Introduction: Jeff Walters in Utah
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Introduction: Jeff Walters in Utah
- From: "* a* C* W* <c*@cache.net>
- Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 09:38:38 -0700 (MST)
Greetings to all from northern Utah in AIS Region12!
I'm originally from New Jersey, where I started growing iris when I wa in
high school. Had to give it up during my gypsy years as a student, but when
I bought a house with 3/4 acre here in 1978, I got right back into the iris
game. Have been hybridizing after a fashion since 1980, joined AIS in '82,
and am now an AIS Garden Judge, Secretary-Treasurer of the Logan (UT) Iris
Society, Editor of the LIS Newslettter, Chair (since '91) of the LIS Show
Committee, and recently drafted Editor of the Region 12 Newsletter.
This area is classic TB country, but I have tried to branch out and explore
the possibilities of some of the other classes of iris. I currently grow
TB, BB, IB, MTB, SDB, MDB, Arilbred, Siberian, Spuria, and bulbous iris.
Other areas of gardening interest include herbaceous perennials, alpines,
daylilies, chrysanthemums, and roses (this area somewhat marginal for the
latter).
As for growing conditions, this area is in USDA Zone 4 with a moist (snowy)
winter and dry summer climate. My soil is a stony silt loam that drains
well, but has a good moisture holding capacity in the root zone. There are
few pests that seriously bother iris here; Public Enemy No. 1 is Winter Rot
(Botrytis) and a distant second is Summer Rot (Bacterial Soft Rot). The
main challenge is the erratic Spring weather that can bring anything from
early heat waves to late snow and frosts to hail and windstorms - quite
often all of the above.
Jeff Walters
cwalters@cache.net
