HYB:Breeding Philosophy

Stuff & Much!  
 
Everyone knows I love iris.  Most know I love to TALK about  iris!
 
But did you know that I have an ulterior motive?  
 
Many years ago, Ben Hager said that in time everyone would be growing  
rebloomers.  Many of us shared Ben's dream of ever blooming irises.  I  believe 
we've just about met Ben's time frame.  (15 years) More people are  growing 
rebloomers.  Even the large commercial growers are offering  collections of 
rebloomers. 
 
One of my main reasons for writing about rebloomers and talking about them  
on here is to keep this dream alive.  Just about this time each year I make  a 
request for everyone to try a few rebloom crosses.  <vbg>   It's that time 
again!  
 
Just a few people working alone in their gardens can make a  difference!  
 
But a lot of people . . . working in their gardens and sharing information  
can make a BIG difference!  
 
If I share what works for me . . . and you share what works for you, we  both 
reach our goals quicker.  Personally, I'm more interested in  knowing the 
things that don't work, so I can save myself some time and  energy.  Sometimes 
it's good to know if an iris is a complete dud when it  comes to breeding.  
 
I will say straight out that I've no intention or desire to steal anyone's  
breeding program or ideas.  I've got enough ideas for five or six  reblooming 
programs.  Just not the time, space or energy.  
 
In another direction . . . many of us have similar ideas.  Monty Byers  and I 
had similar ideas 20 year ago and now there are others that follow similar  
paths.  
 
In the spring I will be making crosses with Matrix.  Not because Robin  & 
Colleen made crosses that look good, but because I wanted to this year and  the 
plants didn't cooperate.  No blooms.  Chances are I'll be using it  with my own 
seedlings, but I might even use the same irises with Matrix . . . if  I have 
them and if they bloom.  
 
I won't back off a cross just because someone has already made it.  I  might 
use an iris, but be looking for something entirely different than the  other 
person.  And I might remake an Australian cross, looking for  something that 
will be stronger in my area.  
 
But I won't copy their crosses, just to copy either.  
 
We all benefit when we all learn.  So what do you say?  Make  those crosses 
and TALK about them!  
 
 
 
 


Betty W. in  South-central KY Zone 6
Bridge In Time Iris Garden@website:
_www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/_ 
(http://www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/) 
_Reblooming Iris - Home Page_ (http://www.rebloomingiris.com/)  
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_AIS: American Iris Society website_ (http://www.irises.org/)   

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