Re: Re: CAT: Phil William comments (was CAT: Stockton?)



On Mon, 20 Apr 1998, Rusty Thornsburg wrote:

> The blooms on the stalk of Thornbird I took to the show had appendages remarkably
> similar to the ones pictured on the catalog.  The judges judged it as Thornbird,
> so we know that's what it is.  Now, as for Mr. Williams' comments, it took Thornbird
> 2 years in my garden to get those nice petaloid things at the ends of the horns,
> maybe he should have given Thornbird some time to acclimate in his garden before
> spreading rumors about the plant...
> 
> Rusty
> 
	Ok, I will go ahead and say it.  What concerns me about the
picture of THORNBIRD on the cover of the October 1997 issue of the
Bulletin is not the appendages.  I very well know that appendages in S A
irises are not consistent, particularly on secondary blooms.  What
concerns me is the form of the flower depicted on the cover.  It shows
width and ruffles and a different color.  And, I know that soil
conditions, etc. can affect the color.  But, the form...that is one thing
that remains consistent.

	THORNBIRD, as it blooms here, is tailored, narrow, and of a dull
color (remember the discussion of MATRIX?).  I think I grow it to
perfection, and that growth pattern here has never produced a wide and
ruffled flower (as depicted on the cover).  Nor, has it produced anything
but horns.

	Somebody mentioned the possibility of the picture showing a sport
of THORNBIRD.  It could even be a sibling.  Many things can happen in a
seedbed.  Read in the old bulletins about FLIGHT OF ANGELS and ANGEL
UNAWARES.  There is even a rumor that what you might be growing as BEVERLY
SILLS is not the plant registered as BEVERLY SILLS!  Then, there is
OLINDA  and WHITE OLINDA, another story.  Folks, mix-ups happen, and Phil
Williams may know the true story behind THORNBIRD, and we don't.  I don't
think he would have written what he did without knowing something about
the facts.  None of this is rumor.


	Walter Moores
	Enid Lake, MS 7/8 (70 miles from Memphis)
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