Re: garden merit / MY2CENTS

 

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All
The recent give and take discussion on species and species-x awards within the AIS class awards system is an interesting winter discussion. I personally hope that it perpetuates critical review of the AIS awards system. The obvious fact that highly awarded cultivars are not surviving winters nationally, much less performing as consistent blooming gardening plants, is clear evidence to even casual observers that cultivar recognition needs attention. In context; a plant society, (one of many), that is loosing membership and senior hybridisers rapidly, needs to inclusively look at cultivar recognition system relevance. This is critical to both ends of the grower spectrum - newcomers selecting their first plants and hybridisers breeding and selecting improved cultivars.
 
After more than 30 years in the seed/plant industry it is obvious to me that seed & plant award systems have a direct impact on newcomer cultivar choices. It is a basic observation of human nature in practice. The preference of specific plant type/s individuals choose is subjective. This diversity is good - who would argue otherwise ? Diversity brings additional challenges in evaluating value, however one defines it. However, the broad relevance of recognition within an awards system has everything to do with the longterm staying power of any plant society. There is precedence. Other plant, (and animal), societies which focused recognition on cosmetic goals, to the exclusion of performance, have declined over time. I won't recast the iron of history here. But it is relatively clear to objective observers that longterm consequence of faddishness without performance, is decline. Thus my interest in seeing AIS awards incrementally improved. It is a solid foundation to build from.
 
I would posit that the most immediate need in the AIS awards system is to make cultivar eligibility for awards national and regionally proportional. Without detail, the net current effect of the awards system is that we are awarding Dykes and other important awards to cultivars that cannot survive in all climates. Many that do survive across climates do not bloom consistently in their non-native environments. This still does not get to the critical step of selecting plants that have functional form to fit into a general landscape (i.e. a tall plant that can stand up with its bloom ) Who would argue that inconsistent regional performance or inability to function in a general landscape is good for the new grower ? Ultimately that will change, either at the hand of AIS or the lack of enthusiasm for awarded plants from the consuming public. Perhaps the later is all ready happening, given AIS membership trends. I submit that an awards system that regionalizes selections at the expense of broad adaptability and functionality will at best regionalize acceptance.
 
Toward the species and species-x side of the discussion. Diversity is a good thing given that humans are subjective creatures. To me, the inclusion of species and species-x within the AIS awards system was a positive change enabling more diverse interests and wider participation. Species and species-x plants share a common need with all modern irises for regional acclimatization and functionality if they are to be successful in all but the most dedicated specialist hands. Why not value and award species and species-x nationally based on adaptability, functionality, and utility under AIS awards. Then if specialists within specific groups within the AIS umbrella want to have independent internal section recognition, do so, clearly defining the award is sectional improvement in nature. The key distinction here, separating broad/public and breeder/specialist cultivar valuation. There are very important incremental section improvements that deserve recognition toward long term improvement. Clearly many of these are not well suited to broad public use in the landscape. This type of award in my opinion needs to be a breeding improvement or discovery.
 
my2cents
Greg Davis
irisman646
Zone 5 - Upstate New York

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