Schafer Sacks 2010 Introductions

POMEGRANATE PUNCH. Schafer/Sacks (Seedling No. S03-77-12), 23", EM. A richly colored iris which is a blend of yellow and red purple with orangey highlights on sunny days. The falls have a felty texture, nicely flaring with soft and rolling ruffles. The styles are ornamented with small ruffles and dark red picotee edges. Medium sized flowers are held just above the wide and erect foliage. Three buds present a nice succession of bloom. (Sunfisher x sib to On Her Toes) X (((((Star Cluster x Ruffled Velvet) x (Creme Chantilly x ((Atoll x Ruffled Velvet) x Butter and Sugar))) x Riverdance) x ((Forrest McCord x Isabelle) x Dawn Waltz)) x (sib to Dawn Waltz x Dandy's Hornpipe))
Just arrived from Jan Sacks two photos of Jan and Marty's 2010 introductions. Joe Pye Weeds Garden web site is updated for 2010 , give it a visit and admire the genius of diploid hybridizing. Revisit this post and I will update it with more information when it comes to hand. Ten years ago who could imagine the kaleidescope of colour's, its just amazing.




CINNAMON SUGAR . Schafer/Sacks (Seedling No. S03-28-3), 24", M. An impossible color to describe without using food analogies - the falls are smooth chocolate pink or sugared cinnamon. The standards and styles are the palest violet to cream, both with a warm glow of yellow at the edges. Signals are deep golden yellow softened by self colored veins. A prolific bloomer with stalks well distributed in the compact clump. Small to medium
flowers, four to six buds per stalk. Strong neat foliage. Tree of Songs X sib to Pretty Polly: (Gentle Lass x (sib to Dawn Waltz x Dandy's Hornpipe))

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

Of course a major hat tip to Jan and Marty for sharing the magic.
Photo credit and copyright Schafer Sacks

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Siberian Iris "LILTING LAURA"

Anna Mae Miller is one of the living treasures of the Siberian Iris world and is a prolific hybridiser of hardy no nonsense high health Siberians
Lilting Laura is one of the most popular Siberians in New Zealand .The flowers are lavender shaded darker in the centre, accented with white styles. It is very vigorous and easy to grow.

2006 Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises
LILTING LAURA Miller, Anna Mae Reg 1989 Sdlg 85.20.17 SIB (dip.) (37" 94 cm) M & ML S. pale violet (RHS 87D); pale violet style arms, slightly darker (87C) midrib; F. violet (87A). Aqua Whispers X Lavender Bounty. Old Douglas Perennials 1990

Good size plants can be purchased for a very reasonable price in America from Wildwood Gardens who have a very good selection of Siberian Irises.

In New Zealand Siberian iris are wonderful landscape plants and do very well as cut flowers. The graceful flowers are carried above an elegant clump of grass-like, blue-green foliage which is attractive all season. Siberians bloom just after the bearded iris and just before the Japanese Iris, and can tolerate a wide range of soils, light exposures and moisture levels and are drought tolerant after they are established. They have almost no disease or pest problems. Ideal conditions are a sunny place with moist, rich, slightly acid soil.
They can also grow well next to pools or marshes and after the first frost their foliage turns a rich reddish-brown. Siberians can remain in place for years without division. When necessary, they should be moved and divided in late summer, preferably March- April.

To find out more information on Siberian Iris go to The Society for Siberian Irises at http://www.socsib.org/.

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 Iris Grower "TIKITERE GARDENS"

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Tikitere Gardens
104 State Highway 30
RD 4
ROTORUA 3074
Phone (07) 345 5036
Email address tikiteregardens@xtra.co.nz





Ann and Bill Robinson are the owners of 'Tikitere Gardens' which is located in the North Island's very scenic area of Rotorua. These extensive gardens, developed since 1987 incorporate a natural stream and established trees. Nursery sells trees, Acers, Rhododendrons, Hostas Daylilies. Great service and very good size Siberians.Recent Catalogue received lists over 40 modern varieties. Friendly to deal with and answer emails generally within 24 hours.

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Siberian Iris "GOLYBAYA LAGUNA"

When I asked if I could use this photo, Sergey's reply was certainly but he could not understand why as he did not like it much but qualified the statement by adding "but its all a matter of taste". I myself think it most certainly is a mighty good looking Siberian and the dark blue veining on the standards and the falls give the bloom another dimension in taste.

The pod parent is "China Bitone" which has the species Iris I.typhifolia on both sides of it's parentage and is registered as a species X. The pollen parent is unknown.

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

Photo credit and copyright and a big hat tip to Sergey Loktev.

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Siberian Iris "WINE WINGS"

Siberian Irises with the so called modern flaring rounded form is so apparent in Wine Wings. A re-bloomer which clumps up well to make a colourful display. Whilst this iris is more than 30 years old and therefore is Historic, Siberian Iris just do not date like the Bearded Iris.

D.Steve Warner, Illini Iris Gardens Catalogue 1977 Introductions
WINE WINGS. Siberian sdlg.1150 EML 32" (Sensenbach #6 X Illini Encore)
This floriferous, long blooming red with a touch of violet received the most vote for HC in 1976 and make a beautiful clump

2006 Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises
WINE WINGS Varner, D. Steve Reg. 1976 Sdlg 1150 SIB (dip.) (32" 81 cm) EL & re S. light violet-red; F. violet-red. Sensenbach #6 X Illini Encore. Illini Iris 1977

Can be purchased in America from Tranquil Lake Nursery who have a very good eclectic catalogue of Siberians. In saying that, their Historic collection of Siberians make me wish they where just down the road from me.

For good advice on how to grow Siberian Irises visit The Society for Siberian Irises web site. The information can be downloaded as a PDF file

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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When is a Flower Really New ??

The Picture on the Cover

When is a Flower Really New?

By "Irisarian"

THEY say there is nothing new under the sun. That is a very sweeping statement, and like most sweeping statements, not true. It would be truer to say there is very little new under the sun. And this would be as true of plants as of most things. We often speak of a "new" plant. What we really mean is that the plant is new to us, or to our own horticultural world. But more often than not the plant is centuries—ages —old. In some part of the world it has been growing wild since before the time primitive man walked the earth. It may be new to the gardens of the world, or, what is more usual, to our country's gardens.
I well remember showing a woman gardener around my garden one day, and as she came to any plant she did not know, she asked: "Is that new?" Well, I stood it for awhile, and then, my patience evaporating. I asked her: "What do you mean by 'new'? Do you mean is it new to cultivation, or new to New Zealand, or do you really mean new?" For all the plants at which she was looking were wild plants, collected in other countries, and only cultivated in my garden,
A new plant is one that is new not only to horticulture, but to the world, and these plants may be obtained by an occasional "break" amongst wild plants, or a natural hybrid, by which is meant a plant that is the progeny of a cross occurring amongst wild plants, and resulting accidental cross-pollination between two related plants. Or again a new plant can be obtained by artificial cross pollination. These man-made plants are called garden hybrids, and are quite strictly "new" plants during an indefinite number of years, until, in fact, they have been distributed and grown in other gardens.
We are getting very used to new plants in these days of specialised gardeners, who are frequently offering us new gladioli, new roses, new irises, new pansies, etc., etc. It takes something very novel or very beautiful, to give us a real thrill, but during the last few years I have experienced a real thrill out of seeing two new Bearded Irises. I saw them in Mrs W. R. Stevens garden at Wanganui, and realise they are not yet available to the gardener in New Zealand, but I believe they will become available within the next few years, and since a peep into the future is always intriguing, I should like to tell you about them. In fact I can do even better than that, for this month's "New Zealand Gardener" is illustrating one of them on its cover.
This illustration is from a natural colour photograph. Having seen it I feel I should like to comment briefly on this colour plate. The plate is an extremely good one, but as in all colour plates I have seen the yellow appears to have gained a slightly orange cast. The name of the iris is Pinnacle, and it was raised by Mrs. Stevens. As I saw it the standards of the flower were dead white, and the falls light lemon yellow.
This variety Pinnacle was what is called a planned cross, that is the breeder started out to raise just such an iris. The original parent was a creamy white flower, with faint gold pencilling at the shaft of the fall, and a series of crosses was embarked on with the idea of breeding a white and yellow bicolour iris. Pinnacle is the result of generations of breeding. Its lovely flower has most of the iris virtues in full measure, heavy substance, clean colour, lovely attractive form, and large size. Mrs. Stevens assures me it also has a good constitution, and is a quick increaser.
The other new iris of which I promised to tell was, in fact, rather a new family of Bearded Irises, as there are quite a number now in this group of the ethereally lovely new pale pink irises. American breeders have made the greatest progress in this colour class, though the colour "break" has also occurred amongst the English raisers' seedlings. These new pale pinks bear no resemblance to what we have in the past called pink irises, that is, orchid pinks, or lilac pink with the warming influence of lemon or yellow undertone or blending.
The new pinks all have pink buds, and share another feature also, a bright brick-red, flame, or tangerine beard. Of these pinks, the best are perhaps Dr. Loomis's Sea Shell Pinks, and Mr. Dave Hall's Flamingo pinks.
They vary in the different named varieties, but all are definitely true pale pinks. Last year I saw one of Mr. Hall's unnamed Flamingo Pinks seedlings flowering at Mrs. Stevens. The colour of this was the colour of the flesh of a watermelon, with just that frosted iridescence. The lovely tangerine beard blends most sympathetically with the delicate toning. I understand that Dr. Loomis's, 'Spindthrift' is due to flower in this garden next November. In America it is rated the best of the Sea Shell Pinks.
I believe Mrs. Stevens has embarked on a new line of crossing, combining these two new irises, and hopes in time to obtain a flower with white standards and pale pink falls. Such a combination, particularly if she manages to retain the tangerine beard, will be exquisite.

The above Article is a complete unedited facsimile and is courtesy of New Zealand Gardener September 1947

"Irisarian" is one of the pen names used by Wally Stevens (Jeans husband) who also wrote under another pen name Silver Birch. The above photo on the cover was in all probability the first published image of "Pinnacle" and the first introduction of the variety to the gardening public published 2 years before its international coordinated sale in 1949 by Stevens Bros. for the New Zealand and Australian market, Schreiners for the North American market , and Orpington Nurseries and Co. for the English market, all of this some 2½ years before the inception of the New Zealand Iris Society.



Big Top hat tip to fellow blogger Gareth Winter for his considered thoughts and help.

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

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Tall Bearded Iris "LACED COTTON"

Laced Cotton is a Schreiners recessive white with a delicate and ruffled chiffon appearance,which belies its super substance and resistance to moderately bad weather conditions. Considered by some to being a Cool or Cold White its ruffling adds a warmth and another dimension to the bloom. I have listed two catalogue entries from Schreiner, the original Introduction in 1980 where it states pure white, and the 2000 catalogue description that mentions a very faint lavender-orchid tint when blooms first open. Grown at home alongside a reasonable planting of the herbaceous peony, Festiva Maxima, (Mielles, 1851, an historic fragrant white double, with occasional crimson flecks on petals). Our purely accidental planting does make a great visual combination. 

'Laced Cotton' was registered in 1978, so is now unbelievably classified as a Historic Iris.

Schreiner's, Salem, Oregon, Iris Lover's Catalog,1980 .
LACED COTTON (Schreiner 1980 ML. 36"
Nature was in a fanciful mood when she created this heavily laced pure white variety. It is immaculately clean yet so daintily ruffled like exquisite Belgian lace. Endowed with flowers a full six inches high and accross this white spell binder shows no other color. Its beard, haft and center are all a clean pure white. Then the petals, both standards and falls are stiff, waxy and finely ruffled with copious lace. A new high in laced Iris! Laced Cotton couples both purity of color and the fine art of ruffling. Three branches with 5 to 6 buds. A must whose bloom can only be appreciated when seen. HC '79. Seedling #I 551-2 .................................................. $25.00

Tempo Two, Barry and Lesley Blyth, East Road, Pearcedale, Victoria, Australia, Season 1986-87
LACED COTTON (Schreiner '80 USA) ML. 36". Heavily laced pure white, so much lace it is as if it was exquisitely hand tacked like Belgian lace. Good branching. Gives plicata seedlings. (Crinkled Joy x sdlg) x Grand Waltz) HC '79. HM '82. AM '84..................................... $16.00

Schreiner's, Salem, Oregon,  2000 Iris Lover's Catalog, Collectors Edition.
LACED COTTON (Schreiners 1980) ML 36". This heavily laced white is immaculately clean and yet so daintily ruffled like exquisite Belgian lace . The huge 6" flowers actually have a very faint lavender-orchid tint when they first open. With three branches and 5-6 buds. Honorable Mention 1982, Award of Merit 1984.

AIS Checklist 1979
LACED COTTON (Schreiner's, R, 1978). Sdlg. I 551-1. TB 34" (86 cm) ML. Ruffled and laced pure white self; lemon to near white beard. E-275-A: (Crinkled Joy x B 696-AA) X Grand Waltz., Schreiner's 1980. High Commendation 1979, Honorable Mention 1982, Award of Merit 1984.

In New Zealand it can be purchased from Julie May at The Iris Garden Christchurch, and thirty years plus from the date it was first registered in the USA it is still been offered for sale by Schreiners today,which in and of itself is an amazing accolade.

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 Intermediate Bearded Iris 'PAUL & MARY '

'Paul and Mary' is a Intermediate Bearded plicata Iris in which the pollen parent has dominated the form and colouration of the bloom. Having good increase as a plus it quickly makes a stunningly floriferous display. Blooms are subject to slight sun fade which is overcome by its bold colouration and waxy petals also making the blooms long lasting. The overall effect is a bright clump that has a airbrushed fade effect. Branching is good and well spaced. A child of the sixties with Wilma Greenlee's, 1968 SNOW CHERRIES , a white ground, rose-red intermediate plicata as the pod parent and WILD GINGER 1960, Jim Gibson's Tall Bearded classic ginger brown and creamy white plicata of good form fertile both ways, providing the pollen.

Bred in New Zealand by the late Paul Richardson, of Upper Hutt and was registered by his wife Mary in his memory. Paul was a past office holder and stalwart of the New Zealand Iris Society.

The Iris was sent to an iris 'garden' in the Wairarapa some years ago to be 'Introduced'. This has not happened to date. My understanding of 'Introduction' is the offering of a registered Iris for sale to the public, and the listing of the iris in catalogues, printed lists, or advertisements, including advertising in Iris Society publication's, are all the acceptable means of introduction. Irises must be recorded as introduced before they become eligible for awards. More importantly, previously registered names may be re-used if either the originally registered iris has not been introduced or distributed by name, or does not appear by name in parentage registrations. (There are 55 plus New Zealand registered Irises that potentially have an exposure to this ruling)

Placing this Iris unlabelled on a clubs sales table with a $2.00 price tag, could never remotely be considered as 'Introduced'.

Another part of this puzzle is how a classy iris that was only registered eight years ago has received no published references in New Zealand including Iris Society publications, either critiqued or visual apart from a checklist entry, and the plant itself just disappears. An unusual way you might say to show respect to the hybridiser.

New Zealand Iris Hybridisers Cumulative Checklist 2011
PAUL AND MARY (Paul Richardson, deceased, by Mary Richardson, R. 2002). IB, 26" (66cm), ML. S. soft greyed yellow (RHS 162B); F. white, deeper yellow (162A) border lightly dotted golden buff (164B); beards bright yellow to orange. Snow Cherries X Wild Ginger.

This Iris is very welcome to bloom in my garden any time and I would be more than proud to say I owned it. The more pleasing aspect is that after eight years from its registration, New Zealand gardeners finally get to see an Iris of pure class. I guess as the old saying goes "the cream will always rise to the top".

A big hat tip to Mary Richardson for her detailed colouration description included in the registration which made the initial identifying of "Paul and Mary" just a whole lot easier.

As an aside, two days after this post I receive a fantastic letter from Mary Richardson confirming the authenticity of "Paul and Mary" and in the same mail a very good Iris friend who has been completely oblivious to this posts investigation sends me a start of "Wild Ginger." I am twice blessed.

Clicking 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 Historic Iris "QUAKER LADY"

It is my opinion, no historical Iris collection is complete without "Quaker Lady"
I like to think this iris is part of my Table Irises collection. Smaller flowers on zig-zag branching but makes up for the limited bud count per stem by being a vigorous grower that clumps up well, quickly producing multiple flower stalks in turn creating a mass bloom effect. The photo I hope captures the beauty of this classic and subtle diploid Iris.

A H Burgess and Son Iris Specialists Waikanae, Wellington N.Z. 1932 catalogue
Quaker Lady. Standards bronze, touched with lilac. Falls smooth bronzy-mauve, with a gold centre to the flower. Very attractive. Mid season 2½ ft.

From Cornell Extension Bulletin 112, 1925:
Color effect a smokey lavender, ageratum-blue, bronzed and blended bicolor. S. pale purplish vinaceous, of silky surface texture, bronzed throuout. F. mauvette to deeper ageratum-violet, bronzing at the edge and becoming yellow-olive on outer haft. Reticulations deep gold to olive brown.
The beard is fine, projecting, and yellow-orange, and the styles are cream-buff tinged at the base. The growth is vigorous, and the plant has lax, slender,deep yellow-green leaves, tinged at the base. The flowering stalks are freely produced, above medium height, well branched, and carry their numerous blooms in a fine mass. The soft, smokey lavender, blending with old gold in the fair-sized, firm-textured flowers, is very pleasing when used in mass with bright yellows. This variety is a late bloomer. Rating 84.

Lee R. Bonnewitz Catalog,Van Wert, Ohio,1928. 
QUAKER LADY (Farr)
This beautiful medium sized Iris has been most appropriately named, for its colors remind us of a Quaker Lady of old schools. The colors, while not striking, are very attractive, for the standards are a smoky-lavender shaded somewhat with yellow, and it's falls are blue and old gold was bronze and yellow markings. It has a splendid orange beard. When grown in front of the stately MADAME DURRAND the combination is most excellent. We recommend it on account of its beauty, its ability to multiply rapidly, and its great vigour.

AIS Checklist 1929
QUAKER LADY TB 27" M S3L,(Farr, 1909) Class VI a (1) AAA 142 (SQUALENS x pallida)RHS CLASS VI description is as follows; Varieties with standards of shot shades, that is, of any shade due to a mixture of two colours of which one is always yellow, the yellow being always evident at the base of the standards.
The subdivision of the class are according tp the predominance or otherwise of the yellow.
a. Yellow scarcely perceptible
(1) Pale blue or lavender
(2) Rose or pale pink

In New Zealand it can be purchased from Julie May at The Iris Garden Christchurch, also available in the USA from Iris City Gardens, 3 rhizomes for $15.00 which to me sounds like a very good deal. .

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

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