Re: CULT: stress, pests and weather - very long

>those that do survive and flourish under these 
>conditions are of particular interest to those interested in irises capable 
>of suffering this adversity and still remain capable of defending their own 
>turf. They are worthy of notice.

I agree, but from a northern perspective.  With the extraordinary losses 
in my iris beds after the last winter-spring transition, and the 
continuing losses throughout this growing season (still some sickies out 
there that clearly won't make it through another winter ... if they even 
make it *to* winter), I am extraordinarily impressed with the few that 
DID survive, that HAVE put on decent increase, and a few that even 
BLOOMED!  They may not be the most beautiful or modern (though STAIRWAY 
TO HEAVEN came through admirably, although no bloom), but they have 
withstood the onslaughts of horribly compacted clay soil (read 
"concrete"), less-than-optimal sunlight, rampant soft rot, fungal leaf 
spot, borers, deer trampling and grazing, cat rolling, and the absolute 
worst climatic assaults northern MN can dish out.  Thank goodness we have 
very few grasshoppers here with which to contend.  ;-)  (wanna trade, 
Donald, borers for grasshoppers?)

I do believe genetics play a significant role.  When hundreds of 
different cvs are planted in the same bed under close-to-identical 
conditions and subjected to all the same tortures, there must be some 
genetic involvement in their survival or non-survival outcomes.  Of 
course, when selected plants are subjected to varying stressors - as in 
plants that are dug, divided, and relocated in similar or entirely 
different growing locations - it is not possible to make such clear 
comparisons (as, I believe, was Donald's point).  It is, however, perhaps 
even more possible to identify the strongest survivors under such 
circumstances.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.  ;-)

Laurie


-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
zone 3b northern MN - clay soil


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