AW: Hi there,

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Dear Clarence,
I do not believe there is much of interest to american Iris-lovers about =
Iris-affairs here in
Holland. But I will give it a try. It is strange but here in the =
Netherlands there is not much interest in Irisses. If one goes over the =
border to Germany people love to have Iris in their
gardens but here in Holland it is meagre, very meagre. I know a chap who =
would love to specialize in bearded Iris. No way. After that he tried =
Iris sibirica. No way.
I can easily sell 25 plants of Campanula zoysii or any other rarity but =
only a few Irisses.
You know the demand in plants is going up and down and so is the demand =
for certain species. Irissen are not popular here.=20
I think that the habitus of Irisses, those flat broader leaves but =
pretty stiff from the soil, is a
good shape between all the bunnies and creepers. It is different and =
that is what we must look for. I have said befor that if a =
garden-architect was to judge an average rockgarden here he would not =
agree. He probably would suggest to place nice flower-colors together =
(pink and blue and grey for instance) and nice combinations in leafshape =
etc.
Most rockgardeners here are plantlovers (I myself belong to them) but I =
should like to see
more gardenlovers among rockgardeners and I think those will love =
Irises.=20
Can you follow me ?=20
We have here no organisation in connection with Irisses. We have a =
Horticultural Society
like in England and all kinds of groups for Hosta, ferns etc.
Much of hollands plant-suppliers are garden-centers but about ten years =
ago there grew a lot in interest in plants and we now have about 10 =
specialised nurseries. Specialised in perennials including alpines, =
ferns and grasses.
I am one of them. My nursery is about half an acre. I have a greenhouse =
off about 200 m2
and two little ones for propagation-purpuses ( I grow all my Irisses =
from cuttings, I do not know whether that is peculiar or not.  But Iris =
rossii is not a very good rooter).=20
Selling perennials is selling an image =3D you promise the customer that =
this plant is flowering=20
so and so. But we have lots of motherbeds where people can see how our =
plants are growing and flowering. Those beds are very popular. My =
alpines are grown in a rockgarden, two raised beds and pots.
My family lives on the nursery  and so we have a private garden too. It =
is the domain of my wife (she is a gardenlover) and she tries to combine =
plants to their coloring, (flower- and leaf-)shape and habitus. This =
garden is open to the public but only during working-hours.
I buy interesting plants (for further  propagation) whereever I can but =
mostly from Europe of
course. But now with Internet ..................
So far. I hope it is enough. If not......please feel free. My son (he =
studies computerology)
is busy making a homepage (http://www.tip.nl/users/herman.van.beusekom) =
but it is still under construction. Next year I hope that I can offer =
the possibility to download a simple
list of offerings but I will not send plants: it is too expensive and I =
need all my time to propagate. That is my job in this world: to offer =
uncommon plants.
Herman.=20


Van:    CEMahan@aol.com[SMTP:CEMahan@aol.com]
Verzonden:      zondag 25 februari 1996 18:23
Aan:    Multiple recipients of list
Onderwerp:      Re: Hi there,

Dear Herman,
I read your message in the Iris on line listserv.  I am very interested =
in
your nursery and your iris interests.  Let me introduce myself.  I am an =
avid
plantsman, and currently have an iris nursery specializing in historic
irises, rebloomers, Siberians and Japanese irises. It is called The Iris
Pond.  Also,I write a regular column in the American Iris Society =
Bulletin
called "International News".  It is because of this news column that I =
am
asking your help.

Can you tell me something about iris organizations in the Netherlands? =
About
your nursery, and use of irises in alpine settings?  And some =
biographical
information on yourself?  I would very much like to include such =
information
in my next column which is due to be submitted soon. Any information you =
can
provide me will be much appreciated.  Sincerely, Clarence Mahan
(CEMahan@aol.com) Mclean, Virginia, USA
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