HYB:winter planning:blueprint of the iris mind

Linda is much better organized than I am.  Most of my planning results  in 
what I call a "blueprint of/in the mind.  I always have papers ready to  take to 
the garden in the spring, but usually ignore them or let them blow  away!  
(They're in a note book so they don't really blow away!)  
 
I do spend enough time going over material during the winter to produce  
blueprints (in my mind) for spring.   
 

<<1) make sure I have pedigrees for everything I might consider  using, 
with rebloom potential, neglecta/amoenas, tangerine factor,  
colors/patterns noted.>>
 
Ditto on the pedigree!  I have word documents that list the cultivars  I 
consider using in my program.  They are broken up according to  hybridizer, and 
also contain some background information (pedigrees) of the  parents used to 
produce that cultivar.  This is sometimes needed to remind  me WHY I want to use 
it.  I put a lot of stock in research and pedigrees .  . . or 'potential.'  
With two equal parents, the one with rebloom potential  wins.  
 
I have a rebloom list somewhere, but, in most cases, I carry the rebloom  
factor in my head and don't include it on the winter documents.  I'll  highlight 
the beard color and or the main X in case it's important to the use of  that 
cultivar in a cross.  

<<2) update notes on germination  and survival rates for various types of 
crosses & look for possible  patterns of successes & failure.  As we all 
keep saying, anything  can happen in a particular cross, & while I will 
continue to experiment  with low survival crosses, I don't want them 
<all> to be that  way!>>
 
Although I do keep germination records on the main cross file, I don't  
include them in the winter plans.  In my experience it seems that the  success or 
failure of crosses depend more on weather than anything else.  In 2005 neither 
Summer Radiance OR Pure as Gold set even one seed, but in  2006 they 
collectively produced a large number of seed. Other bad pollen  producers (Immortality) 
become known by their reputation.  I do keep  records of field crosses and 
can check back to see if an iris has established a  habit of non production.  
 
I've one whole cross that refused to set a pod either way this past  May!  
Since they all have substance like plastic and potential for rebloom,  I'll be 
trying those again next spring.  Just in case.  
 
As to the crosses that produce weak seedlings?  I seem to  automatically lose 
interest.  

<<3) review types of crosses  I've tried in relation to my goals - look for 
total failures (either  seedlings were not healthy enough, or blooms were 
dreadful (worse than both  parents), or the cross didn't give the type of 
result I hoped for, or  crosses failed.  Look for patterns of failure & 
decide if I want to  try some different combinations using the same group 
of parents, mix in  additional parents, or try something totally 
different to try for the same  goal, <or> if I want to abandon that whole 
approach for this breeding  season (i.e., wait to see if something in the 
seedling patch or new  cultivars might give a better chance in the future).>>
 
Too much work!  

<<4) look at surviving  'junk'/experimental crosses to see if there is 
anything possibly worth  pursuing.  Good example of this is the IC1 X 
"Pretty Baby" cross that  produced all those surprise rebloomers.  They 
are BB, which I do  <not> want to be working with, but some interesting 
potential  there.  Also see if junk/experiments give me some insight into 
what  might work or not work for other types of crosses (i.e., messy  hafts)>>
 
 
I don't MAKE junk crosses!  <vbg>  Except some of those red  rebloomer 
crosses!  But who knew??!!

<<5) make a spreadsheet  or lists of potential parents and which goals they 
would (hopefully) be  working towards.  Look for missing types of parents 
I need to reach  goals, try to figure out whether or not I may have 
something that will work,  or if I need to go shopping <g>  Also look for 
<several>  potential crosses that will advance towards each goal.>>
 
Sorry for the jokes.  I'll get serious again.  
 
I'm constantly on the watch for new blood.  More so in the last three  years 
since I moved out here.   I keep an Excel sheet with "Wanted"  and the year.  
 
Each summer I try to acquire those cultivars.  A couple of the things  I got 
this year were for my red/yellow rebloom line, Round Tuit & Arizona  Redhead.  
Round Tuit is for the varied pedigree and the round falls.   Mainly the round 
falls.  Arizona Redhead (Shepard) comes from Hamner  & Gibson plicatas.  I 
see them as possible companions to Again &  Again or Echo Location.  
 
Will I use them?  Depends on whether they bloom and what I see when  they do 
bloom.  Some of Hamner's irises had weak terminals when I grew them  before.  
But they're here . . . just in case.  I can't use them  if they don't grow 
here!  And I live to far from iris neighbors or friends  to 'borrow' much pollen. 
 


<<  But all the planning helps 
me fix goals and  approaches and needed information in my mind ahead of 
time.>>
 

Same here.  This is my main reason for spending the time on  it.  
 
When spring came last year, I couldn't resist slapping pollen from  Tara's 
Choice on Again & Again!  (and the reverse).  THAT wasn't  on the plan!  But I 
can't wait to see what I get!  I often find the  unplanned ones give the most 
exciting results!  Tara's Choice X Clarence  was on the plan. 




During the winter I produce many spreadsheets.  Last winter I put them  all 
in one file under Potential_2006 with different sheets.  In time it  contained 
the rebloom record for 2006 and the garden journal,  etc. Everything was 
localized, but I felt it became less useful.  I  shouldn't complain for I feel that 
this year was my best year so far in the  cross department.  
 
This year I've gone back to fresh pattern or color sheets.  Under red,  I 
list the cultivars and seedlings I think would contribute what I want in  those 
lines.  I add any special notes like "pod sterile!"  I  don't want to skew my 
current thoughts by looking at last year.  I hope to  compare them before 
spring to see if I've grown in goals or expectations.   It may seem like wasted 
work, but I feel it gives me a fresh perspective.  
 
RECORDS:  I do think records are very important.  I have various  garden 
charts.  Mainly on Excel sheets.  I also have extensive cross  records.  Each year 
I start a "Field Cross 200x"  This book contains  the crosses I make and any 
remarks I think are important.  Each time I go  to the garden, I make note of 
the time and weather conditions, etc.  I try  to transfer these to an Excel 
file at the end of each day.  This is the  beginning of the Excel file for that 
year's crosses.  In time, it will  reflect takes, pots needed to plant, date 
seedlings start to sprout, and the  germination rate, date planted, and where 
planted. 
 
Another paper notebook (9.6 X 6 inch), is used to list the TAKES from this  
year.  Series 21 (2006).  This has space allotted for remarks.   It's my 
transport from garden to computer, and provides backup, should things go  awry with 
the computer.  
 
#1 goal for 2007?  Reduce goals!  Focus!  
 
________________________________________________________
Betty W.  in South-central KY Zone 6 ---If you don't cross them, you can't 
plant them!  
Bridge In Time Iris Garden@website:
Where the seeds are in the pots once  again! 
_www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/_ 
(http://www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/) 
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