TB: Names, descriptions, colors
- To: i*@egroups.com
- Subject: TB: Names, descriptions, colors
- From: C*@aol.com
- Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 17:48:42 EDT
In a message dated 6/8/00 5:16:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
Josiecairn@aol.com writes:
<< Being new to growing Iris, I have a couple of questions that I am hoping
someone can answer for me.
1. How and where do the names for Iris come from? Is there a national list
that gives all the names and a description of the flower?>>
The names of the individual irises are given to them by the originators. In
the case of hybrid irises, like most Tall Bearded irises you see, the
originator is the hybridizer, who registers the name and formal description
with the American Iris Society. To be acceptable, names must follow some
rules, and must not have been used before. Each year lists of the new names,
and thus new irises, is published by AIS, and then every ten years a ten year
compilation called a Check List is published. AIS has been registering and
publishing the names of hybrid irises since the twenties.
2. Who decides what color the flower is? It seems to me looking at
catalogs, that either I am color blind or in catalogs they do show the true
colors. This occurs to both my daughter and I. We were looking a
Schreimer's
catalog and looking at the picture and than the description and we just
could
not come up with the color that was given in the description. >>
Catalog descriptions are a thorny subject, and so are color names. A lot of
times they are the same thing since a catalog will reprint the "official"
description that the originator wrote when he registered the name. This color
description may be straightforward, or pretty extravagant. Sometimes a
catalog compiler won't use that, but will write a new one which is shorter,
or longer, or more or less flashy. Sometimes the language used for the colors
is pretty straightforward, sometimes it is poetic invention, sometimes it is
derived from a standarad horticultural color chart. This is one reason a lot
of people like pictures in catalogs. But some other people really like verbal
descriptions because that makes their imagination go wild, and they enjoy
that.
All in all one should enjoy descriptions and pictures, and think of them as
useful but limited tools to aid in selection. But there is nothing like
actually seeing the whole blooming plant in someone's garden to help you
educate your eye and learn to make good choices.
<< I can say one thing. I have been driving around my Town and looking at
some
iris that people have growing, and they are certainly a beautiful flower. >>
We would certainly all agree about that. They are an interesting flower, too!
<< I also must say I do not take part much in the group as I am new to Iris
growing, but I do lurk and certainly enjoy the group.>>
Pipe up anytime, Gloria. We'd love to hear from you and we will be happy to
help you as best we can. Where are you, by the way, and have you got many
irises yet?
Anner, in Virginia
ChatOWhitehall@aol.com
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