Re: Re: TB: awards - Decadence
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: Re: TB: awards - Decadence
  • From: D* B* <d*@sbcglobal.net>
  • Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:11:35 -0800 (PST)
Linda,
    I think you are confused.  The Dykes (and other medals) were and
are not 
supposed to reflect the potency of an iris as a parent or it's
contributions to 
future generations.  The entire awards system was set up to
evaluate an iris's 
(as a total plant, not just a flower) performance in the
garden.  The idea is to 
choose those plants that perform well and
consistently as hardy perennials and 
reward them for that.  There are zero
points available for progeny and only 25 
for flower, less than for the plant
or the stalk.  The award system is not 
designed to showcase new color or
patterns (distinctiveness is only 10 points) 
although they are appreciated
and enjoyed.  The awards system IS set up to honor 
durability (among other
things) in the plant and the flower.  Maybe we 
should not only have a Dykes
but a report of what won the most votes in each 
region.  That might help to
determine which iris would do well in CA and which 
might do well in east TN. 
Dana
 
Dana Brown
ddbro@sbcglobal.net
Malevil Iris Gardens & Kennels
www.malevil-iris.com

 I own a dog and I vote!!
________________________________
From: Linda Mann <lmann@lock-net.com>
To:
iris@hort.net
Sent: Wed, January 11, 2012 6:51:13 AM
Subject: [iris] Re: TB:
awards - Decadence

Excellent point, Chad - although I disagree that it
applies to ALL TBs.  The 
reason I started breeding TBs is because - about 2
out of 10 that I was 
purchasing would live long enough here to bloom for me. 
I still grow about a 
dozen of the hundreds of 'new' irises I bought 30+ years
ago.  Have never gotten 
rid of a survivor, tho many have died along the way. 
The vast majority of those 
long term survivors are Zurbrigg introductions,
which is why I have chosen to 
use them as the foundation for my breeding
program.

I think the awards system currently works pretty well for
identifying/rewarding 
irises that are significant to the iris world, which
usually means they are 
important in advancing excellence in some way.  Not
all Dykes medal winners have 
had a major impact on future generations, but
many have, and, as Betty pointed 
out, DECADENCE sure looks like it's going to
be one of those irises.

It's up to breeders in more marginal growing areas
than Oz to combine those 
award winning genes with irises durable in our
crappy climates & produce the 
more durable garden plants.  Not something that
can easily be done in one 
generation, but I'm starting to see it in the 2nd
and 3rd generations.  Maybe 
using some of its more durable kin than the award
winner itself.

Changing the award system to promote the most durable PLANTS
would certainly 
slow down the evolution of all the fancy new colors and
patterns and forms that 
come from Oz, CA and OR (i.e., iris heaven).  Is that
really what anybody 
wants?  As more than one iris breeder has said to me,
most gardeners aren't 
trying to grow irises for the foliage.

I still think
promoting the popularity poll (and somehow getting more people to
participate) by <regions> would serve AIS well for helping the general public
make selections of irises that are more likely to do well in their gardens,
which in turn might spur membership.  Also promoting most popular HIPS
selections by regions as well.

On 1/10/2012 4:22 PM, chad schroter wrote:
>
The complaints I hear about Decadence could easily
> be applied to ALL of the
TB Iris in general.

Linda Mann iris hell, east TN USA zone 7
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