Re: Iris ID's

Christy:
    Good rules for iris identification. Early on, I had really hoped 
to identify more 'unknowns' based on my own photos...but quickly 
figured out that would be impossible.
    I'll bet there are alot of iris out there that just do not have 
registered names. When reading older iris catalogs, from 40's, 50's 
sometimes a cultivar was noted as being very fertile, producing 
interesting offspring, etc. Today's catalogs mostly don't even 
mention that. So I can imagine that the gardener of 50 or so years 
ago was alot more interested in do-it-yourself cross pollinating just 
for the fun of it.  As for bee-pollinating...I'm sure it happens, but 
I had tons of pods from bees last year...and not one seed!.
(and if anyone can venture a guess why, please let me know)
By the way, some of my 'unknowns' also are my favorites; and just 
becasue it doesn't have a registered name, doesn't make appreciation 
of it less enjoyable.
Laetitia


--- In iris-photos@y..., "Hensler" <hensler@p...> wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <craigiris@i...>
> 
> > I strongly urge you to NOT try to identify unknown iris. That
> > is how so many misnamed iris get traded around.  Unfortunately, 
some end
> > up in commercial gardens and we end up with a real mess. Just 
enjoy what
> > you have and only purchase from the hybridizer or a very reputable
> > commercial garden.
> 
> Just wanted to mention that even the most reputable commercial 
gardens and
> hybridizers can sometimes goof and send a mislabeled plant. Having a
> business license doesn't protect you from Murphy's Law.
> 
> Rather than dismiss all of the wonderful small-time growers of 
irises, take
> the time to learn how to confirm the identity of an iris. Wherever 
a plant
> comes from, it's a good idea to follow at least one basic rule: 
Always check
> the description of any iris against what the bloom looks like in 
your garden
> before you share starts.
> 
> If (like a lot of us) you find you've fallen for something that is 
obviously
> mislabeled, start with the basics:
> 
> 1. If the iris was a purchase or trade, contact the person you 
received it
> from immediately. There's a good chance that it's a case of Right
> label/Wrong iris and they'll recognize a photo and description.
> 
> Orphans take a bit more detective work to identify:
> 
> 2. Get an accurate description and a series of photos of the bloom 
from
> different angles as well as close-up photos of the rest of the 
plant. Note
> what else is blooming at the same time.
> 
> 3. When you find a possible identity, order named starts from at 
least 2
> other growers and grow the plants side by side for comparison. Plan 
on
> getting comparisons for at least 2 years so you can see how they 
react to
> changing weather conditions.
> 
> If your unknown has exactly the same bloom time and the exactly the 
same
> type of presentation, the same growth habit and the same details in 
rhizome,
> roots, stalk, texture, fertility, etc., you just might be able to 
identify
> it. The trick is to be extremely aware of the smallest detail that 
doesn't
> match.
> 
> If all efforts fail, and the orphan still doesn't have a name, 
don't give it
> one! While we share some of the loveliest orphans, we make certain 
they're
> labeled as unknowns. "RG Unk 1" is a lovely rich blue TB who lights 
up the
> garden and is nearly indestructible. I can't image throwing it on 
the
> compost simply because we don't know what its real name might be.
> 
> Christy Hensler
> 
> THE ROCK GARDEN
> http://www.povn.com/rock/
> Variegated and Colored Leafed Plants
> http://www.geocities.com/shanatse/


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