RE: garden merit

---

El,  We do need people as far north as you to trial seedlings Hybridizers might think would do well there.  That really is just the point and goes the same for the South, or arid West.  Unless of course you and others others are perfectly content with buying stuff just to have it die or never bloom taking up space that something that will bloom could occupy.



 

-----Original Message-----
From: El Hutchison
Sent: Nov 26, 2010 2:00 PM
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [iris-species] garden merit

 

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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