Jay Hudson's Comments on Maine Gardens

I was half way through commenting on Jay Hudson's remarks about the wonderful
TB gardens in Maine, when my carrier went out.  So I switched carriers but
have now lost the message....in any case, Jay commented that he could not
understand why we Easterners say a lot of West Coast irises are not survivers
here in the East...that he saw beautiful TB gardens in Maine.
Having seen some beautiful TB gardens in Maine, e.g. the Whites, the Moors,
etc, I know why you are impressed Jay.  Gorgeous gardens with irises grown to
perfection.  BUT I know that there are some irises you did NOT see.  When we
generalize about irises we often give the wrong impression, and this is
certainly the case when people say West Coast irises are difficult in the
East.  Many are not. But many are!  But breeding lines heavy with I.
mesopotamica (or I. kashmiriana) genes are THE PROBLEM.  Some breeders' lines
produce irises that perform in the East just like old PURISSIMA did. It could
not survive in climates with cold, wet winters.  
 
Now some breeders out your way have concentrated on getting irises that do
well every where.  Ben Hager's irises almost all do well back East. John
Weilers' irises are wonderful growers in the East (e.g. the great GOLDEN
GALAXY, perhaps the best perfoming golden yellow around).  Monty Byers'
irises also. Schreiners irises are usually fine back East (if you let them
dry out for a month before you plant the huge rhizomes.)and there are many
others...I only mention a few.  

But there are some very beautiful irises very much loved in California that
are pretty much a lost cause back here. And if you ask the great Maine iris
growers, like the Whites, they will tell you this too.  Clarence Mahan in VA
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