed, with tight standards and semi-flaring falls. The beard is brown tipped black. Petals are beautifully waved. The stalks are tall, strong and well branched. Floriferous and vigorous wherever it was seen.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October 1962, Number 167.
Irises From North Carolina's Coastal Plains to the Foot of Pikes Peak, Ralph and Helen Lewis.
BLACK SWAN (Fay 1960). One of the largest and most spectacular black irises that we have seen. The form is excellent, with closed standards and broad, wavy falls. Stems are tall and strong and the plant is an excellent performer.

Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, Iris Lover's 1965 Catalog.
BLACK SWAN (Fay, 1960) M, 35"
Several large copiously proportioned flowers open at the same time on a rugged, well branched stem. The petals are wide and of a deep blackish tone with a brown tipped beard. It's rich tones stand out dramatically when contrasted with light iris or green foliage. Highly recommended. HM '60. AM '62.

Wanganui Irises, Lynch's Lane, Putiki, Wanganui. Irises 1964-65.
Novelties 1964-65.
BLACK SWAN (Fay, U.S.A.)
At last- a black iris with everything! Slowly over the years iris breeders have been improving this colour class, building up height and size of bloom until the "blacks" cold hold up their heads in any company and Black Swan may well remain the criterion of this class for many years. Huge blooms of ruffled black velvet stand tall on well branched stems with excellent petal substance, vigorous, free flowering- this is indeed the black iris you have been looking for- plant it now to offset those lighter tones. A.M. 1962. 3ft..............................................21/- 

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, July 1964, Number 174.
Reports From Region 15-Southern California.BLACK. Mrs. George M. Roach, Sr.
BLACK SWAN (Fay '60). Parts have adequate width. It must be remembered with color saturation we do sacrifice the extreme width found in other color classifications. This is a black from the red side with a bronze-tipped beard that has a tendency to bloom out in southern California.

AIS Checklist 1969
BLACK SWAN    (Fay, R. 1960) Sdlg. 57-18 TB 35" M RN1D    Reddish-black self; brown beard Sable Night X 53-68., Fay, Moldovan 1960. HC 1958, JC 1961, HM 1960, AM 1962

An iris was recently listed on Trade Me labelled 'Black Swan' and would you believe it the written description stated it came with a "Purple Beard". The seller in Martinbrough used a borrowed (stolen) photo from a Commercial growers web site in England of the correct 'Black Swan' and then mirror/flipped the image perhaps to confuse people into thinking it was her photo to use. Now I have no idea who purchased this iris but in a few years time they will be in for a surprise and so will the seller in Martinborough if she continues to steal photos that are not hers to use from the internet.

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 ©.

Read More

Tall Bearded Historic Iris "MARY RANDALL"

Growing at home this heirloom iris is a real visual treat and is a true pioneer in the colour tone Rose Pink. Clean and strong foliage and clumps up well. Mid season bloom.Considered to be one of the aristocrats of tall bearded hybridisation. Fertile both ways. 

Fays Gardens, Wilmette, Illinois. Iris and Hemerocallis 1952.
MARY RANDALL
No. T48-3 SOLD OUT New Horizon X F2 Pink Seedling
This deep rose pink self, with a bright tangerine red beard, is a new color in Iris- "Bengal Rose" in the R. H. S. Color Charts. The flowers are large and have a thickness of petal seen in few Iris. The haft is very wide; free from markings. Falls are round and flaring with a rippled edge. Standards are well formed and hold together firmly. The form of this flower is near perfection.Flowers are well spaced on a strong nicely branched 36- inch stalk. Plants are large and vigorous, with good foliage. The pollen is fertile, and seeds are produced in abundance. Mid-season . H.C.1950. H.M.1951. 

Irises, Harry Randall, Chapter 9, Famous Tall bearded Parents.
MARY RANDALL
This Bengal-Rose Iris, raised by Orville Fay of Illinois, first flowered in 1948; and the fact that it was named after my daughter has done little to rescue me from complete obscurity. My wife and I live in a kind of reflected glory! Apart from its attractive colour, which was at first new to the bearded family, it had good substance and breath of petal, and completely free of the virus which had previously affected so many pink or pinkish irises. Expert Iris growers are always quick to experiment with new cultivars of exceptional colouring to test their value as parents, and it soon became obvious that Mary Randall was something out of the ordinary. Hybridizers made extensive use of it, and nurseries at first had difficulty in meeting the demand for it. In my family circle the two brothers of the real May Randall were thus able to quote catalogues which proved, so they said, that their sister had tough substance, was broad in the haft, had a red beard and was good for breeding!
The international body for the registration of Iris names is the American Iris Society, which issues annual lists of all new Iris registrations. Those lists show the extent to which Mary Randall has been used and has widened the range of iris colours and shades. Brother Charles Reckamp crossed it with the yellow Techny Chimes and produced one of the earliest 'orange' irises, Celestial Glory which, in its turn, produced Mission Sunset in the same colour range. Orville Fay himself raised hundreds of excellent seedlings from it, including Fleeta, which has also been a great parent; and in subsequent generations he has raised the deep pinks Flaming Heart and Flaming Dragon. By using it with other parents he has raised Rippling Waters, winner of the Dykes Medal 1966, Morning Breeze, Spring and other attractive irises with Orchid blue colouring, and these, in my opinion, have great garden value. In the hands of hybridisers elsewhere Mary Randall, either as the seed or pollen parent, has helped to produce Pretty Carol (rose-orchid) Firenze (Violet with red beard), Golden Masterpeice, Imperial Amethyst, Melbreak (rose-opal), Idaho Cream, and many others of equal merit. Before leaving this iris I would mention that Orville Fay kindly sent a root to me in the early days and generously allowed my friends and me to use the plant and the pollen for hybridising. Seedlings resulted, different from any previously raised in Britain, and the growers had a satisfaction which was not entirely unjustified.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October 1951, Number 123.Varietal Comment, Region 6, Don Waters, Ohio.
The pinks are becoming more bewildering and yet more beautiful as they progress, however the intensity of color. differs little in those which I have seen. Mary Randall is a very beautiful iris and very pink with a rosy shading throughout-a fine iris indeed.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, January 1952, Number 124. Random Comments Harry J Randall, C.B.E.
Mary RandalL I ought not to comment on this, perhaps, but as I did not raise it I might be forgiven for describing it as a splendid break in colour and one of the best of all irises. Its pollen is amazingly fertile.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October 1952, Number 127.Varietal Comments from Region 13, Mrs Joseph Hunt, Tacoma, Washington.
Schmelzer's Gardens, Walla Walla
Mary Randall-nominated as the iris of the year by a lot of iris fans, has everything; clean, heavily textured, broad, wonderful form and stands up in all kinds of weather; very long lasting blooms. Really superb.

Photo enhancement courtesy
Longs Garden's Summer and Fall 1958 catalog

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1953,"Report from America in 1953", page 76, Catherine Hemingway Smith.MARY RANDALL (Fay) Award of Merit 1953, the iris to receive the largest number of votes for A.M. this year.Large, full, shapely blooms; classed as pink, the general colour is ashes of roses, highlighted by the luxuriant tangerine beard.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1956,"A Decade of Progress", page 146, H.F.R.Miller.
Pink.
We are now seeing some superb irises of other pink tones. MARY RANDALL (Fay 1951), the Dykes medal winner in America in 1954, is a deep rose-pink and is a lovely flower.

Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog 1955

MARY RANDALL (Fay, '51)
This deep rose-pink self with bright tangerine-red beard is a new color in iris. The flowers are large and have a thickness of petal seen in few other varieties. Haft is very wide, free from markings. The form of this iris is near perfection and the flowers are well spaced along a nicely branched 36-inch stem. Produces wonderful seedlings. Dykes Medal 1954.

Region 14 Northern California, Nevada,Regional Bulletin, Fall 1957.
Iris New and Old, Hazel Stewart, San Jose, California.
MARY RANDALL Fay 1951 is a most satisfying iris. I consider it a must. It blooms over a long period. The deep rose, a much needed color, stands out and the blossoms last a long time.

Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, Iris Lovers Catalog, 1957.
MARY RANDALL (Fay, 1951) M.36"
One of the most sort after irises.It is a deep rose-pink self with a brilliant tangerine red beard. This particular shade of rose, arising from the intercrossing of flamingo pink varieties, has been popularly called the "raspberry pink" of the iris patch. Very fine form. HM '51. AM'53. Dykes Medal 1955.

Stevens Bros. Bastia Hill, Wanganui, 1958-59 Catalogue.
MARY RANDALL (Fay U.S.A.)
This iris is one of the landmarks in modern iris breeding and created a veritable sensation on its introduction in the States. It is a deep rose pink self with a brilliant tangerine beard, and the lovely ruffled form is flawless. This particular shade of rose, arising out of the intercrossing of flamingo pink varieties, has been popularly called "raspberry pink" but it is much richer and warmer than the earlier raspberry pinks. Although a good grower when once established, Mary Randall took longer than normal to become acclimatised when imported which is the reason why we have not been able to list it previously. It won the Dykes Medal in the States in 1954. 2½ ft. 50/-

Longs Garden's Summer and Fall 1958 Catalog.

MARY RANDALL Fay 1951 M 36" A Smooth self of bengal rose with a full tangerine beard. Broad petals and excellent form. HM51 AM 53 DM 54

AIS Checklist 1959
MARY RANDALL (Fay, R. 1950). Sdlg. T48-3. TB 36" M. R1L. Self of Bengal rose (Wilson), with red beard. New Horizon x (Fay sdlg.: Pink Cameo x Cherie)., Fay 1951. HM 1951; AM 1953; Dykes Medal 1954.

As always clicking on the above images 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 ©.

Read More