Re: CULT: '99 Iridaceae Yard Awards - five

From: "Donald Eaves" <donald@eastland.net>


The conclusion of the '99 Yard Awards

Best Garden Performance:
	LEMON CHESS (Moores '96).  This one did everything right.
It grew with lots of increase during last summer's heat and drought;
it put up three tall stalks with perfect branching; it started with one
bloom and then carried a minimum of 3 blooms without a break for
four weeks until it finally finished with one last bloom.  The blooms
were never jammed or crowded and always displayed well.  It withstood
rain, high winds and too hot temps without ever going limp but without
an over abundance of substance.  If it continues in years to come with
this kind of performance, it will be a benchmark against which to measure
other irises.  If only 20% of what I grow would do as well, I'd learn to do
the Iris Jig.  Unfortunately, nothing else quite reached this level.  Other
good performers were VOLTAGE, THORNBIRD, TRAITOR, STUDY IN
BLACK, BREAKERS, TENNESSEE GENTLEMAN, ELECTRIQUE,
DESIGNING WOMAN, AMERICAN SWEETHEART, TITAN'S GLORY 
and SUPERSTITION.  Some weren't necessarily my favorite blooms,
but these all grew and bloomed well.

Now I know these next awards are what everyone who has read this
far have been waiting on.

The Raspberry Awards:
	Given to irises which went thru a second year with NO bloom.
GOOD SHOW - say what? Say when? Where?  NO SHOW would be
a better name so far.  OKLAHOMA CRUDE - no gusher here.  BLUE
CHEER hasn't given any cheer of any color.  PALAZZO - sunk in the
canals of Venice for all I can tell.  CODICIL will sure need the rest of
its last will and testament at this rate.  PINK HORIZON remains beyond
the horizon.

The Bronx Cheer Award:
	To the rather high dollar purchases from a reliable source which
turned out to be some other cultivar than what was ordered.  No matter
how nice the unknown imposter turns out, it is irritating to grow one thing
and have it bloom as another.

The Bum Steer Award:
	Copperhead snakes in the iris beds.  This inevitably causes brief
frenetic activity which poses an immediate and clear threat to surrounding
iris plants.  This is definitely not desirable, even tho such activity can
be a
source of much amusement to any who happen to witness said acitivity.
However, the associated language in these circumstances is unsuitable for
the young, the proper and perhaps even the occasional sailor.  Clearly not
appropriate for the dignified.

Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7

------------------------------------------------------------------------
How has ONElist changed your life?
http://www.onelist.com
Share your story with us at http://www.onelist.com
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index