Re: HIST: Optical and Textural Effects, for Linda Mann


Bravo Anner, oh so well described.  

I remember as a child visiting my grandmother's friend's iris gardens 
and actually seeing iris that you have described, although I don't 
recall their names.

Thanks for naming them.  Hopefully, I can find room in the budget for 
some of these if they are still available.

Lane 


>Among my favorite aspects of the older irses is iridescence. By this I 
mean an
>effect like the throat of a pigeon, or a quality frequently refered to 
as a
>"metallic sheen". This is distinct from a sparkling effect or "diamond 
dust"
>and it involves at least one color other than that of the iris itself,
>generally blue but often copper. It appears as a smooth, shifting, 
light-
>sensitive overlay, genererally found on, but not restricted to the 
falls. It
>is impossible to anticipate which irises you will encounter this spring 
with
>this quality, but, among the classic historics, it is plainly seen in 
QUAKER
>LADY, DOLLY MADISON, PLUMERI, MOONLIGHT, SAVAGE, and BEOTIE, and to a 
lesser
>degree in CAMPFIRE GLOW, RAINBOW ROOM, BRONZE BROCADE, MULBERRY ROSE 
and
>others. Notice that many of these are--very broadly speaking-- 
pinky-tans
>overlaid with gold or blue, or reds with blue flares-- but that it also 
shows
>up on other colors. Note, too, that this is seen on irises with a crisp 
petal
>texture, and those that are more taffeta-like or delicate.
>
>The "pearl" effect as I see it is similar and is probably is a muted
>iridescence on a smooth white or pastel ground with a heavy substance. 
It is
>rarer. You can see it on the falls of FLAVESCENS when it is happy, and 
it
>could be said that FLORENTINA, STAR SHINE and LILAC LANE have this 
effect. It
>may be present on MOTHER OF PEARL, but I have not seen this so I don't 
know.
>One of the best examples, but one which you are not likely to encounter 
often,
>is YVES LASSAILLY, a white.There is some of this same quality in CHERIE 
from
>time to time, without the blue, but here the effect is probably due to 
the
>refined, kid-like texture of the falls. Among moderns this can be seen 
in
>PEARL ISLAND.
>
>Many of the famous and regal bi-tones of the first third of the century 
show
>"velvet" on the falls. This is usually said to come from DOMINION, but 
some
>earlier things have the quality to my eye, although to a lesser degree. 
Irises
>you may encounter with this texture are ROSY WINGS, AMBASSDEUR, LOUVOIS 
and
>DAUNTLESS, all deep reds to browns. It also shows up on the deep blue 
or
>violet falls of neglectas like AMIGO, and HELEN COLLINGWOOD. You see it 
on
>INDIANA NIGHT, and on the falls of some variegatas, and it is said to 
be
>present, for the first time on a yellow, on SPUN GOLD. My SPUN GOLD has 
not
>bloomed, so I can't say, but we do see it on some modern yellows where 
it is
>very attractive  I'm hoping it will show up on my new CHINESE EMPRESS, 
a Blyth
>neglecta whose falls are said to be "plush". 
>
>So, Linda, those are some personal observations for you, since you 
asked. Your
>eyes may see things differently, of course. I like most 
optical/textural
>effects-- and there others including a particularly lovely silvery 
overcast
>you find on some of the paler blues like BLUE RHYTHM, and also some 
with
>curious puckers--- but what is un-interesting to me is the nondescript, 
thick,
>leathery perfection of some of the moderns. I like to watch them 
interact with
>the light.
>
>Anner Whitehead, Richmond, VA
>Henry Hall henryanner@aol.com
>
>  
>


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index