Re: AIS voting, TB (long)

	Hello,

I have been following this thread and find it somewhat interesting.....

Since I am `Zone deprived' living in the third zone, it really has no
bearing on what I do in my gardens. The Dykes `winner' is just another 
pretty bulletin cover....is this heresy from a AIS member or common
sense?

Jim W.'s remark re regional test gardens did stir me up enough to write
this post. My region (New England - Region 1) is dominated by folks and
judges in the warmer climes - Zones 5 & 6 - they might as well live in Ohio
or Indiana as far as our plants are concerned. This is nothing against 
our judges but I would like to see folks from Zones 3 & 4 and have `test
gardens' - no matter where in the country (or world) they are located.

Of course, soil and weather might be the greater determinant AS WELL AS
the great debate over the types of irises grown. 

As a relatively recent member of AIS, I am struck by how many `irisarians
 proselytize the tall bearded class or variety. Even at our Maine 
Iris Society (hot-bed of beardless iris fanatics:-) gathering last Sunday,
there was a defining moment when one of the members offered a box of unnamed
TB cultivars (sorted by color, only) to the membership.

Keep in mind that all plants brought and given away were free this day....
there was a crush of folks leaping to their feet and heading for this 
`prize' - just the words, `tall bearded' said by Ted White was all it took.

Andy and I stayed put (I had him chained to his lawn chair after his name
was drawn and he had `orders' to go to the Siberian table and get REGENCY
BUCK and he came back with a tall bearded - didn't know the difference -
he grows tomatoes and cucumbers). 

Maybe some of us need to have just a beardless iris club to belong to -
does anyone know if the sections have any regional get-togethers outside
of the formal meetings at various conventions? And I don't mean having a
Japanese iris show every two years....where is the Siberian iris show in
Region 1 - especially since a Siberian will be the first beardless Dykes
winner.

Major Ellen Gallagher (gave myself a promotion - or is it a demotion?)
 Siberian Iris Patrol (SIP)
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index