Tall Bearded Iris 'BREAKERS'

A delightful self of medium-blue colour 'Breakers' flowers on well-branched stems. Blooms late spring and sometimes early autumn. For me the rebloom is a intermittent bonus, but should not be relied on, but that aside its still one of our favorite blue irises. Generally speaking 'Breakers' was readily available a few years ago from a lot of commercial growers but for the life of me I cannot find a listing with a grower in New Zealand that I can recommend. Not sure why this is as it is a very good grower.
 
Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, 75th Diamond Anniversary, 2000 Iris Lovers Catalog.
BREAKERS (Schreiner 1986) ML & RE 37"
Here is a bubbly and effervescent Iris whose undulating petals create a remarkable billowing effect. The superb blue color is applied with a clean uniformity. Fine size flowers are displayed on four branched stems with 8-10 buds.

AIS Checklist 1989
BREAKERS (Schreiner's, R. 1986). Sdlg. M 39-C. TB 37" (94 cm) M. Fluted and heavily ruffled true blue; dull blue beard tipped yellow ln throat. Victoria Falls X I 43-C: (Shipshape x Sailor's Dance)., Schreiner's 1986. HM 1988, AM 1990
 
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Tall Bearded Iris "ORANGE EMPIRE"

'Orange Empire' is one of the great orange Irises from the 70's which was widely used as a parent in the 80's. Thirty seven years have past since its registration date and its still an amazing looker.This variety is fertile both ways. The Maerz and Paul, Dictionary of Color, 1st edition colour determination of Saturn Red is a bang on description for this iris beard colour. Was not what I had imagined the colour to be, but thanks to colour charts and hybridisers references to colour names in the checklist all helps a lot.

'Cross Country Comments' Bulletin of the American Iris Society, No.223, October 1976.
ORANGE EMPIRE (Hamner 1974)
A vibrant orange of rather large size. It is a vigorous grower which is a quality welcome in this color class. Also it is a tireless bloomer and for me leaves more than ample increase for the next season. (Reviewed Francesca Thoolen)

AIS Checklist 1979
ORANGE EMPIRE (B. Hamner, R. 1973). Sdlg. 69-40. TB 37" (94 cm) M-L. Brilliant orange self; Saturn red beard; ruffled. (Sexton sdlg. x China Gate) X (China Gate sdlg. x Ole)., Hamner 1974.

Not commercially listed in New Zealand but still widely available in America from Angel Iris Farm, Blue J Iris, Bluebird Haven Iris Garden, Daylily Haven Iris Gardens, Exline Iris Gardens, Newport Naturals, Wanda Rezac Iris, and Wild Iris Rows.

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Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

Tall Bearded Iris 'CARNIVAL TIME'

A well named solid performer from Schreiners that is a welcome sight in the garden. Brown toned Irises otherwise known as blends can be susceptible to regional difference when it comes to colour tone and difference in colour can be due to mineral content in the soil. 'Carnival Time' is a 34 year old veteran yet its form is current. Fertile both ways.

Schreiner's Iris Lovers Catalog 1982
 CARNIVAL TIME (Schreiner 1976) E.36"
This buoyantly rich shaded blend presents a pageant of color. It's animated rich shade of burnt sugar brown is embellished by a crispness of texture. An air of exuberant ruffling accentuates this happy mood.An ideal stem and branching habit. Flowers are fully rounded and broad ; a lavish colorful blend of quality. HM '79

AIS Checklist 1979
CARNIVAL TIME (Schreiner's, R. 1976). Sdlg. F 187-G. TB 36" (91 cm) E. Ruffled deep burnt sugar brown, finely etched with deeper brown to orange texture veining; deep brown to orange beard. B 533-2: (Wild Ginger x Taste of Honey) X Dutch Chocolate., Schreiner's 1976.

It is an appropriate named Iris to celebrate Heritage Irises completing it's 2nd year publishing milestone in the world of digital media. Started as a database for Irises growing at home, and I still consider it as my Digital Iris diary.

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iRis on iPad

Today there is a new species in the Iris world I.pad which iPredict will have a major effect the way we view the iRis world digitally. The Apple iPad has been launched today and you may ask what does that have to do with Heritage Irises, Well we are already on it, Blogger as a platform works particularly well on Apple Safari so we are off to a good start.Marketed as a device for watching video, listening to music, surfing the web and playing games, as well as an e-reader for books, magazines and newspapers.
Some Iris Societies web sites are unable to work properly on any browser platform other than older versions of IE, so it is inevitable these slow adopters of new technology will be left behind.
The more innovated Iris Societies like, Species Iris Group of North America whose Bulletin is already in a A4 loose leaf format should now be seriously considering the concept of an Electronic membership. These members could download their newsletters and Bulletins in many formats and colour print their own hard copy saving considerable costs to both the society and its membership. I am reliably informed that The British Iris Society Group for Beardless Irises has already seriously discussed the concept of E-Membership. The Tall Bearded Iris Society Membership is without doubt the most expensive Iris society for international members to join and all this additional expense is attributed to the cost of International mail. Should any editor consider the iBooks application, which displays documents using the ePub-format required for iPad, then a whole new concept of reading and searching Iris information will be born in living colour.
Well there are hundreds of thousands of people who have already bought iPads -- and there are millions more who are seriously interested in it so its off to a brilliant start, and I see no good reason why the Iris world cannot go for the exciting ride as well.

In retrospect, I have read a lot in this past 12 months in various iris publications, regarding a general theme doing the rounds that,"If an Iris society embraces the digital revolution then the General Gardening public will better understand the working's of an Iris Society" . Hello!! surely the advocates don't believe this do they?? The Gardening public don't need to 'better understand Iris Societies', but the reality check is that there is a pressing need for Iris societies 'to better understand the gardening public'.!!


Image courtesy Apple iPad

"Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow" Rupert Murdoch

*****

Tall Bearded Iris "SILVERADO"

'Silverado' winner of the Dykes Medal in 1994, grows in a clump of three in the garden is one of the best if not 'thee best' in a cool silvery blue colour tone . It has strong, clean and vigorous foliage.The stalks are thick and strong to support the weight of the large flowers and it form is faultless. Colour tone sometime described as crystalline silvery white with self beards tipped yellow in the heart. Good branching. Still widely catalogued internationally and still sold by the originator Schreiners some 24 years after its registration.

Tempo Two Iris & Daylilies Catalogue 1994-95
SILVERADO (Schreiner 87USA ) M 38" This is as near perfection in an iris we have.Colour is cool blue white to silvery blue with lavish ruffling. Stunning form and finish. Will win lots of awards and worth a Dykes Medal. (Royal Satin sib X Carriage Trade) HM 89 AM 91

Schreiner's 75th Diamond Anniversary Catalog 2000

SILVERADO (Schreiner,1987) M 38"
This cool blue-white self dances with artistic flare. Silverado's broad and heavily substanced petals are lavishly ruffled. Tall sturdy stems superbly display 8-9 buds on two nicely spaced branches. HM '89 AM '91, Wister '93, Dykes Medal '94

AIS checklist 1989
SILVERADO (Schreiner's, R. 1986). Sdlg. S92-D. TB 38" (97 cm) M. Ruffled butterfly blue (HCC 645/3); self beard. K 440-5: (Starina x Navy Strut) X Carriage Trade., Schreiner's 1987. AM 1991, Wister 1993, Dykes 1994

Sold in New Zealand by Amazing Iris Gardens and Richmond Iris Garden, as for the rest of the Iris universe this Iris is still widely available.

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Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter