TB: CULT: Recent Blyth and other irises in NC

Linda Mann asked about LOUISA'S SONG's performance here to date so I have just
come back from poking, prodding and straightening frost-heaved labels.

LOUISA'S SONG is alive and well and just beginning growth.  It is not as
strong a setting as that of the adjacent WEARING RUBIES, with several
increases and probable bloom.  MASTERY is alive, growing and looks as good as
any others set last summer.

Tomorrow I anticipate the arrival of MACHISMO, which I purchased directly from
Tempo Two riding piggy-back on another order.  Since my primary breeding
objectives are the red-purple to rose to lilac types, this is one I expect to
use heavily when it settles in and adapts to an upside-down year, which from
what Keppel says, can take time, especially with the TB's.  I have a 9" pot
with potting soil sitting on top of one of my file cabinets waiting for it.

The second year plants (but divided last summer) of Sutton's THUNDER QUAY look
wonderful.  Lots of increase, and quite happy with our mountain conditions.
Its bloom last summer showed remarkable width of haft, something I do also
want to incorporate into seedling lines.  Weather did not permit successful
crosses with it last year.

First and second year plants from Keppel look equally good.  My first rhizome
of VENETIAN GLASS promptly bit the dust with soft rot soon after arrival, but
the replacement Keith sent survived and is doing very well. ALPENVIEW, PARIS
FASHION and CRYSTAL GAZER have come through the winter in fine fashion as
well. Second year plants of KITTY KAY, SEA POWER, WINTRY SONG, GAME PLAN,
CHARLESTON and  BEL ESPRIT have weathered well, shown ample increase and look
to have adapted to the move from "Iris Heaven" to Purgatory in the
"Slough,Vale or Mountain of Despond."

Some of those from Maryott, now in their second season here, have not kept
pace, but most have done very well.  I had some soft-rot in INFRARED and no
increase on LACE LEGACY in two years, and very little growth.  I plan to reset
it this summer.  PEACH AND QUIET bloomed very well and looks quite content to
grow in this red clay.  NEVER SAY GOODBYE did not bloom due to frost, but
looks ok.  BARBARA MY LOVE is decidedly less aggressive and slow to take off
here.  I plan to reset at least part of it in something different this summer.
Leslie Blyth's  LIGHT BEAM, obtained through Maryotts, has done well.
IMPULSIVE, now in its third year, has been a steady, stable grower here,
blooming each year, and I have been a bit too generous in spreading it into
other gardens.  I have the old mothers and one good fan only remaining.  The
mothers haven't produced visible increase yet.  It is a lush, beautiful
flower, and one of which I grow increasingly fond.  I look forward to its
offspring, especially after seeing the pictures of EXPOSE'.  My only
successful cross so far has been with Marilyn Marriott's MAID OF AVALON.  Few
crosses this past year succeeded and survived stem rots and whatall to
maturity. Marilyn's sister seedling to MAID, AVALON DREAMER has not yet shown
nearly the vigor of the sister.  It bloomed last spring, but the stalk was
frost damaged and I could not evaluate it yet except to say the color and
finish are every bit as good as the sister.

Several obtained from Mid-America, including CRANBERRY SAUSE also are doing
well.  CS bloomed and is a very good color for my "purple project,"  as is
Schreiner's LENTEN PRAYER, also blooming well last year.

I might mention that the seedlings from LOUISA'S SONG pollen on a sister
seedling to PARIS FASHION  from seed set in Oregon have shown lusty growth and
more aggressive feeder-root systems than others from the same set of crosses.
A cross from PLUM FUN X SILK ROMANCE were neither less nor more aggressive in
growth than others.

Our pre-spring flush of warm (sixtyish) days have begun with Snow Crocus
beginning to bloom (those that have survived the squirrels) and reticulatas
are showing color.

Neil Mogensen  z 7 western NC

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