Re: HYB: Freeze to Freeze (from photos)

Since there aren't any more pictures with this thread, I thought I'd
move it over here...

Our weather is so variable here - there have been times when it's been
cooler and wetter in June, after TB season, than in May, during TB
season.  If a once bloomer could make it thru the hot dry weather in
those years and go on to bloom normally later, I would love to have it.

Same with the 'everbloomers' - I'd like them to be ready to bloom
whenever the weather is suitable, not when it's 90o+ and drought.

Hybridizing them isn't as easy in our climate as Betty makes it sound -
she's been working at it for a long time, and (correct me if I'm wrong)
is just now starting to get a <lot> of rebloom seedlings to select
among, getting closer to modern form, bud count, branching in more
variety of colors.

Farther south, hotter and more variable moisture, it's even more
challenging.  Walter Moores has switched back to once bloomers again
(mostly, I think).

Yes, Betty, it has been fairly soggy here, at least in the air - as much
as an inch of rain now and then, overcast and very light showers, off
and on for the last week.  Less than a quarter inch total for the last
few days, but three sprinkles today.  The daylilies that bloomed earlier
got a bit fried, but the ones open now are lush and very color
saturated.

Re: late blooming oncers:
< We need to do that.  Rebloomers can't do it all.  I think we need to
push the VE and VL iris.  >

 < In a discussion of Bob's seedling 98-134, Janice said the above.

 In my area, the VE irises rarely bloom well.  If they don't get frozen
out, I get distorted stalks.

  I'm not sure we all want irises that bloom in the 100+ days . . . I
have a memory of blooms on Jean Guymer one summer (mid-eighties) when we
had several 105 days!  Not a pretty sight.  We've not had many days like
that, until this  year.

We have a lot of new people on here who might be interested in
hybridizing toward the year round iris.  For the record, there are 4
types of rebloomers: repeat, cycle, everbloomers & sporadic rebloomers.

 I believe that combining the four types of rebloomers will produce ever
blooming irises.

 The repeat bloomer is probably the least understood.  These throw up
extra stalks not long after regular bloom season.  We've recently
discussed ROMANTIC EVENING as being this type.  My own SUMMER RADIANCE
is another.
 This is probably the most under reported class because some say they
aren't really rebloomers!  But, they are listed in the judges handbook
and in various publications.

The cycle rebloomer has a set and distinct second season of bloom.  One
of my favorites of this type is SUMMER OLYMPICS.

Everbloomers are the ones that can bloom, again, any time rhizomes
mature.  Could be June, July, August, Sept, etc.  IMMORTALITY is
probably the best know of this group, but FEED BACK is another.  Also,
SUGAR BLUES.

The sporadic rebloomers make up the largest class.  This is the group
that reblooms occasionally but not dependably in my part of the
country.  In California and other warm areas these often reach everbloom
class.  Unfortunately, unlike the everbloomer, they rarely do so in the
colder climates.

 In my region I've seen summer or fall bloom from MY VALENTINE, BEVERLY
SILLS, & VICTORIA FALLS, (many others) but only rarely.  And only if
certain cultural needs are met.

 If enough hybridizers combine the most beautiful of the sporadic
rebloomers with the most prolific of the other three classes . . . and
circulate them . . . we will be well on our way to everblooming irises.
With a lot of work and enough
 varieties we can reach this level with irises.  Ben Hager thought we'd
be there by now!

This is why I think it's so important to know what is reblooming in
California, Australia, Virginia, etc..

Just do it!  Pick out your favorite hardy rebloomer and your favorite
ruffled & laced sporadic rebloomer and make those crosses!!

A question!  Are rebloom carriers just sporadic rebloomers that haven't
rebloomed for me yet??  ;-)

Betty W. in South-central KY Zone 6
 Bridge In Time Iris Garden@website:>

< Hi, Betty,
I'm not a pollen dauber, but still wanted to second your suggestion. I
would love to see lots of hybridizers having as one of their goals
producing irises that extend the blooming season. Lots of potential
there, it seems to me.

As a grower, I try to achieve that effect, of course, by trying
different classes - getting a little earlier start with the medians and
trying some of the other species and beardless types. But it is a
thrill  when the TBs give me the occasional extra bloom beyond my
"normal" bloom  season.

 Bill Wells (in southern MO where, with a couple of fair recent rains,
the daylilies are making a valiant effort to rebound after the
devastating heat and lack of moisture so far this year)>
--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.korrnet.org/etis>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
talk archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-talk/>
photos archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-photos/>
online R&I <http://www.irisregister.com>

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