RE: HYB: Great times for breeding rebloomers - long!

We are lucky to be breeding rebloomers in these days!

Think what the old masters had to deal with.  Very little
to choose from, fields and fields of failures.  Think how
many seedlings were raised to come up with Pink Attraction.
Heroic endeavor on all their parts.

Because of the paucity of information back then, iris lovers
bought rebloomers that could not get the job done before
hard frost cut them down every fall.  Many (most?) of them
grew to dislike rebloomers because of the wasted fall bloom
and reduced spring bloom.  I think a lot of these people have
avoided rebloomers since the 1980s.

Yes, rebloomers still need work.  It's a challenge and also an
opportunity.  A lot more rebloomers are being produced than
the 5% of all registrations would seem to indicate.  I think it's
because the people breeding them know it's no longer just
enough that it reblooms.  It also needs to be a really good iris.
If it's not comparable in quality to oncers, it's probably not
getting named.  People who were burned in the 80s should try
again, with some reported to rebloom in their climate that have
been introduced in, say, the last 8 years.

We have so many choices these days!  Fabulous iris that rebloom
in warmer climates can help us create nice stock that can perform
in colder zones.  With the generous flow of information between
enthusiasts, we can stay abreast of what's working and where.
Freezing pollen means virtually unlimited choices for crosses.
Being able to start seedlings indoors means they can be set out
in time to take full advantage of a short growing season, and
are much more mature by the time they are stressed by summer,
heat and humidity.  Most will bloom within a year of planting out.

Oncers are improving, too, but rebloomers are improving rapidly.
Exciting times to be playing the game at any level!

Mary Lou, near Indianapolis, Z5 - remembering fall, 2004 &
imagining seedlings, 2007

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