"GARDENS ILLUSTRATED", Better Late than Never

.



.

With my busy schedule in the construction industry I rarely find the time and solace to escape to the Wellington City Library (almost just across the street) where I get to put the ever ringing cell phone on silent and peruse the small selection of International Garden magazines. Yesterday was one of these rare opportunities.
The latest BBC Gardens Illustrated Magazine displayed at the library is stamped as received 28th March 2011, and it is the February 2011 Edition, the Cover feature is "100 Must Have Garden Plants" apparently chosen by top designers and gardeners. Quickly, I thumbed through the article only to find that sadly, Irises of any varieties or species did not make the cut.
Somewhat perplexed at this mistaken omission of the great species, and not unreasonably thinking that Irises would have taken 5 out of the 10 top placings, I continued to flick through the magazine when a superb photo of a well known Iris caught my eye. It was the intriguingly-patterned flower 'Katharine Hodgkin',a reticulata Iris hybrid of I.winogradowii X I.histrioides,and to my surprise a full plant profile feature titled "Winter Iris".
The 8 page article by Christine Skelmersdale of Broadleigh Gardens fame is well written, informative, and covers the winter flowering species of Irises, and has amazing photos by Rachel Warneto . Tips on growing these Irises and just as importantly where these bulbs and plants can be purchased are included (Hooray!!)

I'm so annoyed that it has taken me some three months to read this informative article, so to make sure this will not happen again, I signed up online for a 12 month subscription of "Gardens Illustrated" which will be delivered to "my door" apparently faster than a speeding bullet. (Most unlikely if our New Zealand Post is in the mix)
Whilst there still may be time to get to a Garden Centre and purchase some reticulata or histrioides Iris bulbs in New Zealand, Northern Hemisphere readers will have to wait until autumn to purchase bulbs or plants.

In New Zealand should you want to get your hands on this Edition of "Gardens Illustrated" it is the current issue available at your Newsagent and I had no trouble yesterday, purchasing a copy from 'Borders Book Store.'  Northern Hemisphere readers and for that matter Southern Hemisphere readers you can all order 'Past Issues' or Subscribe to "Gardens Illustrated" by clicking your mouse here or the image above.

With monthly circulation figures of 34,033 copies, sold in more than 70 Countries, and a monthly readership of approximately 180,000, from me its a big Hat Tip to "Gardens Illustrated" for its very sophisticated promotion of Irises to the Greater Gardening public. Well done!!!

*****

Read More

" YOUR IRIS GARDEN", "Plan it When the Irises are in Bloom"

Your Iris Garden, Plan it When the Irises are in Bloom
By Jean Stevens


The right time to plan the rearrangement of a bed of Bearded Irises is not when one goes to purchase new varieties in December, or when one starts to lift and divide up an old-established bed. To leave the choice of new varieties and new colour schemes until planting time is to rely on a memory of colours. Even when one has a keen colour sense and a good memory, it is next to impossible to avoid at least some mistake, and a single mistake in placing different colours, even if it does not jar badly, will bring a feeling of regret.
Very often one hears the remark, "I wish I hadn't planted THAT variety against THIS variety," or "I wish I had placed a yellow or cream among that group. It would have lightened the whole planting." Such repining and regrets are easily avoided if one plans a little while the irises are in flower in November. If the bed is to be altered in its colour scheme, plan the alterations while you have the blooms to guide you. The modern Bearded Iris has such endless variations of both colour and tone. It is not enough to plan, for instance, to put a blue next to that pink.
Decide while you can, WHICH blue will give the best effect. Done at flowering time the work of planning the new planting is not a task but an enjoyment.
Even when it is not intended to lift and replant the whole bed, one often sees, if one takes the thought to look and compare, just how the planting may be made more attractive, by adding one variety to this corner, planting another lighter tone in the background, or removing one variety to another position. After all, colour is a very comparative commodity. We designate a flower "blue" or "pink." Place the blue against a white and it looks very blue; place it against another blue and it may appear lavender or purple. Again the pink may appear a true pink against a warm cream or a blue, but lavender against a salmon or pink and gold blend. Still again, in the matter of contrasts, a great deal of the ultimate colour effect depends on the TONE of the contrasting colours. Depth or lightness of colour tone is all important in producing colour symphonies.
There are, of course, general rules to guide us, but these rules are far from infallible, and even if they do not lead us into pitfalls, it is just a matter of luck if we avoid that impersonal, characterless grouping one too often sees in garden colour colourful contrast, one must also keep in mind that 'Joanna' on the one side, and 'Golden Hind' on the other, will be in conjunction with other varieties. That is, perhaps, not so hard, but remember also, what is going behind, and what, if any, are going into the foreground.
Tall varieties, as a matter of course, will go into background, where I have found it useful to remember to plant a good quantity of light or pale shades. 'Magnolia' (cream), 'Pink Advance', 'California Gold', 'Cedar' (pinky bronze), 'Golden Treasure' (light gold and cream), 'Pink Opal' (lilac), 'Miss California' (pink), 'Pale Moonlight' (silvery blue), and 'Winter Carnival' (giant flaring white) make ideal background varieties. Rich colours, such as 'Sierra Blue', 'The Red Douglas' (wine red), 'Richmond' (rosy carmine), 'Milson' (brown and crimson), 'Crimson Banner' (crimson), 'Dark Knight' (mahogany) and 'Destiny' (black-purple and bronze), being tall, must also go into the background, but should not be grouped together, but planted with the lighter tones to brighten and enhance their colours.
The middle background gives the gardener the greatest scope, and the planning and selection here will give the main character and colour effect. This is the situation for the bright colours, and here one may let himself go with pleasing contrasts. Trial will confirm some surprisingly good effects. Not having thought of it, I was surprised to find Rangitikei and Inspiration very pleasing planted with 'California Gold', also 'Rangitikei' and 'Golden Hind'. Dark rich tones, such as 'Joanna', 'The Black Douglas', 'Destiny', 'Sable', require very rich gold’s to adequately lighten and display them, while light pinks, lilacs, light blues, and blends, look infinitely better if their foils are also light toned. In other words, in contrasts, light tones require light tones, and deep tones require deep tones in their contrasting neighbours. 'New Dawn', 'Mountain Lake', 'California Gold', 'Capri', and 'King Russet' are useful for lightening effects in the middle background. In planting blues and yellows in contrast, use pure yellows, the depth of tone of the yellow depending on the depth of tone of the blue. 'Brunhilde', 'The Black Douglas', and 'Joanna', for instance, require the deep gold tones of 'Golden Hind' and 'Coromandel', while 'Exclusive' (silver blue) looks very lovely with 'Magnolia' (cream), and 'Shining Waters' and 'Aline' (clear light blues) with 'California Gold'.
In pastel groupings two or three medium-toned blues and pinks will give character to, without destroying the delicacy of the colour effect. 'Harebell' and 'Sandia' are excellent for this purpose.
As varieties, even in the same colour class, differ greatly in their garden colour value, I will give here a list of varieties I have found most suitable for their respective purposes. They are good bases about which to build a planting plan.

Background varieties:
'Magnolia' (the best all round background variety I know), 'Pink Advance', 'Dark Knight', 'Sierra Blue', 'Golden Treasure', 'California Gold', and 'Destiny'.

Foreground varieties:
'Aline', 'Cardinal Wolsey', 'Golden Hind', 'Winston Churchill', 'Firelight', 'Lake Alice', 'Kapiti', 'Surprise', and 'Moonglo'.

Varieties to add Brightness:
'Inspiration', 'Richmond', 'Golden Hind', 'California Gold', 'Firelight', 'Naranja', 'Radiant', and 'City of Lincoln'.

Varieties to add Depth of Colour:
Brunhilde, Cardinal Wolsey, Rangitikei, Joanna, Golden Hind, Wellington, The Black Douglas, The Red Douglas, Red Dawn, Mrs. J. L. Gibson, Crimson Banner, and Beowulf.

Varieties to Lighten the Effect:
'Magnolia', 'California Gold', 'Pink Advance', 'New Dawn', 'Angelus', 'Exclusive', 'Golden Treasure', 'Fair Elaine', 'Lagos', 'Los Angeles’,’Mountain Lake', 'Pale Moonlight', and 'Seduction'.
It will be noticed that many varieties have double utility value. In conclusion, I should strongly advise the planting of a fair proportion of blues and yellows in any planting. Even if one does not care for yellow or blue as a colour, the omission of those colours from a planting of Bearded Irises will deprive the whole planting of its essential character, and the colour scheme will prove to have a sense of something lacking.

~~~~~~~~

Lake Alice, Richmond, Kapiti, Mountain Lake, and Red Dawn, all mentioned in the above article were hybridised by Jean Stevems and introduced by Stevens Bros in their various catalogues in the early 1940s when their nursery was located in the Rangitikei township of "Bulls". None of these cultivars appear in any checklists meaning they were not registered, perhaps the result of correspondence lost during the war years. When colouration is a consideration, this article is just as relevant today as when it was first published and is courtesy of the New Zealand Gardener, October 1945.

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

Read More

New Zealand Heirloom Tall Bearded Iris 'DESTINY'

Happy New Year to you all and a great way to start the new decade is with the Jean Stevens (nee Burgess) heirloom and historic tall bearded iris "Destiny". In 1928 using the rich purple blue iris with a heavy gold beard that Ferdinand Denis had named 'Aurelle', and crossing it with a iris Jean referred to at the time as ' The finest in our collection' the 1925 Arthur Bliss introduction 'Mrs Valerie West' It was a most successful cross and labeled E53 it produced a bumper crop of seeds totaling 88. From the planted seeds, seven Irises where selected for registration by Jean in 1934, the seedling registered as 'Destiny' having the most success.
Her notes on the blooming in 1931 records the seedling 1/E53 as, S. deep fawn purple; F. rich dark purple nearly black, velvety; Substance exceptional; Shape good; L. 4 ft.
Although it was registered in 1934, 'Destiny' was introduced to New Zealand gardeners commercially in 1932 and was first listed in the Waikanae Irises Catalogue 1932 for the princely price of forty two shillings with the following description: DESTINY, This is an exceptionally fine variety of our own raising and has been much admired in our own gardens. Standards deep purple, shaded fawn; Falls rich dark purple, almost black. this is a flower of great substance and good form 4ft.

Orpington Nurseries Co Ltd, Kent, England. 1934
Destiny (Burgess 1934)
Mr Pilkington told us about this handsome and distinct iris, and when we saw it in bloom, we strongly confirmed the good opinion his enthusiasm had created. The standards are deep purple suffused bronze, and the falls are purple-black very velvety and of great substance. this is a hybrid of Mrs Valerie West and is the darkest iris we have seen yet. Height 4 ft.

In 1934 The Iris Society (BIS) awarded Destiny a Bronze Medal and was selected for trial at Wisley. Waikanae Irises catalogue reflected this new status of 'Destiny' 

Waikanae Irises, A.H. Burgess & Son, Irises 1935.
DESTINY This iris a seedling of our own raising was shown at a Royal Horticultural Show in London in June 1934 where it created a sensation. It was awarded a Bronze Medal by the Iris Society and was selected for trial at Wisley, the first award made to an Iris raised in the Southern Hemisphere.S. deep purple suffused bronze. F.purple-black very velvety and of great substance Late 21 shillings.
  (After just 3 years growing at The Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley Trials, 'Destiny' in 1938 with 79 points was awarded a Award of Merit (AM) just missing a First Class Certificate by one point.)

The Iris Society Year Book 1938, Visit to Wisley. 10th June 1938', Geoffrey Pilkington.

 "I was interested to see Mrs Stevens (nee Burgess) DESTINY a Wisley carrying two very fine spikes of bloom. this is a superb Iris dark yet rich and attracts the immediate attention of the visitors. It does not seen to have acclimatised well in this country as yet, and the Wisley flower spikes where much better than any I ever grew of this variety. The judges will "Stop" when they see it next week."

At the request of Robert Schreiner the Iris was exported from New Zealand to America and in 1940, Schreiner's, at time located in St.Paul, Minnesota listed Destiny in their catalogue with the following description;
DESTINY Burgess 1934 M. 38" The antipodean origination which has made quite a name for itself in England; is a rich somber toned iris with exceedingly velvety broad falls of black plum purple coloring, deep purple standards and a rich gold beard. Destiny is especially effective in a garden when planted with 'Beowulf ' a complimentary color in maroon.

Cooley's Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris for 1949
DESTINY (Burgess 1934)
A great heavy flower of deepish blackish bronze purple, the beard a rich golden bronze. From New Zealand and credit is due to its originator for having made it possible for American gardens to enjoy such an outstanding iris. It has all good points- excellent form- tall stems and succeeds everywhere.

Stevens Bros, Bastia Hill, Wanganui. Irises 1957-58.
DESTINY (Burgess)
This majestic iris possesses a real dignity all of its own. The standards are a deep purple, shaded bronze, whilst the falls are purple black. A deep golden beard produced well down the velvet black, entirely unveined fall, enhances the depth of the colour. A superb and well-finished variety in every respect. Late. 4’

New Zealand Iris Hybridiser's Cumulative Checklist, 2010.
DESTINY Miss E.J. Burgess, R.1934. Sdlg. 1/E53 TB, 48″, M-L, S9D. S. deep fawn purple; F. rich dark purple nearly black, velvety; Substance exceptional; Shape good; Description E.J Burgess Studbook notes,‘1928 flowering’; Aurelle x Mrs Valerie West; Waikanae Irises 1932; Orpington.1934;1938. Bronze Medal, I.S.(E.) 1934; Yr. Bk., I.S.(E.) 29. 1934; A.M., Reg., R.H.S. 1938; Yr. Bk., I.S. (E.) 44. 1938; 10A. 434.

What is amazing about this Iris is that it is widely grown correctly labeled overseas.' Destiny' is still catalogued as growing in R.H.S garden collections in Ireland and England which has been confirmed, but only a few grow or know they are growing this iris in New Zealand.

The above photo was sent to me by Phil Edinger who has proudly grown 'Destiny' in his California gardens for many years. Phil is the Historic Iris Societies I.D. Chair which removes any likely-hood of the Iris been incorrectly named by others.
A big hat tip to Phil, you are a legend

Clicking the above image will automagically take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Phil Edinger

Read More

Pacific Coast Iris

Fashions in Iris breeding and the end result, the blossom's are constantly changing. Pacific Coast Irises are little known Irises,outside Iris circles. Flowering well ahead of the Tall Bearded Irises,the evergreen, tough plants, and could become a landscape designers dream plant should they ever become available commercially.

Paid a visit to a good friend and Iris colleague Gareth Winters and his fantastic collection of Pacific Coast Iris seedling, mostly all his own crosses. Totally amazing how these Irises have advanced in colour and form over the past decade.
Gareth is a great writer on all things horticulture which is very evident in his blog 'Irises and Archives', he is the Editor of the biannual journal 'ALMANAC' for the Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris, Writes a weekly garden page for the local Newspaper 'The Wairarapa Times Age' , and the Archivist for the Wairarapa Archive.













Clicking the image's will automagically take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Will post some more photos from this collection soon.

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

Read More

Freesia alba Burtonii

Freesia alba Burtonii
Iridaceae

This plant is a New Zealand classic garden icon, blooms with an amazing perfume that for me heralds the start of spring.
It is a sport of Freesia refracta alba, is much improved and is a very fragrant white flower of outstanding quality and size.
A bulb flower that is almost a pure creamy-white with yellow lower lip which is quite free from outer purple markings, and is twice the size of Freesia refracta alba.
It appeared by chance in the private Nelson gardens of Mrs Burton in the 1930's and the owner conferred a benefit on posterity by segregating and propagating it.
The flowers are generally sterile and seed is very seldom seen, so stock must be increased by divisions which is helped by its vigorous growth creating large bulbs.
Great for mass plantings and for picking as flowers are produced abundantly for two months from early spring.
A bulb variety that got lost in the clamour of 'big box' garden centres to sell the latest and greatest using the 'one plant fits all' criteria, which inevitably created a lack of retail demand for this variety so it was taken off commercial growers catalogues. Freesia alba Burtonii can now can only generally be found on garden groups sales tables, so if you can find it, get it, I guarantee you will enjoy it!


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

New Zealand Native "Clematis paniculata"

New Zealand Native Clematis paniculata (syn. C. indivisa)

Our beautiful native Clematis which the Maoris call 'puawhananga' apparently meaning the 'The Sacred Flower' is a stand out spring feature dotted on the Hills of Bush I drive over each day on my journey to work. The starry white, lightly scented blossoms that herald the Spring, are up to four inches across, and on mass in the native bush look like small patches of snow on the tops of trees. All of the nine species of Clematis native to New Zealand are evergreen, and of these C. paniculata is the largest flowered and most spectacular. In Autumn it again features a grand display with its fluffy silvery seed heads.
Simply grown up the side of a tree as in its native habitat, and as with almost all clematis keep its root run cool, I give it a feed annually in the Autumn with some good quality leaf mould, then all that is required is 'Do not disturb'.

It is a pity that this native species is not more widely grown in New Zealand gardens, as it can be easily propagated by cuttings or seed.

Photo taken in the early morning sun in the garden this morning.

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

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

Read More

Tall Bearded Iris 'PROUD TRADITION'

'Proud Tradition' is in my opinion the best 'Neglecta' when it comes to the "classic modern form". It has wide and lightly ruffled deep Hyacinth blue falls with light blue standards which are displayed on fine stems that yield eight to ten buds. Matching blue beards that are lightly tipped yellow, which contribute to the overall good effect. Better than great health, with average vigour and increase. A respected variety that has a prominent place growing in our garden at home.

 CONTEMPORARY VIEWS Perry Dyer —1994/1995
The SUN BELT AWARD is given to the Best Proven Variety, i.e., one that has been on the market long enough to be thoroughly tested in the Midwest (at least 4 years): PROUD TRADITION (Schreiner 1990) has developed into the finest neglecta, for overall performance, in the Heartland. It is a very masculine flower, with a rich velvet texture, broad parts with virtually no ruffling. The color saturation is complete, with heaviest of substance, allowing the flower to retain all its pigmentation through the life of the flower. The stalks are husky and tall, holding up the large flowers with dignity.The plant habits are impeccable, with huge thick plants with strong increase. A total vision of health, head to toe.

Schreiners 75th Diamond Anniversary 2000 Iris Lovers Catalog
PROUD TRADITION (Schreiner 1990) EM, 36"
This blue Bi-tone boasts impeccable colouration coupled with classic form. Held with stately flare, the wide ruffled falls boasts a uniformed deep hyacinth blue while the arched silver blue add an impeccable finishing touch. Proud Tradition's excellent stems yield 8-10 double socketed buds per stalk HM 1992, AM 1994

AIS Checklist 1999
'Proud Tradition' (Schreiner, R.1990). Seedling W 164-A. TB, height 36" (91 cm), early to mid season bloom. Standards light blue (RHS 91C); falls ruffled medium blue (93A); beards blue, tipped yellow. J 50-G: (D 241-1: ((First Violet x King's Choice) x (Allegiance x ((Pierre Menard x Blue Ensign) x Harbor Blue)) x ((First Violet x Arabi Pasha) x (Salem x Bluebird Blue))) x Navy Strut) X Royal Crusader. Schreiner 1990.

Still been sold ($12.50) by Schreiners 20 years after its introduction from their web site (Listed in the Iris Links on this page.)
For such a stand out Iris it is somewhat bewildering to find that this iris is not sold by any commercial grower in New Zealand!!!!
Its a real privilege to feature this variety on my return to writing for the blog.
Clicking the above image will automagically take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

Read More

Heirloom Tall Bearded Iris "CATERINA"

Perhaps one of my great finds in New Zealand this year is an Heirloom Iris of significant historical importance growing in an Auckland garden.

Sir Michael Foster is justly looked up to as the pioneer and founder of the modern cult and cultivation of the Iris, and in 1888 he crossed I. pallida with I. cypriana, both of these irises at the time being considered collected wild species. The result, a selected seedling 'Caterina' (named after the Queen of Cyprus) was introduced. It was one of the first tetraploid hybrids, and proved to be invaluable for introducing plant size, vigour, plants with taller well-branched stems, and larger flowers to the world of tall bearded iris breeding. The hybrid vigour of this hand-cross produced seedlings that in comparison to the predominant diploids of the day were spectacular. Many of the early pioneers of tall bearded iris breeding, including Amos Perry, Geoffrey Pilkington, Sir Arthur Hort, George Yeld, Louis Dennis, Grace Sturtevant, B. Y Morrison, William H Mohr, the Sass Brothers, Edward Essig used 'Caterina' in their breeding, making it an ancestor of some of the best irises. As an example, William Mohr used 'Caterina' in a cross with I. mesopotamica to raise a seedling he named 'Argentina' (1923) which he then crossed to 'Conquistador', (1923) (Juniata X I. mesopotamica) to produce 'Purissima' (1927) . This was considered to be one of the all time greats in the colour white and was used extensively in hybridising. When 'Purissima' was crossed with 'Thais' it passed on its genetics plus its pure white colour to the outstanding tall bearded iris 'Snow Flurry', (1939). Seventy years ago this must have seemed like a miracle in outstanding hybridisation. When I sent the above photo to Phil Edinger for conformation of its identity, his informative reply was , “CATERINA! And a very nice shot of her, too!! One almost-diagnostic feature is the stalk. Often, as it elongates, the upper part will bend over. Sometimes it remains that way to some extent, with the terminal blossom at an odd angle. More frequently, though, the stalk will recover from the bend and grow upright but leave a bend or "crook" in the stem. The "official" description in AIS Bulletin 6 notes "stalk apt to be flexuous."

The Dean lris Gardens, Growers and Importers of Choice Iris, 1914 Catalog, Moneta, California.
IRIS CATERINA
THE late Sir Michael Foster, of England, devoted many years to the study of the Iris, collecting from all parts of the world wherever they are to be found-and also produced a large number of hybrids. Had he been trying to produce an Iris among his hybrids, particularly adapted to our climate, he could not have done better than when he gave us Caterina. It is a queen among Irises beautiful for any climate.

'We quote from two of the leading Iris growers of England regarding this Iris.'

"A lovely hybrid raised by the late Sir Michael Foster, from I.Cypriana and I. Pallida; the flowers are of great size and borne on long, stout branching stems, standards light clear blue, falls soft lilac-blue, delicately fragrant, 4½ feet. Award of Merit R.H.S."

"A very pretty hybrid, one of the very best of the late Sir Michael Foster's pets; a cross between Cypriana X Pallida, having large, conspicuous pale mauve flowers, with a brownish marking at base and a very conspicuous yellow beard. A.M., R.H.S."

The foliage being persistent throughout the year, the plant is ornamental at all times, with its broad leaves some two feet tall. The growth of the plant being checked a part of the year in colder climates, no doubt the blooming period is not as long as it is with us. It comes into bloom here about the 6th of April, and with proper care remains in bloom for two months and more. Our own stock, although divided last year, has not been without bloom for three months and is still making new flowering stems at this writing. The flowers are borne on branching stems, some four feet tall; most of the stems produce from fifteen to twenty blossoms, often five flowers being open on a stem at a time. The flowers measure 5½ inches from top of standards to bottom of falls. The plants do not throw up a quantity of flowering stems simultaneously, as many Irises of this class do, but instead seem to court our attention and admiration, by modestly extending their blooming period over such a long season.
We can confidently recommend it to those who have room for but a few plants and want something choice, and also that will give increased pleasure from year to year, as well as to those with more ample space, and who can perhaps afford to plant more liberally of it. Our stock is guaranteed true to name. The price at which this Iris is held, both in Europe and by the growers in the Eastern States who list it, proves that its worth is appreciated. The grower from whom we secured our stock in England writes us that this plant is getting very scarce, and many forms are being sold, both in England and elsewhere, as Caterina. For this reason, and the fact that the stock does not multiply as rapidly as that of some of the more common bearded varieties, the price will not be much reduced for some time to come.

AIS Bulletin #6 October 1922, Description of Varieties Part 1
CATERINA 8.9 (19)
Self, V. (1). Foster, 1909
Brief. Bluish lavender the falls slightly flushed lavender violet; S. fluted, tips touching; F. drooping; stalk low and well-branched; growth very variable; to 4 ft.
Details. Haft reticulations broad, widely spaced, brownish; beard white.yellow tip; stalk apt to be flexuous.
Remarks. A. M. R. H. S., 1907. Very fine in California but in the North it requires the most thoro drainage as it is subject to rot and winter killing.

The Iris Society (BIS) Bulletin No.2 May, 1925 'Sir Michael Foster and his Irises'.

 Sir Arthur Hort discussed his good friend’s work, and wrote “Foster gave me a bit of his original plant of Cypriana a name to which there are several pretenders. It has if I remember right (for I fear it is no more) as a rather weak stem and a large floppy red-purple flower; like Mesopotamica its best use is perhaps for hybridising. From it Foster raised several fine things. The finest and the best known are Caterina and Lady Foster, the later named I think by Mr Wallace after Sir Michaels death; Mr Wallace and I both I believe, first saw it at Shelford the same day. Caterina well illustrates the wisdom of seeding from a good hybrid.”
Sir Arthur Hort also made the following observation in the same article in regards to I. pallida , “Foster's collected pallida forms are very numerous ; he showed me once a bed of thirty arranged in order of stature and exhibiting what he called, 'The degeneration of pallida.'”

W R Dykes 'Handbook of Garden Irises' published 1924 page 226

'Caterina (48ins., Foster, 1909), pale lavender, flowers large but a weak stem, often unable to hold itself erect;” and from page 232, 'In this country little had been done before 1900 to raise garden hybrids on a large scale. Foster had made a few experiments with new introductions and obtained such good hybrids as Caterina and Miss Willmott but they were produced rather as the result of other enquiries and not as an end in themselves'.

A H Burgess and Son Waikanae Wellington 1926 catalogue.
CATERINA Large blue self, veined dark brown at the throat. Rather floppy. Must be staked. Early 1 shilling

CORNELL MEMOIR 100, Study of Pogoniris Varieties, Austin W.W. Sand, July 1926.
Color effect a bluish lavender to soft lilac, olive veined self: size large; form long, compact, rounded; flowering habit free ; tall bearded class; height 24-48 ins.; branching fastigate, low to high, two laterals; A flower of good substance; firm texture; smooth surface; good fragrance; good lasting quality. Its delicately colored, large sized blooms make excellent cut flowers and build up well in mass or specimen clumps. A most fragrant variety.
S. light lavender, reticulated with olive on the yellowish claw, carriage ad-pressed to arching; blade obovate, notched, undulate, ruffled, revolute, slightly cockled; size 2 in. wide, 3 in. long. F. lavender-violet, with whitish outer haft, widely reticulated with olive, becoming brown on the yellowed haft; carriage widely drooping; wedge shaped convex, oblong ; size 1⅞ in. wide. 3⅛ in. long. Minor parts; beard coarse, sparse, projecting, white tipped with yellow; haft very broad channelled; reticulations broad, close to widely spaced; style-branches medium broad overarching; crest small fringed; pollen plentiful; spathe-valves scarious. Growth moderate; increase slow to rapid; habit compact; foliage stiff, leaves broad, deep glaucous green; 2 blooms open at once, floriferous; stalk angular, slightly flexuous, with six or more buds. An I. trojana or I. cypriana X I. pallida hybrid. Requires a well drained situation.

The Dean lris Gardens 1916 Catalog

AIS Checklist 1929
CATERINA TB-B1M, Foster 1909 (cypriana X pallida)
Received Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1907

A Major Hat Tip to Audrey McCarrison for growing an iris she loves, and also to Phil Edinger for the interaction of thoughts and discussions concerning 'Caterina'. Perhaps one of the great outcomes when finding historic irises is the sharing of information and the friendships that are formed with those genuinely interested in historic Irises. As referred to above the merits and all the exciting contributions that Snow Flurry" made to the world of modern tall bearded irises will be elaborated in a separate post at a later date.

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

Top photo credit and copyright Audrey McCarrison
Article copyright Iris Hunter.

Read More

Tall Bearded Iris 'TOUCH OF MAHOGANY'

Barry Blyth's, 'Touch of Mahogany' is a totally different look with its varying tones of russets, browns, and ruby red burgundy. Ruffling in the falls inherited no doubt from its very famous brown pollen parent 'Copatonic'. Certainly a surprise I like!!!

Tempo Two Catalogue 2005-2006
Touch of Mahogany Blyth 99 ML 36" Standards are coffee-brown with slight gold infusion. Falls coffee-brown overlaid soft lavender with striking burgundy hafts rouged down each side of the old gold beards setting the whole flower alive. Good branching, show stems, and a fine parent. Chestnut Avenue X Copatonic.

AIS Checklist 1999
TOUCH OF MAHOGANY (Barry Blyth, R. 1999) Sdlg. E123-2. TB, 36" (91 cm), ML; S. coffee brown, slight gold infusion; F. coffee brown, overlaid soft lavender around old gold beard, 1" burgundy hafts; pronounced sweet fragrance. Chestnut Avenue X Copatonic. Tempo Two 1999/2000.

Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter

Read More