Thank you Chuck.
Clusiana says her standards are actually quite light.
Did you see the stems on mine? The last picture of the stem is from my iris. They are precisely the dark red purple that Claire Austin describes. The stems and the purple leaves were what led me to believe I had received the correct iris that I purchsed from two well known companies in the US. This one is the picture of the stem from my iris:
http://cubits.org/irisforum/db/ouririsdatabase/image/16911/
I know you know your irises. But please humor me, by telling me how you know for sure the one on your website is Gerald Darby?
If you do a Google search for Gerald Darby you will come up with many pictures of the iris I have. And many other pictures of irises like you sell. It appears the one in Claire Austins book is not the same as yours, Chuck. It appears more like mine. Also if one were to check Daves Gardens Plantfiles, the irises on there as Gerald Darby appear to be the same as mine.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/164537/
Thank you everyone else, also. I am familiar with the description, and also am familiar with robustas. The description is just vague enough that it could be either of the two irises.
--- In i*@yahoogroups.com, Chuck Chapman <irischapman@...> wrote:
>
> The photos by Clusiana would apear to be the correct Gerald Darby. Check photo on my website chapmaniris.com
>
> The standard that looks white is a photo abnormality caused by light shinning through petal.
>
> I grow a number of Robustas. The look is distinctive.
>
> Your cultivar is a dark purple, without veining. Nice dark yellow signal. Doesn't look robusta.
>
> The dark stems are rather typical of robustas, and of Gerald Darby.
>
> Chuck Chapman
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Polly pollykinsman@...
> To: i*@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sun, Dec 5, 2010 9:11 pm
> Subject: [iris-species] Gerald Darby ?
>
> Â I am not sure how to post pictures in here, so hopefully the links will be OK. If not, I apologize.
>
> We are having a discussion on Cubits about Gerald Darby. I purchased two Gerald Darby quite a few years ago, from two very reputable sources in the US. I received another as a bonus. All bloomed the same, a violet purple.
>
> I posted the pictures on Cubits, and you will see them identified as PollyK. Another lady posted a picture of her Gerald Darby, and you will see her pictures under Clusiana. She is from France, and purchased her Gerald Darby from Cayeux.
>
> http://cubits.org/irisforum/db/ouririsdatabase/view/4545/
>
> Obviously the two Geralds are not the same.
>
> Searching the internet both irises appear to be represented.
>
> Registrations is as follows. There was the first registration, and then an amended one.
>
> First registration: (Coe for G. Darby, deceased, R. 1968) SIB-LA, 30" (76 cm), June
> Blue-purple self; twisted red stems. Flowers of Siberian; growth habit of I. foliosa. Orientalis X prob. two LA hybrids. Norton Hall 1967.
> Amended registration: Blue violet with violet-colored leaf bases. Chromosome count 2n=88-89. Vigorous. Sets few seeds.
>
> My Gerald has obviously dark red purple stems. Clusianas has dark purple stems. Both irises have purple foliage in spring. Hers appears to be quite veined, and I see nothing in the registration to indicate that. Hers also has light standards, mine are darker. Both of our irises bloom at the appropriate time and are the proper height.
>
> Claire Austins picture is more like mine. I think my picture turned out a little darker than my iris atually is. Notice in Ms. Austins picture the standards and styles are about the same color as the falls. Mine are also. Clusianas are much lighter.
>
> http://books.google.com/books?id=jvtRhVQD82MC&pg=PA280&lpg=PA280&dq=claire+austin+gerald+darby&source=bl&ots=ukrq65imjn&sig=bjEXE19D3wdVTw71cK6zidwQvB0&hl=en&ei=W0P8TP_eKIHGlQeh_7GRBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
>
> So, now my question (finally), does anyone know for sure what iris the real Gerald Darby is? Can you provide a picture? And no offense, please, but how do you know this is the correct Gerald?
>
> It is obviously mixed up in commerce at this point.
>
> Thank you for any help you may offer!
>
> Polly @ Siberian Iris Gardens
>
