Re: award system

 

Just a casual observance here...
 
The awards system may inadvertently favor bearded cvs simply because of time limitations.
 
Bearded irises have an advantage simply because most people are familiar with the growing conditions needed for them.  I doubt that most people realize how long it may take some species and species-x irises to settle into a new garden and perform at peak. It's quite often a matter of the grower getting lucky enough to finally stumble upon the ideal microclimate after a number of attempts and this can take years.
 
A case in point: 'Alley Oops' did well enough here in the garden at large, managing to produce a few nice blooms each season with slow but steady increase. When moved to a pot and given a permanent place in the fish pond, has turned into a show stopper with the most aggressive increase I've seen short of pseudacorus.
 
The other reason, and it's a huge one, Tall Bearded irises may have the biggest advantage is that most commercial growers find that the general public hasn't a clue that other irises even exist. It takes a lot of effort to grow species and species-x irises as well as a financial incentive. When bearded irises sell better, it only makes sense that most gardens will favor them over other types.
 
I like the idea of a tierred method of judging. Those people familiar with a species or type could single out cvs of merit who then would hand off the judging to another group familiar with even more types until an educated consensus is reached.
 
Christy Hensler
Newport, WA
16" of new snow today and still coming down...
 
 
 

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