Re: CULT: non-performers (was on iris-photos)

Since (as everybody knows ad nauseum) as the original 'rot queen', this
is my favorite iris topic, I'm quoting your entire post over in this
forum.

One of the difficulties in sorting thru the many really good quality
irises on the market to decide which really 'should' win top awards is
that there just aren't many that thrive in <all> climates.

Those that thrive in cold wet climates <usually> fizzle in really hot
dry climates and vice versa.  I'm not even positive that WABASH and BLUE
RHYTHM <thrive> everywhere.  WABASH has definitely not been thrilled
with our recent warmer winters.  It has, however, survived severe
neglect and abuse and continues to bloom occasionally, even amongst
competing weedy biennials.

When we did a survey of growers here a few years ago, STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
was the only recent TB we were able to identify as really thriving
everywhere.

I still think we need regional awards in addition to national ones, to
at least identify the newer irises that will thrive in our growing
conditions.  Or for most of us anyway <g>  This from me, who has never
managed to even get a popularity poll in on time, much less has the
energy to become a judge.  I had hoped our cyber poll for regional
growers of AM& AM winners would evolve into some kind of recognition
system for award winners in our region, but that flopped due to lack of
interest.

Plus it overlooks those super performers that might not get enough votes
from judges in climates more amenable to growing more 'improved' irises.

So, Neil, I sure hope you try BLUE RHYTHM!  I'd sure love to see at
least one modern blue that would thrive here - haven't found one yet.
You'd think in such a crowded color class, there'd be <something>.  Some
grow really well, but can't produce normal stalks.  I am really looking
forward to some of my COLOR ME BLUE X (I.pallida x mixed pollen)
seedlings blooming, tho probably not till next year.  They will <not> be
modern, but maybe I will get something that will reliably produce a lot
of bloom.

Neil, guru of hybridizing in the vale of despond, said:
<I'm sure glad people speak up and say "it just melts away" or "I've had
it three years and  one...[less than decent] stalk..."

 I know these aren't quotes--but I'm really glad to see remarks like
these, especially from folks who are good, knowledgable growers and
caretakers.
Always before, when an iris didn't do well for me, I was assuming there
was something wrong with *me.*  It never occured to me that maybe the
variety itself was mal-adapted to my climate, or didn't have the innerds
and muscles                  to compete with aphids and moles, let alone
excess rain or none at all, or whatever else it ran into.  Or just
melted away for no reason at all.
This is year three for DYNAMITE, and in that time I've had one stalk
that tried to bloom but froze, and one increase.  That one went to
middle TN to see if Abby could grow it better.  Mine just sits there.
One fan.  No bloom.  No increase.

Some old diploids, Blue Rhythm and Wabash seem to thrive everywhere.
Why many others aren't like them says something about the way we go
about selecting things to name and introduce, let alone to what we vote
top awards.  We all agree these need to change.  They don't.

I've been hearing this same complaint for over fifty years.  There've
been miffy performers ever since I first remember.  Then there were some
that grew like pigweed everywhere I've been.  I think I can safely
assume it wasn't *my* growing, it was the iris, AM or DM or not.

About half my new seedlings last year died during the deluge from just
plain rotting off at ground level.  Linda Mann tells me the weather did
me a
favor--it weeded out the weak ones before I saw them bloom.  I sure hope
she's right.  The ones left are a tattered remnant of my hope.  It's a
short distance to the compost pile if they fall short now.

I think I'll make some crosses this year from Blue Rhythm.  I've been
threatening to do this for several years and just never followed
through.

Fifty years from now my grandchildren are going to be looking at
FOGBOUND growing in some corner and thinking the same thing.  "This
year, I'm
gonna make some crosses from Foggy."  But they won't.  They'll use the
latest fat and sassy ones that are being introduced at $250 each and
think they're worth it.  I suppose they will be.  At least if they
survive to bloom.

Neil Mogensen  z 7 western NC in the world's second worst climate for
TB's (Linda Mann has number one).
Boy! Did I ever get up on the wrong side of the bed. Maybe I better go
back and try it again.>

--
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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