2014 Tall bearded Iris AILE VOLANTE

Heritage Irises are privileged to have been asked to feature some of the 2014 New Varieties created by Richard Cayeux. This Space Age Iris is an absolute  vivid masterpeice. 
European Irises do not always get the exposure to the English speaking media that they justly deserve so I thought 'OK' lets give them a plug.
Don't forget to visit the Cayeux Web Site.

Cayeux, La Carcaudière, Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lover's Catalogue, 2014.
New 2014 varieties created by Cayeux.
AILE VOLANTE
Tall bearded - Mid-season to late - Height :85cm
Bright pink standards with slight purple hues on the edges; pale pink falls with a wide magenta-coloured brim. Coral red beards lengthened by a lovely magenta spoon. A spectacular, well branched "space-age" iris much appreciated by our visitors in 2013. 8 buds on average.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Major Hat Tips and "Merci beaucoup" to Richard Cayeux for his photos, his daughter Hortense for collating and formatting the high resolution photos, and to Catherine Adams for her direction and help with the French Language.

Photo credit and copyright Richard Cayeux.

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Tall Bearded Space Age Iris CONJURATION

Flowers are small for the height of the stalks. It's a more subtle Space Age form and some people take a lot of convincing that it is a Space Age Iris at all. Covers itself in blooms with a great backup of buds. I've always been impressed with this Iris growing in other gardens but only just purchased this Iris last season, so for me to write that I'm looking forward to this multi-award winning iris blooming at home would have to be the understatement of 2013 .

Moonshine Gardens, Potter Valley California.
Introductions 1989
CONJURATION *TB*(Sky Hooks x Condottiere) X Alpine Castle.White with suffused violet edges, much deeper on the falls; white beard tipped tangerine and fuzzy white horns. A more modern, more ruffled Alpine Castle with horns...................................................................$35.00.

IRISES A Gardener's Encyclopedia, Claire Austin
Iris 'Conjuration' (Byers 1988) this variety produces small, scented flowers balanced on slender, well branched stems. The blooms are mainly white, but the falls are broadly edged with rose violet, while standards are tinged with a paler violet. The white beards are long, horned, and tipped with tangerine toward the back. Height 91 cm (36½"). Bloom : mid to late season. Parentage (Sky Hooks x Condottiere) X Alpine Castle. Dykes Medal Winner USA 1998.

IRIS Flowers of the Rainbow, Graeme Grosvenor. Amoena.
'Conjuration' (Byers 1988) it is not an amoena in the true sense as the white standards have a pale blue-violet edge while the falls are deep amethyst violet with a white central area surrounding white beards tipped tangerine with fuzzy white horns. This "Space-Age" Iris is ruffled, has good form and gives a blue-violet amoena effect in the garden. Spikes reach 90 cm in mid to late season, are strong, well held and support the eight or more buds. Growth, health, vigour and increase are all good, as is the general garden effect of this beauty. Breeding is (Sky Hooks x Condottiere) X Alpine Castle.

Contemporary Views, 1989, Perry Dyer– Award Winners
The 9-1-1 AWARD is given to the New Iris that is the most significant hybridizing achievement or color break. This year’s winner is the new Space Age iris, CONJURATION (Byers 1989). As viewed in Memphis at the master planting at Ketchum, it was a tall, commanding “amoena” in the tradition of its parent, ‘Alpine Castle’ (Blyth), but with drastically improved form. The stalks were somewhat thin, but tall and stately, and holding up average sized flowers with no problem in light rain and wind. Exceptionally vigorous and floriferous, it makes a smashing clump, but I feel it will also consistently produce show stalks. The color scheme is basically a white infused lilac-lavender, with the falls heavily washed on the edges in amethyst in the style of ‘Planned Treasure’ (Burger) or ‘Fuji’s Mantle’ (Schreiner). All of this is capped with consistent, bright tangerine beards and horns! A great breakthrough.

Contemporary Views, 1993, Perry Dyer- Space Age.
The presence of the late Monty Byers was felt all the way to Italy, and he took the competition by storm, placing five in the Top 20 finalists, and two in the Top 10! For the first time in the entire history of the competition, a Space Age iris won the top prize: CONJURATION (Byers 1989). The local Italian ladies would walk by the spectacular clump and proclaim, “bella, bella”!
 
Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog 2002.
Space Age Iris
CONJURATION (Byers 1989) ML. 40" Bright white standards are lightly infused pale violet blue. Smooth, wide blue-violet edging on white falls. Tangerine tipped white beards. Frilly white horns.HM '91, AM '94,  Wister Medal '98, Dykes Medal '98

Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, 2013 Collectors Edition, Iris Lovers Catalog.
CONJURATION (Byers 1989) ML. 40"
A fantastic spellbinder! Conjuration's clean white standards are delicately tinted with pale blue-violet. Deeper 3/4 inch bands of amethyst-violet dramatically edge its snow-white falls. Look closely to see fuzzy white horns extending from the tangerine beards. Double-and triple-socketed buds yield 8-12 flowers per stalk. HM '91, AM '94,  Wister Medal '98, Dykes Medal '98

AIS Checklist 1989
CONJURATION (Monty Byers, registered 1988). Seedling D1-1. TB, height 36" (91 cm), mid to late bloom season. Standards white, edge lightly infused pale violet blue; falls white, suffusing to deep bright amethyst violet edge; white beard tipped tangerine; fuzzy white horns; ruffled. B-37-10: (Sky Hooks x Condottiere) X Alpine Castle. Moonshine Gardens 1989. Honorable Mention 1991; Award of Merit 1994; Wister Medal 1998; American Dykes Medal 1998.

This photo and others recently displayed on this blog and credited to Julie May were taken in 2003 on a Canon PowerShot S45 a 4.1 Megapixel compact point-and-shoot camera, now ain't that something.
As usual, clicking the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Julie May.

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Tall Bearded Iris THORNBIRD

Strong growth, bold colour tones, blooms make a distinctly striking statement, it's the multi-award winning 'Thornbird'. So what's not to like ??

RHS Trial of Tall Bearded Iris 1998-2000 (An RHS Long Term Trial)
There were 97 entries in this Long Term trial of Tall Bearded Iris which were assessed by the Joint Iris Committee over three years.
All Tall Bearded Iris recommended for the Award of Garden Merit need to have the following qualities: weather resistance several flowering stems a minimum of six buds per stem.
'Thornbird' Award of Garden Merit Royal Horticultural Society.
Raised by M Byers; introduced by Moonshine Gardens; sent by The Iris Garden. Votes 9 for, 2 against. [Trial No. 81]
Stands well; good garden plant; good substance Available from The Iris Garden, and Seagate Irises.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October 1997, Number 307. Editor's Message,Climate Tolerance. Terry Aitken
A good example of climate tolerance and vigor is the 1997 Dykes MedalWinner,THORNBIRD (Byers '89). Here is a plant that was originally selected in a Napa Valley, California garden. It has grown enthusiastically throughout North America. While some have struggled with the aesthetic merit of strange protuberances arising where the beard ought to be, and some have been less than enthusiastic about its form, on all other counts it is the kind of winner that the Dykes Medal is supposed to represent

Contemporary Views,1998/1999, Perry Dyer– Space Agers
The famous Thornbird (Byers) is and always will be controversial. One of those “love-it or hate-it” kind of irises – or one that some “love to hate”. The colors can be very coarse, but those dramatic deep violet horns popping up out of the middle are certainly unforgettable.

Rainbow Ridge Nursery, Dural, New South Wales, Iris and Daylily Catalogue 1998
THORNBIRD (Byers '89 M 92cm) Pale ecru-tan standards, green tan falls with darker hafts and mustard tipped purple horned beards. Unique. You either love it or hate it. Most popular.

Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon, 2000 Iris Fanciers Standard Reference Book.
THORNBIRD (M. Byers '89) M 35" F
This 1997 Dykes Medal winner exhibits such striking unusual colour. The falls are greenish tan, deeper at the hafts.deep violet lines radiate from the beard and suffuse into the centre. The standards are pale ecru. The beards are violet tipped mustard.Bold violet horns grow from the beard. Mild ruffling. HM '91, AM '93, Dykes 97.

 Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, 2000 Iris Lovers Catalog.
THORNBIRD (Byers 1989) ML 37"
This is a most distinct Iris, the dark violet horns extending and inch or more from the beards. Like talons, they create an appealing contrast to the flowers delicate shadings. These ecru and greenish tan shades are lighter in the standards and darker in the falls. A prolific bloomer. Thornbird often yields more than one stem per rhizome.HM '91, AM '93, Wister '96, Dykes 97.

AIS checklist 1989
THORNBIRD Monty Byers, Reg. 1988 Sdlg. D156-1-B. TB, 35" (89 cm), M ; S. pale ecru; F. greenish tan, deeper at hafts which are overlaid with deep violet lines radiating out from around beard and suffusing into center; violet beard tipped mustard, violet horns or spoons; lightly ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. Art of Raphael X B-8-2: (Cease-Fire x Sky Hooks). Moonshine Gardens 1989. HM 1991, AM 1993, Wister 1996, Dykes 1997.

There are many Commercial gardens still selling this iris both in New Zealand and Internationally.

For some amazing photos of 'Thornbird' taken in Europe just yesterday visit the Extraordinary Barashka Blog really good photography!!

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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Tall Bearded space-age Iris 'TRIPLE WHAMMY'

As space age irises go, Ben Hager's selection 'Triple Whammy' has all the bells,whistles and bold purple horns. Large flowers with the colouration similar to 'Sky Hooks', bloom stalks that grow much taller for me than its registered 40 inches so may need to be grown in a sheltered spot or keep those friendly bamboo stakes at the ready around bloom time, it also comes with very vigorous growth and lush, healthy foliage.
'Triple Whammy' would be an interesting pollen parent selection for anyone starting a breeding programme with high expectations of a 'space-age outcome', it was recently used in the cross that produced the great looking reddish, purple and bronze, space-age iris 'Purple People Eater'.

Cooley's Iris Gardens Catalog 2002
TRIPLE WHAMMY (Hager 1990) ML 40"
A very tall space-ager with brilliant yellow standards and bright lavender-white falls. A bold yellow edge encircles the fall deeping at the haft to gold. Impressive bright purple beard, yellow in the throat, grows into a bold purple horn turning upward. Eight to nine buds on widely branched stalks. H.M.92; A.M.95; Wister 96

Contemporary Views, Perry Dyer– 1990
TRIPLE WHAMMY (Hager 1990) is a colorful blending of old gold with light lavender in the falls, then with decadent bright purple beards and horns protruding from the heart. A tall, almost lanky stalk with wide branching, opening 3 large flowers at once. A wild one that is distinctive and most popular.

AIS Checklist 1989
TRIPLE WHAMMY (Ben Hager, R. 1989) Sdlg. SP4884YBldPrHr. TB, 40" (102 cm), M-L S. bright yellow; F. lavender-white center, deep gold hafts, wide yellow edge; bright purple beard and horns. SP4432Tn/Oc: ((Birthstone x Sky Hooks) x Jester) X SP4078: (Barbary Coast x Buckthorn). Melrose Gardens 1990. HM 1992, AM 1995 .

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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Space Age Iris "SNOW SPOON"

Just one of the stand-out irises I will look forward to this blooming season. Lets face it there has to be some payback to make all the weeding worthwhile. Ben Hager's "Snow Spoon" is a visual treat and several clumps grow at home among 'Graham Thomas' the Yellow David Austin roses. Irises with unusual decorative extensions to the beards are known as 'Space Age Irises'. Extensions to the beards range from horns (points) to spoons and flounces, and are so called because the ends of the horns expand to a larger petaloid, spoon or flounce like addition. 

I have always enjoyed the opinion's of Ben Hager and his published thoughts on Space Age Irises.
"The word 'Novelty' which once meant a newly introduced iris, has recently been drafted to describe irises that are basically divergent in pattern, form or habit from the mainstream of iris development. Among the first publications to mention these iris types was the report Les Iris Cultivès from the first international conference in Paris 1922 [Ref 1]

Its would be fair to say that there is still a large number of Irisarians that still think of these irises as a spectacle of deformity and should have been sent to the compost, I would have to disagree, but that's no big surprise.

Breeders of today should further the advancement of the irises of the future by working for the miracle of combining beauty with novelty. Even without such a miracle,there is a place in our lives for the curious and the frivolous. Without diversion from the routine, life is dull. Consider these nonconformists of the iris world, for narrow is the path that leads to boredom" [Ref 2]

The Space Age Iris have come to be accepted by even the conservative American Iris Society and have awarded the varieties 'Thornbird'(1997), 'Conjuration'(1998), and 'Mesmerizer'(2002), all hybridised by the late Monty Byers, a California breeder, the Dykes Medal. Space Age Irises are the non-conformist of the Iris world and long may they live.

Photo shows mature spoons 

AIS Checklist 1989
SNOW SPOON (Ben Hager, R. 1982). Sdlg. SP3453Wh. TB 38" (97 cm) M. White; yellow beard, white spoons. SP3228Wh: (D. Meek cream sdlg. x Lamia) X SP3094YSp: ((SP2638Hr: Spooned Blaze x Caro Nome) x (SP2635Hr: Kingdom x Spooned Blaze))., Melrose Gardens 1982.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Reproduction in whole or in part of this photo without the expressed written permission of Terry Johnson is strictly prohibited.

Photo credit and copyright Terry Johnson and Heritage Irises © . 

[Ref 1] 'LES MONSTRUOSITÉS CHEZ LES IRIS' page 197 of the report 'Les Iris Cultivès'.
[Ref 2] Edited extracts from 'The World of Irises' chapter 20 Novelty Irises

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Space Age Iris 'DANCE FOR JOY'

'Dance For Joy' a Space Age Iris which we do enjoy at home, has slightly smaller but intriguing bloom's in a display that comes early in the season and then re-blooms later. It has that X factor in the form of the spoon shaped petaloids.

Monty Byers was truly one of the most original and ardent breeders of irises in the iris world. In that world his niche was expanding both with accomplishment and promise--until death cut short all inspiration and activity. But his iris creations still remain to pleasure our gardens and to remind us of his gifts to us. Monty's iris catalog business, Moonshine Gardens, in association with his business partner, Bill Gibbs, was an almost immediate success, sparked by Monty's ebullient enthusiasm and drive. His breeding interest centered around two classes of irises not altogether at the top of general popularity: the horned, spooned and flounced (Space Age-and designated SA in the catalog) and the section of irises that is steadily growing in popularity, the reblooming irises (identified in the catalog as RE). His development and insistent promotion of these two sections through his catalog and voluminous correspondence was a decisive factor in raising them to the rank of popularity and wide acceptance that they now hold.
Edited extracts from Monty Byers obituary by Ben Hager

Available in New Zealand from the Amazing Iris Gardens, In the US of A you could try Autumn's Folly Farm who have a great catalogue of Space Age Irises or, Williamson Farm Flowers, they also have a great selection of NOID's which are well worth a look

AIS Checklist
DANCE FOR JOY (Monty Byers, R. 1991). Sdlg. E66-1. TB, 30" (76 cm), VE-EM & RE. S-salmon & orchid pink,yellow edge F-salmon pink overlaid reddish orchid,B-orange red,salmon-orchid spoons-flounces;C37-2: (Sky Hooks x Condottiere X C6-3 (Spirit of Memphis x (Moon Mistress x D. Meek horned sdlg.))

Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Iris 'ANNOUNCEMENT'

Photo taken at home this morning.

AIS Checklist
ANNOUNCEMENT (Paul Black, R. 2002) Sdlg. F158AA. TB, 34" (86 cm), M
S. pastel cameo pink, slight crystalline rim; style arms pastel pink, violet midline; F. pastel blue violet, pale violet white halo edge, white haft with few tan veins; beards tangerine, violet flounce; ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. To the Point X Lookout Point. Mid-America 2002 HM 2004 AM 2006

Its good to get the view of hybridisers concerning their introductions and Paul sent me these comments on 'Announcement' in an email this morning.
"I've been very pleased with 'Announcement' both in the garden and in the AIS awards system. It received an AM in 2006. It has been very consistent in formation of the appendages. It also opens the flowers without distorting the falls which happens often with space-age irises. It also forms a relatively tight clump which I also like."
$SOLD OUT last season at Mid-America Iris Nursery so look forward to it next season if you live in America.Not listed this current season with any New Zealand Iris grower that I have received a catalogue from.

Clicking the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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