Re: Rebloomers

In a message dated 96-03-23 23:46:08 EST, you write:

>How is Lloyd Zurbrigg these days?
>
>

I haven't talked to Lloyd for several months, but he has been doing very
well.  He seems to have found doctors who "have done miracles."  He is such a
talented, gracious man! His knowledge of irises...all types of irises....is
incredible.  When one uses the term "iris hybridizer" surely Lloyd is the
personification of this term.  He was a teenager living in Canada when he
began breeding irises to achieve quality flowers on vigorous plants that
would consistently rebloom. 

 He was told that he would not get success for 20 or 30 years, and he could
forget about getting awards.  But he persisted.  (The quality of his
introductions steadily improved but, as foretold, no awards came for
decades.)  Then in the 70's and early 80's people started to take notice.
 BABY BLESSED won an AM...the first he attained.  Then came IMMORTALITY,
which has been a runner-up for the Wister Medal. His JENNIFER REBECCA,
NORTHWARD HO, SUNNY DISPOSITION, HARVEST OF MEMORIES, I DO, SUGAR BLUES, et
al, are outstanding, and rebloom consistently here in northern Virgina.

Now I will tell you a funny story.  I went to Durham, NC on business, and a
mutual friend arranged for Lloyd to join us for lunch.  This was in 1989, and
in early October.  Lloyd brought a seedling to show me...I was stunned by its
marvelous form and unique luminata colors.  He gave me the flower to bring
back home, and the next day I took it to our C&P Iris Society Fall Show.  Dr.
Nearpass (Purple Pepper, Spinning Wheel, Dover Beach, et al) who knows irises
and is a fair, but severe critic, said of this seedling when he saw it that
never again could anyone say that there were no rebloomers with quality
flower form!.  The next year Lloyd called me to tell be that he was naming
the iris for me...and that it would be CLARENCE.  I told him that I didn't
even care for my name, and that this lovely flower would suffer from its
name.  Lloyd inisisted! And CLARENCE it is.

Yesterday, I was told that Cooley's lists it this year.  But that it is
described as an outstanding iris with a terrible name!....Well, I warned
Lloyd!.  CLARENCE the iris is Lloyd's finest creation, and a strong
rebloomer.  In one of my iris beds it is situated between SUKY and ROSALIE
FIGGE (another superb seedling by Maryland iris breeder Jane McKnew).   LOL
Clarence Mahan, Virginia
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