Re: HIST: First Iris
- Subject: Re: HIST: First Iris
- From: i*
- Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2002 23:36:38 -0000
Hi All
My first iris was when I was about eight years old (mid 1950's). Id
pestered my mother to have a garden of my own.
She gave me one, right down the back on the back fence of a 320ft
block. Then she gave me the plant she didn't want.
Guess what, these were several iris plants.
These grew beautifully. As water was limited. The taps were up the
front of the block. I learnt very early just how hardy iris can be.
My uncle gave me some bulbs, scilla peruvian (I think), & crocus.
These grew well for me as well.
The iris were in various colours, I know one was brown, with a
bicolour, etc.
I think this is what started me off in my gardening. I now have had
several gardens and everywhere planted the sort of plants that break
your heart. Although I did have one spectacular clematis in
Darlington in the Adelaide suburb. This took off across fences and
was so spectacular when in full flower.
At the beach (Grange) I planted azalea & tree ferns and had a large
orchid house.
In all this, I never grew iris.
About ten years ago, after moving to Gawler East (in the beginning of
the Barossa Valley) onto three and a half acres of land, my husband,
Herb and I were looking for plants that would grow here
successfully. I had tried azalea's (lost all but one that I had
shifted from Grange), camelias, etc. all the things I shouldn't grow
here, of course.
Anyway one day on the nursery trail with my mother, we came across
Iris Acres. The sight was spectacular and I came away with several.
My mum mentioned that we could grow these like this, but at this
stage I thought Herb was a bit too novice. (His idea of a garden had
been cement squares in a terrace house in Sydney)
Anyway thing progressed and one day I was out and took Herb to Iris
Acres. He said 'We could do this'.
And guess what, we did.
We now have over 900 different ones, as well we have several beds of
the South Australian Iris societies, to grow on for the plant stalls
at our yearly show. We have just started a trial garden for the
club. This year I have been successful at crossing over 90 different
pods. And... I have been the President for the last three years.
Herb is now Editor, after being Treasurer. Our daughter Kate (11
years) is involved as well. We both work all week for the show,
give out show bags of plants for all children attending (so they can
know what iris can do, like me) and life has changed dramatically.
All thanks to Iris.
Regards
Dian Mitterer
Gawler East here in Oz
--- In iris-talk@y..., "Mike Greenfield" <redear@i...> wrote:
> There was a post on iris-photos from "Francesca R. Thoolen"
stating she was
> 80 years young.
>
> "oneofcultivars " Bill Made this Post
>
> >Lets see if I've got this about right. Your 80 so ...........
> You might have been around during or soon after the completion of
the
> transcontinental railroad.
> You saw the invention of practical flight in those new fangled
airplanes.
> You saw the first airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
> Your mother or grandmother probably related stories directly to you
of the
> Civil War, the Trail of Tears and so much more!
> You saw a war or two when the outcome was not known.
> You saw men walk on the moon!
> Now my history may not be exactly right.
> But, what I want to know is how old when you first saw an iris, the
first
> iris you saw, what did you think, and probably a lot, more.<
>
> If anyone is interested they could tell how there iris interest
started and
> when they saw there first iris. Things are slow here anyway.
>
> I remember my mother growing a few iris, ID unknown, but mostly
roses. She
> could not have flowers too much until all us kids got big enough
(14 kids).
> Being the youngest I helped her a lot which fired my interest in
growing
> things
> When she had a rose that was not doing good she would send me to
the local
> river to catch a carp (fish) We would bury the fish and replant the
rose
> over it. Worked every time.
>
> My older sisters husband grew iris and ordered them from catalogs.
I don't
> know what ones of either. It was my preteen years, but I liked them
then.
> He lived close to Earl Hall ( Little Showoff) and bought some from
him
> after Earl got started in iris.
>
> My interest in iris was stirred from seeing Cristata blooming in
the wild.
> Had to have it. Bad me dug some from the wild ones about 12 -15
years ago. I
> have planted a lot more back in the wild. About 500 along trail at
my
> campground last year.
>
> I saw a Purple and white plicata growing a lot of places. Likely
> Steppingout.
> I traded for it and made a few other trades. Then I was at a
friends house
> that was on the internet 4 years ago. I looked up iris and have
been hooked
> since.
> I got a computer a month later and have second one now.
>
>
> Mike Greenfield
> redear@i...
> SW OH Zone 5b, USA
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