Re: Seed or HybRumor

Mr. Gunar Andersson asks a very fine question: "are US gardeners crazy
about hybridization."  In my opinion we Americans, especially iris
fanciers, pay far, far too much attention to hybridization, at least among
the tall beardeds.  I think there is still plenty of room for hybridization
work with some of the beardless (not that they can be "improved"--merely
that we can stand more variety among the beardless).

Having been a member of the American Iris Society, and being a judge, for
several years, I have come to the conclusion that many iris fanciers are
not gardeners at all.  They are iris farmers, all too often growing nothing
but irises (and, sometimes, only tall bearded!), usually in rows, and
making no attempt to create a garden.

But, Mr. Andersson, do not despair!  There are many Americans who love
plants for their true nature, and we do not feel compelled to rearrange
horticultural genetics.  Many members of the AIS, and especially in this
listserv, are very knowledgeable--and irises merely serve as the
springboard from which to study botany and horticulture in detail and with
no small amount of passion.

If Mr. Anderson ever gets a chance to visit America, I hope he will go to
see a variety of the thousands of public and private gardens that dot
America.  I think he will be surprised by the variety--a variety that
prevents easy answers to stereotypical questions.  That's my opinion.

Tom Dillard
Little Rock, Arkansas
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