Siberian Iris Schafer Sacks Seedling

Just turned up today in a email sent by Marty Schafer its a seedling that Marty has described as "is one of the most exciting seedlings that bloomed last year" Parentage S03-56A-10 X Miss Apple. Joe Pye Weed's Garden is Jan and Marty's mail order plant nursery specializing in Siberian Irises, Versicolors, and Species and Interspecies hybrids

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 "CAESAR'S BROTHER"

'CAESAR'S BROTHER' One of the most popular if not thee most popular landscape Siberian Iris variety . The flowers are medium blue with erect standards, very vigorous and easy to grow. I remember a conversation with a commercial grower of Siberians in New Zealand some years ago who stated "Customers visit the gardens and get to see the latest varieties I have imported from America, yet when they return to the shop nine times out of ten its 'Caesars Brother' which wins as the variety they want to take home to grow"
I grow it at home as a hedge of approximately 300 plants down the drive way, and must admit at peak bloom it looks good, bloom height is 36" which gives the garden visitors a greater appreciation of the flowers form. Bred by F. Cleveland Morgan, a pioneer Canadian breeder of Siberian irises. His best known irises are 'Caesar,' 'Caesar's Brother' and ‘Tropic Night', and all are still popular garden plants today. Photo taken in the morning light, and yes its Historic.

2006 Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises
CAESAR'S BROTHER Morgan, F. Cleveland Reg. 1931 SIB (dip.) (30" 76 cm) ML S. violet, narrow and upright; rich round violet F.; white signals and gold hafts (description from Adamgrove Catalog). Listed in 1939 CL as Caezar's Brother; spelling changed in 1949 CL. Kellogg 1932 HM 1936; MORGAN AWARD 1953

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter.

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

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Siberian Japanese Iris Cross "LEXICON"

Registered as LEXICON, this nicely balanced hybrid is one of the newest additions to the Japanese-Siberian family hybridised by Christy Hensler
I first came into contact with Christy some years ago and I have always admired her "thinking outside the square" when it comes to Japanese and Siberian interseries hybrid breeding, its a difficult thing to do.
Here she relates her thoughts regarding this remarkable iris "LEXICON will make her début in 2012 at the Michigan Iris Convention. Her leaves don't look like any "Siberian" you have ever seen. She's an aggressive little doll who's never failed to bloom even after being moved in the spring. Barely fertile only with a sibling so far but I've started playing with Adrenaline Rush again, the F1 JI-SIB she came from hoping to pull a few more colors into the type."

Despite inconclusive criticism of her work with Ensiberians Christy Hensler has persevered. Plant breeders with a sense of adventure are a valuable asset in the Iris world for making us think that the Impossible now seems probable, long may they live.

To find out more information on Christy's work go to The Rock Garden web site http://www.povn.com/rock/index.html

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

Photo credit and copyright and a major hat tip to Christy Hensler

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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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