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Fw: Zurbrigg irises

Sorry  --  Meant to send this to iris-photos in the first place.  --  Griff
 
----- Original Message -----
From: jgcrump
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2005 6:00 PM
Subject: Zurbrigg irises

Since we're discussing rebloomers and I had mentioned the form and color of RENOWN, I had intended to comment further on some of Lloyd Zurbrigg's other irises.  In the interim, I received a message off-list from one of our list subscribers, who felt that my remark about RENOWN disparaged Lloyd's work.  My exact quote about RENOWN, which had just rebloomed in my garden, was, "Unfortunately, its color and form are still as unappealing as ever."  I have responded to the person who wrote to me off-list, but in case anyone else got that impression, I will just list those of Lloyd's irises which I grow or have grown:  BABY BLESSED, BROTHER CARL, CLARENCE, EARL OF ESSEX, GRACE THOMAS, HARVEST OF MEMORIES, I BLESS, I DO, IMMORTALITY, JENNIFER REBECCA, LATEST STYLE, MOUNTAIN GREENERY, RENOWN, SILVER TRUMPETS, SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS and VIOLET MIRACLE.  Of these, I have deliberately discarded only one and, as mentioned, I don't care for RENOWN.  I'd say that a score of 14 out of 16 ain't bad.  Several of the above are also in the pedigrees of a number of my seedlings and in two of my registered seedlings.  As to Lloyd's work, anyone acquainted with the world of irises is well aware of Lloyd's pioneering work in rebloomers and of the numerous beautiful irises that he produced.  And those of us lucky enough to have been able to spend time with him have warm remembrances of his generous sharing of hybridizing experience and of our enjoyment of his wider-ranging knowledge, interests and talents.  His stature and his accomplishments, I am confident, aren't  going to be diminished by an individual's comment about how one of his cultivars suits his taste.
 
Turning to the others of Lloyd's irises that I, particularly, am concerned with, I would list, first, JENNIFER REBECCA (Grace Thomas X Vanity), Avonbank,1984.   Don Spoon often used to say that JR was the most beautiful iris he'd ever seen, rebloomer or no.  It has exceptional beauty and grace, in my opinion, and I have been working doggedly for 10 years to try to get it to set seed again.  The first year that it bloomed for me, 1994, I got pods on it from three different pollen parents.  The hellacious wet, icy winter of 1995 wiped out whole rows of my seedlings, including all of the JR seedlings.  I've never been able to get another pod, but will continue trying, because its color, form and branching are just as good now, in my opinion, as they were a decade ago.
 
SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS (68-43-RYB: (Miss Illini x Grand Baroque) X Halloween Party), Avonbank 1977, is in many of my seedlings.  I don't recall its brassy yellow color coming through, but its distinctive saucy form comes through again and again.
 
SILVER TRUMPETS (NN 32-2-3, Baby's Nook sib, X Mesmerizer), Friendship 2003 is a newcomer in my garden and I am looking forward to certain crosses with it in the spring.
 
LADIES' NIGHT (Holy Night X Lady Friend), Friendship 1997.  I have wanted this red-violet beauty since I first saw it in Lloyd's garden, but circumstances have intervened to prevent it.  Maybe I'll get lucky.
 
I'm attaching photos of two of my registered seedlings involving SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS which are waiting in the wings.  --  Griff 

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