OT: Northern climate plants

Kathy's comments about garden plants that grow in very cold climates
reminded me of the work that went on for years in Ottawa at the Central
Experimental Farm of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Their research
focused on breeding flowering plants and other crops that were
specifically adapted to cold climates - the farm is in Zone 4b but the
plants should survive at least to Zone 3 without any trouble.  

I should mention, in particular, Isabella Preston's work on breeding
Siberian irises. She introduced quite a number all, I believe, with
Quebec place names.  A number of these plants are still growing in the
iris beds at the Farm.  What will happen to them in the future is any
body's guess as the government has laid off most of the people with
horticultural knowledge (they even turned the management of the gardens
over to a bus mechanic for a while, but that is was quickly changed!).  
The other group of particular interest are the roses - all in the
Explorer Series - which grow and do very well in our climate.  This
compares to tea roses which at -20C,  usually die quite quickly.

Ian in Ottawa, where it has been -20C last night, it is windy and
bitterly cold.  He, however, is warm and cosy after learning of the
birth of yet another grand daughter last night.  To be named either Iris
Jamarah or Jamarah Iris and the first known Iris resulting from an
Efford x something cross!
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