TB:Dykes Medal
- Subject: TB:Dykes Medal
- From: B* S*
- Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 09:44:15 -0500
>(Thinking about the Dykes and the chances for
>RHONDA FLEMING, CLARENCE, and MESMERIZER. Which one really
>qualifies? Only the Shadow knows).
Of the mentioned iris, I grow only 'Mesmerizer'. It is terrific.
Not only a unique and beautiful bloom, but vigorous and
long-flowering. After the devastating rot of last year, I expected no
bloom, but 'Mesmerizer' proceeded to produce several stalks from a
3-year clump. Not only that, but the stalks were produced in series,
so that 'Mesmerizer' was one of the first to bloom and is still in
bloom at this writing, almost 4 weeks later. I predict a long future
for this variety, which in a few years will be in all the general
nursery catalogs and will sell by the tens of thousands.
I've seen 'Clarence' in several gardens, and it, too, is wonderful,
with the added bonus of reliable rebloom. Now that "Space Age (a
corny name I hate--oooh, space age, neato keeno)" iris have won the
top prize a couple of times, maybe this year we will recognize a
rebloomer. Like 'Mesmerizer' it is a topnotch commercial variety
already making inroads into the nonspecialist market.
'Rhonda Fleming' was a standout at the OKC convention, but to my mind
lacks that special something the other two exhibit.
All three are deserving as plants--OK, so where's my bet? On
'Clarence.' Imponderable factors here: Lloyd Zurbrigg is overdue for
a medal. The variety is named after the (justly) popular president
of AIS. Some might feel that a third posthumous Dykes for Monty
Byers might just be overdoing it a little.
By the way, we got an inch of much-needed rain last night. A chance
for more this evening, so it is said, and I hope it is true. We're
working on a 4.5" deficit so far this year.
--
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<wshear@email.hsc.edu>
Moderating e-lists:
Coleus at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coleus
Opiliones at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/opiliones
Myriapod at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/myriapod
"Almost any man knows how to earn money, but not one in a million
knows how to spend it. If he had known as much as this, he would
never have earned it"
--Henry David Thoreau, Journals, 1842.
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
