Re: Cult: THORNBIRD...The End from Me
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Cult: THORNBIRD...The End from Me
- From: "* A* M* <w*@Ra.MsState.Edu>
- Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 09:45:41 -0600 (MDT)
On Tue, 21 Apr 1998, Rusty Thornsburg wrote:
>
> I am going to address everything that has been sent to the list, and to me in private
> over the "row" I started about Thornbird.
>
Actually, I started the discussion on THORNBIRD by quoting from
the Rockytop catalog. I never realized that it might turn into a 'row'
and had no intention of turning it into one.
>
> Next point. Regarding THORNBIRD, Bill Shear said " Compared to the many magnificent
> irises that have won the medal in the past 20 years, it's a real dog."
That is his opinion and he has a right to say it, and everyone
else has theirs and they have a right to express theirs. Bill also asked
the readers not to get all worked up over his opinion.
>
> Well sir, I would wager that if Monty Byers were still alive today you wouldn't dare
> post that to our list, or even put it in writing. You know, we can carp about the
> efforts of hybridizers today, but we wouldn't dare tell them to their face.
No, I have been asked the question, "Walter, why did you introduce
_____________? It is a real dog!" And, I have said the same thing to the
faces of several hybridizers of better repute. And, we ask each other why
they think the iris in question is 'such a dog' we find that in our
discussion (always in a friendly, jokingly manner) the merits and demerits
of that flower and why it is doggy to one person and not to another.
In fact,
> on our Bus Tour on Saturday, there was some gossip about the introductions of a few
> of the hybridizers there. (There were plenty present.) But I noticed that it was
> always done in a low voice, "shh, don't let anyone hear."
I and a lot of other hybridizers would appreciate your comments
openly and would attempt to respond to your questions about any given
flower. I think you will find 99%of the hybridizers to be genuine human
beings who care about what the public thinks. Don't be shy and afraid to
ask.
> And for people to sit here and say that its only distinction
> is "muddy color and narrow form" and that it's a dog really upsets me. I honestly
> thought iris people were above that kind of backbiting.
THORNBIRD is not the only iris that seems to perform regionally.
Two famous pinks QUEEN OF HEARTS and OVATION won accolades in the West and
very few parts of the east, but in Texas and in the South, they might have
been considered 'dogs,' blooming at SDB or IB height with TB flowers.
There are many others.
Unfortunately, THORNBIRD remains narrow and muddy colored in my
garden and for others in this area. Anybody is welcomed to come and see
it and compare it with its performance in your garden.
Walter Moores
Enid Lake, MS 7/8 (70 miles from Memphis)
