Introduction--Julie Allen

Greetings, Iris-l correspondents.

I am new to the internet and to Iris-l.  I am enjoying the posts and
learning a lot.  Plus I love getting all that mail!  I've always enjoyed
getting mail, since I was a kid and sent away for things like Red Ryder
rings  (I guess that really dates me.) This electronic mail is great!

I am a fourth-generation Californian who moved to the hills of Tennessee in
1988.  My husband and I both taught high school in San Jose, CA for twenty
years, he in social studies, mostly U.S. history, and I in English, that
universally despised subject.  We have 3 children, and  we are anticipating
the birth of our first grandchild this fall.  We moved here to try something
different (cattle farming) and to live at a slower and less stressful pace,
which we do.  We are no longer in the cattle business, and we sold off all
but 24 acres, all woods, where our house is located.  We have cleared some
areas around the house, but the trees are so tall that we don't have any
place that is full sun.  There is enough sun to get iris bloom, but I think
it would be better if we did have full sun.  We do get lots of weeds,
including trees, which are weeds here (according to the definition of a weed
as a plant which is growing where it is not wanted.)  We get a lot of rain,
about 60" a year, but this July and August of '96 have been unusually dry.
This is an entomologist's paradise.

I started growing a few iris some time ago, but I got hooked by visiting
Maryott's Gardens in San Jose during bloom season. I became a member of AIS,
and three years ago I became an AIS judge.  We live quite a distance from
the closest AIS affiliate group,  so I don't attend many meetings even
though I would like to.  That makes me feel somewhat isolated, so the Iris-l
is a great way to keep in touch with other irisarians.  I grow mostly TB's,
but  I have a number of other iris, including some of all types except
arils.  I have an interest in hybridizing and have a number of
not-very-promising seedlings.

I look forward to many more Iris-l postings,

Julie Allen
Sparta, TN, on the edge of the Cumberland Plateau, Zone 6, close to zone 7
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