Re: Re: SPEC-X

 

In England The first Dykes Medal was won by A Cal-Sibe. I too am saddened by the fact that Tall-bearded Iris continue to be the main Iris to win the Dykes. Sadly much of the Iris society favors bearded Irises. Conventions are held at their bloom time, Plant sales are usually for just TBs. But Much of this has to do with the ease at which TBs can work for the promotion of the Iris Society. I understand hoe important TBs are for the functioning of the society but Greatly dislike the attitude of some judges that TBs are all that should be considered for the Dykes. But this narrowly informed types of descrimination is no better than reverse descrimination. For someone to say they would never vote for a bearded iris in the species class or Spec-X class puts them into the same type of category as the judge who would only vote for TBs. I would hope that judges evaluate all categories. Now if you want to hear a real heretical remark. I do not see why judges who no nothing of other categories should be allowed to vote for the Dykes. Presumably the contenders for the Dykes Medal are the Medal winners of all categories. If a judge is only competant to judge one category whether it be TB or Species he should recuse himself from judging the Dykes. Of course this will not happen.  I have been quietly advocating for years the idea of levels of judges. In a dog show not every judge can judge the Best in Show. Each judge has to become competant in a certian breed and can only  that breed. As the judge adds breeds ge can then move on to a group such as hounds. Eventually after becoming competant in several groups then he can judge best in show. If you think about it species and spoec-X are the hardest categories for judges because the encompass all types of Iris. No-where have I heard except at my own judges trainings of teaching people to judge garden plants and not just point scales for a certain group. Frankly I have promoted species as hard or harder than anyone but I am saddened by how many species enthusiasts can be as hard centered in their views as TB enthusiasts. Many gardeners views species people as elitists. I think that is not really true but I do not think we do enough to discourage that view because I think sometimes we enjoy being Elite.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sean A. Zera" <zera@umich.edu>
To: "iris-species" <iris-species@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 2:59:16 PM
Subject: RE: [iris-species] Re: SPEC-X

 

I, too, have never paid much attention to AIS because of the apparent
focus on bearded hybrids, but after a bit of reading up, the whole
system seems pretty strange. Correct me if I'm wrong, but:

There are 15 classifications that receive medals, plus the Dykes
medal. Of these, eight are restricted to beardeds and another two
allow beardeds, so fully 2/3 of the categories can be won by beardeds.
Three medals are awarded in the TB category, so of the 18 medals
awarded annually, 3/4 can and do go to beardeds.

The highest award, the Dykes, though open to all classes, is in
practice awarded only to beardeds and almost exclusively to Tall
Beardeds, which is downright insulting to everyone else, unless I'm
missing something here.

Certain arilbred hybrids could potentially be entered as TB, AB or
SPEC-X, and stand a chance to win the Dykes, while hybrids in entire
other subgenera can only be entered in SPEC-X and will never win Dykes.

The SPEC-X classification is the only one open to anyone hybridizing
Chinensis, Ensatae, Foetidissimae, Laevigatae (except JI),
Longipetalae, Nepalensis, Prismaticae, Ruthenicae, Syriacae,
Tenuifoliae, Tripetalae, Unguiculares, Vernae, cresteds, reticulatas,
xiphiums, junos, Belamcanda, Pardanthopsis, wide crosses and whatever
else I've missed. Yet 'Dolce', which for all intents and purposes
appears to be a TB, wins. I understand the overwhelming focus of AIS
on beardeds as an artifact of the history of iris hybridizing, but it
would seem that the organization has little interest in changing this.

My take on SPEC-X, as the classes stand now, would be to voluntarily
restrict it to wide crosses (except between two bearded groups) and
beardless hybrids that don't fit an existing classification. Wild-type
bearded hybrids, as unlikely as they appear to be to win existing
bearded classes, at least qualify for them. Entering beardeds into the
only category many beardless can enter, being judged by an
organization that prefers beardeds, unfairly reduces the already
limited chances of a new and different hybrid winning.

Sean Z
Michigan

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