RE: Decadence
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: RE: Decadence
  • From: &* B* <d*@sbcglobal.net>
  • Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2012 17:14:50 -0600
Thank you Betty!  I can understand using an iris with problems in your
breeding plan and counteracting those problems with the other parent or in
the next generation.  Until the perfect iris comes about, it's what we all
do.  

So, I'll go back to my previous question, why does any iris with obvious
problems climb the award ladder?  Our award system says NOTHING about an
iris being a good parent.  It is based solely (or at least it's supposed to
be) upon an iris's performance in the garden.  In the past, iris that I
absolutely adore, have proven to be less than hardy perennials, so I don't
vote for them.  Isn't that the agreement we as judges made when we accepted
the honor of being a judge?

Dana


Dana D. Brown 
Malevil Iris Gardens & Kennels 
www.malevil-iris.com 
Lubbock, TX  79403 
Zone 7 USDA, Zone 10 Sunset 
ddbro@sbcglobal.net 

Home of: 

Irongate's Racy Tracy
Merrimac's Amarula CGC TDI 
CH. Merrimac the Agean CDX, RE, CGC, TDI  


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-iris@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of Betty
Wilkerson
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 4:41 PM
To: iris@hort.net
Subject: Re: [iris] Decadence

Dana,

Seedling selection is the key.  Weak parents can produce some strong 
plants, just as two short seedlings will sometimes produce tall 
seedlings.  It's how the genes line up.

My seedling selection may be different than others.  For health 
reasons, I can't plant everything that germinates.  Only the strongest 
are planted.  If I like what I get, I'll go back and plant the 
strongest that are left in the pots.   Still, I rarely plant all of a 
cross.  This past spring I planted 3-6 more from several of the 2006 
crosses.  I'd rather plant half a dozen from ten crosses than sixty 
from one cross.  Usually.

To be Decadence specific--That first spring my options were limited.  
Obviously I couldn't use Decadence as the pod parent since the stalk 
rotted off.  Nothing I wanted to use with it was open so I put it on 
one of my dark purple reblooming seedlings, 1917-01Re.  It took.  The 
seeds were sitting in the pots during the spring of 2007.  One seedling 
sprouted early and showed good plant qualities (as much as a new 
seedling can).  Nine more sprouted after the freeze, but none showed 
the strength of that seedling.  I tagged it so I could follow it once I 
put it in the garden.  It has remained the star.  It grew tall, well 
branched, multiple budded etc.  Nearly perfect.  One had better form 
with overlapping falls but it was very short and never regained height. 
  In fact, there was only one other seedling, which didn't bloom for a 
couple of years, that even came close to 2128-01.  Still, 01 has more 
distinct colors.  It's rate of growth and plant health is good.  It's 
bloomed each year, and sets pods.

As much as I like this seedling, it still doesn't have the form people 
look for in non rebloomers.  It's not bad, just not perfect.  Can be 
seen in my photo albums on FaceBook.  It looks much like Louisa's Song. 
  This year I crossed 2019-03 (Lunar Whitewash x Romantic Evening) onto 
it. Great form and color, no height.  Five pods with 241 seed.  Maybe 
I'll plant them all!  Or not.

This process has been extrememly educational for me.  There are other 
examples.


Betty Wilkerson
Zone 6 KY
autmirislvr@aol.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Dana Brown <ddbro@sbcglobal.net>
To: iris <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Sun, Jan 8, 2012 1:56 pm
Subject: RE: [iris] Decadence


Betty,
I'm not picking on you but I am curious.  How can a plant that you have 
to
grow in a pot with all kinds of amendments be considered a parent with 
plant
strength?  Maybe I missed something but I won't understand if I don't 
ask.


Thanks,

Dana

Dana D. Brown
Malevil Iris Gardens & Kennels
www.malevil-iris.com
Lubbock, TX  79403
Zone 7 USDA, Zone 10 Sunset
ddbro@sbcglobal.net

Home of:

Irongate's Racy Tracy
Merrimac's Amarula CGC TDI
CH. Merrimac the Agean CDX, RE, CGC, TDI


-----Original Message-----
 From: owner-iris@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of 
Betty
Wilkerson
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 12:21 PM
To: iris@hort.net
Subject: Re: [iris] Decadence

I bought Decadence straight from Blyth in 2004. It put up a stalk in
2005 and the stalk rotted off at the ground. Gorgeous.  Stalk opened
all blooms in a vase inside. I dug the plant and moved it to a 3 gallon
pot. Then I got Decadence as a misidentified Merchant Marine the next
year, so I've been growing it in two pots. Now, I've moved part of it
back to my new perennial bed, which was amended with greensand, rock
phosphate & lime. Little composed manure. Looking good but time will
tell the story. Another piece still in a pot.

My goal is to upgrade bloom form in my rebloomers.  Even if Decadence
never blooms again, I have accomplished my goal.  Most are not keeper
quality, but it only takes one!  Also, I have been happy with the
children I've produced using other Blyth irises.

At the current pace, Decadence stands a chance of being the most used
TB in iris history.  Or so it seems.  All of the well known hybridizers
are using it.  It's my hope that people are electing for plant
strength.

If my goal was different, I might not continue to grow it.

Betty Wilkerson
Zone 6 KY
autmirislvr@aol.com



-----Original Message-----
From: CarolKenl COLEMAN <ciop2606@msn.com>
To: iris <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Sat, Jan 7, 2012 3:06 pm
Subject: RE: [iris] Decadence

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