CULT: Iris High 2000 - the general student body

Hello Folks,

A long post here.

The previous post covered most irises which met the requirements
established by the headmaster based on meritorious performance.
But as everyone has surely experienced, there are more arbitrary
forms of recognition which are based on outstanding specific
characteristics, but not necessarily as well-rounded or complete
as the foregoing evaluations.  These, in fact, can be unfair.  Often
they are based on the sheer power of personality or charm, with
not much else to recommend the individual in question.  Of course
there is always hope these individuals will fulfull their potential.  It is
the task of the headmaster to try and develop the traits which could
enhance the missing qualities and thus have a truly useful and
productive garden citizen.  So, in a year marked with erratic weather
behavior and tragic losses, I offer the following individuals in various
areas.

The athletes.  This recognition is based on plant growth alone.  Bloom
is not a requirement for this category, but will be recorded as part of
the individuals record.  IDIDIT (Schick '97 TB) leads this category.  In
the 3 years here, it has put forth prodigious increase and maintained
strong healthy fans with good color and strength holding up better than
any other iris in heat, drought any form of weather our inhospitable
climate can produce.  As for bloom, until this year it produced only a
single stalk.....and not a great one.  This year, one of the worst ever
for unpleasant growing conditions, there were about 14 stalks, all of
which did very well.  SUNNY DISPOSITION (Zurbrigg '91 TB reb), a
well-named sunny yellow with lots of eye appeal when blooming, is
another which does not let bad conditions interfere with growing.  A
2 year plant now has turned into about 30 strong fans.  To date, though,
there have only been 2 bloom stalks, one surely formed prior to being
located here and blooming a month or so after planting and only one
stalk this spring.  JEWEL OF OMAR (Boswell '86 OB-), a median
arilbred of greenish tinted falls marked with maroon and dark violet
under blue lavender tinted standard, forms increase at an unbelievable
rate.  Heavy bloom in the first two seasons, this junior totally skipped
blooming this year but hasn't let up on the increase.  Possibly dividing
will correct the remiss behavior on blooming.  GOLD REPRISE (Moores
'88 TB reb) manages to increase even faster than it attempts to produce
bloom stalks.  The only rebloomer which sent up multiple stalks for the
freeze last fall, it still managed to send up 7 stalks this spring, early to
mid late season and still has a big clump of unbloomed healthy fans left.
THORNBIRD (Byers '89 TB) exhibits nearly perfect habits in terms of
increase.  Just the right amount to stay in place 3-5 years before needing
dividing and still has managed to bloom close to half of them during the
spring bloom season.  LEMON CHESS (Moores '96 TB) was THE
outstanding individual last year, but in spite of healthy growth and the
ability to endure the weather, of 8 stalks only two managed to bloom
while the rest withered.  This malady affected many, many individual
TBs, particularly those who bloom mid-season and later.  The extent
was not entirely obvious until stalk clean-up was undertaken and it
became apparent just how extensive the loss of TB bloom had been.
Still, for all the stalks, LC has increased enough to produce another
outstanding crop of blooms if conditions allow...no mean feat in itself.
VOLTAGE and TENNESSEE GENTLEMAN belong here, but as they
have other categories, their specific charactistics will be dealt with in
those categories.

The cheerleaders.  These are ones that like to be noticed.  They wear
clothing which can't be missed.  VOLTAGE (Messick '93 TB) is orange,
orange, orange.  Couple this color with a profusion of stalks and if
nothing blocks the view, it will be noticed.  Strong growth habits.  If it
could only have grown those stalks taller, it could have been the
outstanding
individual of the year.  As it was, the color still wouldn't allow it to be
overlooked.  SATAN'S MISTRESS still is the visitors favorite if they catch
it in bloom.  Non-fading, our Texas sun compliments and enhances a
depth of color unmatched by anything else growing here.  MARY
McCLELLAN (Craig '52 TB - a disallowed arilbred) is a violet color TDF.
Tall, stately and stunning and not much younger than I am, it is displaying
a strong ability to withstand the weather and will be here for many years if
it can consistently provide stalks like it has as a freshman.  EDENITE
(Plough '59 TB) is yet more proof that older is not a liability.  This
smaller
bloom which has a wonderful draping quality also has absolutely stunning
red-black color.  Noticeable, it was never passed by without comment.
It has more sheen to the blooms than anything else I grow.  Nice!
BUGLES AND HORNS (Sutton '97 TB SA) was finally a white which did
something besides sit there and diminish.  Very white, very showy with
strong substance and durability.  As the only white which bloomed, it was
a notable standout and had consistent appendages until the last bloom
on each of two stalks which went back to beards only.  DESERT PLUM,
described in the earlier post might not have been the headmaster's
favorite exactly, but it was close to the top of visitors.  It could pretty
well define eyecatching flash with the size of the blooms combined
with the strong plum color accented with a big, dark signal.  GAY
GEISHA (Olsen '61 TB) is obviously a forerunner of NOTORIOUS in
color.  Pink standards and purple violet falls rimmed by a wide swath
of more pink and strong pink shoulders, it demonstrated more carrying
power than I could ever have guessed.  Not a high bud count, 3 stalks
were enough to catch the eye from a distance of 75'.  A bonus rhizome,
it gave a bonus jolt to the bloom season.  GOLD REPRISE, athletic, yes,
but also a color which vied with VOLTAGE for sheer noticibility due to
the color.  Golden yellow...very golden yellow and visible from far, far
away.

The future politician.  TENNESSEE GENTLEMAN (Innerst '91 TB).  Like
any incipient politician it does all that is necessary to ingratiate itself
and hold it's office.  It has a personality clash with the headmaster who
dislikes the muddy yellow ground with smudged mulberry plicata
markings similar to what birds provide after a mulberry feast and further
dislikes the almost completely horizontal falls and short open standards
which even mar direct overhead viewing the standards require.  Nonetheless,
otherwise it would deserve outstanding student recognition.  Strong growth,
strong bloom habits and even strong subsequent bloom (3 separate
spurts of bloom for two seasons in a row now) cannot be overlooked or
discounted.  These criteria deserve, and get, notice.  It likely would have
been expelled after the freshman year but for these traits.  Instead, the
headmaster hopes it will prove a worthy parent with arilbreds and only
pass some of those desirable traits on to progeny without passing too
many of the others as well.  Like any good politician, it set a pod with
arilbred pollen, proving it could be compatible and ensuring it didn't get
voted out of office this year.

Most popular freshman.  PASSING FANCY.  All the traits that made
this one the outstanding freshman also ensured the most popular
rating.

Most popular sophomore.  WHIRLWIND ROMANCE (McAlester '91 OGB+).
All those outstanding sophomores and this reluctant grower which may not
have survived the following summer gets the nod.  The description did not
prepare me for the luxurious quality of the bloom.  This was one rich
combo of colors.  Pewter, brass, rust; for me the signal was close to a
rich seal brown with a texture that Mrs. Roosevelt would have been proud
to have around her neck.  The whole bloom had more velvet texture than
any velour pullover.  I tried to get a pod on every bloom on both puny
stalks and used every bit of pollen I could detach.  One pod w/8 seeds
and one fat TB pod with lots and lots of seeds using the pollen.  Not
perfect crosses, perhaps, but hopefully they will contain at least some of
the qualities of WR if they reach blooming size.  When a plant blooms
with a bloom like this, all the talk of trying to grow only strong plants
with
consistent bloom goes out the window.  I'll go to a lot of trouble to keep
this one going.  Have already ordered it this year in case it hasn't
survived.

Most popular junior.  SATAN'S MISTRESS.  This will probably have to
reach emeritus status before it's a fair contest.

Most popular senior.  An unknown gimme which is a modern form yellow
ground/red plic.  Wasn't AUTUMN ECHO.  Must work on trying to id this
one.  Sets bee pods readily.

The librarian award.  Given to that quiet, subtle individual who waits to
be noticed, but when they are provide delightful and comfortable
company.  JADE QUEEN (Knopf '58 TB) light brown with a quiet yellow
overlay on the falls this year.  Bit more yellow than was noticeable last
year, the performance was still solid and the bloom form still perky.  As
is often the case, the librarian types are often overlooke by more
flambouyant types.  JUNGLE SHADOWS (Sass-Graham '60 BB) may
also go here.  The mottled combination of slate blue and brown shadows
were fine in the Texas sun.  Both should eventually find homes nestled
next to a clump of light blue such as DUNNGAREES or NAVAJO JEWEL.
where their subtle colors should show both plants at their best.

Still more to come, but this post is too long now.

Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7, USA


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