OT: Bloom

I wish all of you could have shared the day Saturday with us. We joined the
Dallas,Texas group for a spring bus tour to several gardens. After teasing
spits of rain Friday night, it turned out to be a sunny, glorious day. The
temperature was pleasant on the cool side. Bloom was almost at peak.

Our first stop was at Argyle Acres. Joe & Donna had their place looking
great. It is a joy to see a huge amount of historical iris in abundance.
QUAKER LADY, a 1909, edges a lot of the driveway up to the house. Donna was
showing off a clump of WELCH'S REWARD. This MTB had several perfect stalks
with 3 open blooms apiece. It was very nice. It could have won at any show.
But I'm glad we got to see it.

Also got to see a seedling of Joe's that he is watching. I was hoping
CANADIAN STREAKER would be blooming. It is a guest iris for the 2000 year
national convention in Texas. It has very impressive varigated foliage.
They weren't sure about the hybridizer. Maybe Chuck Chapman?

The only dissapointment was Taste of Texas was setting up as we boarded to
leave. I could almost taste their goodies. Joe said they had over 1,000
visitors on Saturday. What a neat place!

Next it was on to Cool, Texas to the Max & Billie Clark garden. He is the
uncle of Hooker Nichols, Oklahoma hybridizer carried off to Texas by our
AIS Treasurer Bonnie Nichols.This is a fabulous garden. Some visitors even
thought it rivaled the Botanical Gardens in Ft. Worth. It will be a show
stopper in 2000 for the national convention. They are constructing water
pools, hiking trails covering 175 acres and the new guest beds. We had our
lunch by the lake on a deck where we could watch their two black swans and
the other ducks. LATIN HIDEAWAY greets you near the intrance with 4 rows
about 10 feet long in glorious bloom. Time doesn't permit me to give full
details of this wonderful experience.

Last stop on the bus tour was Tom Burseen's garden. Peak Bloom! I filled
two pages on bloom in his garden.

My seating companion on the bus tour was Rusty Thornberg. He is a wonderful
and delightful young man. He is very knowledgeable about iris and very
excited. I am really happy he is getting to make the trip to Denver. All of
you who can, will enjoy meeting him.

We left the bus tour and headed for Hooker Nichols garden where  he showed
us  his new seedlings and APOLLO'S TOUCH was blooming all over in good
form. Next we went to Lew Begley's garden where he is preparing for the
2000 year convention. His louisianas were beginning to bloom. We returned
home to Oklahoma about midnight. It was a wonderful trip.

Ruth B. Simmons - Oklahoma - Zone 7
AIS Region 22 Editor
TALL TALK Helper
HIPS Publication Director
<ruth@sonetcom.com>
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