Re: TB: Edith Wolford

Way back when...

I was getting seriously involved with iris (and the $CDN was at 0.90), 
we needed not only a phytosanitary certificate, but also an import 
letter in order to get iris across the border.

The combined administration costs forced the initial order price over 
$50 before actually buying anything or shipping anything or even 
planting anything, and that doesn't include the time spent standing in 
line.

This meant that new introductions weren't available for several more 
years than is the case now.

Edith Wolford was purchased by the CIS and held for increase for a 
couple of years.

The first year it was offered for auction, it brought a winning bid of 
over $35.  I dropped out at $32.

The second year it was offered for auction, it brought a winning bid of 
over $35.  I dropped out at $34.

The third year it was offered for auction, I didn't bid.  I got a bunch 
of other stuff and traded up for it.

So, here it is, 1990something and I've finally got it in the garden. 
No, it did not bloom the first year.  It tops out at 32" and has good 
foliage.  The second year, it does bloom.  Now, while it didn't have the 
outstanding spike in the garden that year, it did win that 
'most-likely-to-be-mistaken-for-an-allium' award.

All and all, I got two good spikes over seven or eight years and some 
seedlings that weren't too hot.

In its defence, I didn't have it in the best location in the garden, I 
fertilized intermittently at best, let the borer into it one year, and 
planted a tree (celebrating Emily's birth in 90) in a location that 
blocked the morning sun.

What would I do differently?  Same thing I do now for all my 
problematics.  Plant it at my dad's place - if it doesn't behave like a 
Dykes there, then everyone's been hosed.

What lessons learned?

None whatsoever.  I still buy dogs.  I grow dogs very well indeed.  But 
I don't need an import letter anymore.

Regards,

Sandy Ives in Ottawa (noting that the existing fx rate now mirrors the 
American:Canadian mile rate - 1:1.62)


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
FREE COLLEGE MONEY
CLICK HERE to search
600,000 scholarships!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/iZp8OC/4m7CAA/ySSFAA/2gGylB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index