Paul Archer has mentioned trial gardens both here and in the latest AIS Bulletin.
I'd gladly volunteer to become a trial garden, but I'm greatly limited by the cold zone I live in. I've been doing my own hardiness tests for years though.
I've now entered about 30 more SPEC-X cultivars into the AIS Iris Encyclopedia this morning. I can say I feel good about doing my own little part in helping others learn more about all the various iris, not just 1 class.
El, Ste Anne (near Winnipeg), Manitoba Canada Z3 (probably USDA 4)
> To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
> From: voltaire@islandnet.com
> Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 10:37:58 -0800
> Subject: [iris-species] garden merit
>
> On 26-Nov-10, at 10:04 AM, gardenersfriend@sasktel.net wrote:
>
> > “I believe it is possible to judge all plants for garden Merit from
> > Chrysanthemums to Pansies to Iris.” Now, that certainly sounds
> > encouraging, but in what respect or should I ask just how would this
> > be done? Would they be judged by gardeners or polls taken or...?
>
>
> There are a couple of precedents for judging and awarding plants for
> garden merit. In all cases that I know about, the new plants are
> grown with older ones so an honest comparison can be made.
>
> One is done by the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain. It
> is the AGM, or Award of Garden Merit, given after a several years
> trial at one of the RHS gardens. I have added more about it below.
>
> Great Britain does not have nearly the range of conditions that North
> America does, but there are some "All-American" trials where plants
> are grown at trial gardens and are judged while they are growing.
>
> All-America Selections tests seed-grown plants in trial gardens and
> also has display gardens which the public can visit.
> http://www.all-americaselections.org/Trial_Locations.asp
>
> The All-America Rose Selections chooses for the whole continent, but
> also has regional selections.
>
> El mentioned that she has an iris display garden. Are there display
> gardens in all parts of the continent, and could they be incorporated
> into a series of test gardens?
>
>
> Diane Whitehead
> Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
>
> ==========================================
> The AGM is intended to be of practical value to the home gardener. It
> is awarded therefore only to a plant that meets the following criteria:
>
> • It must be of outstanding excellence for ordinary garden decoration
> or use
> • It must be available
> • It must be of good constitution
> • It must not require highly specialist growing conditions or care
> • It must not be particularly susceptible to any pest or disease
> • It must not be subject to an unreasonable degree of reversion in
> its vegetative or floral characteristics
> Plants of all kinds can be considered for the AGM, including fruit and
> vegetables. An AGM plant may be cultivated for use or decoration. It
> can be hardy throughout the British Isles, or suitable only for
> cultivation under heated glass. It can range in size
> fromSequoiadendron giganteum to Cornus canadensis. Though growing
> conditions and plant types may vary, the purpose of the award is
> always the same: to highlight the best plants available to the home
> gardener.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
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