OKC reflections (VERY LONG)

From: Bill Shear <BILLS@hsc.edu>

I hope you will indulge a first-time American Iris Society conventioneer a
few ruminations on the Oklahoma City experience.

I'd like to start by thanking Rosalie Figge (She Who Must Be Obeyed) for
inviting me to speak to the rebloomers group at the convention and for
assuring me that they would not resent a talk about irises in general (they
didn't). Without her urging, my natural reluctance to socialize probably
would have kept me from AIS conventions forever. Thanks also to Taunton
Press, who helped me financially and also provided free copies of FINE
GARDENING and KITCHEN GARDENER for all conventioneers.

Like everyone else attending the convention, I was much affected by the
tragedy we witnessed in Oklahoma City.  What I saw of the tornado damage
was nearly incomprehensible.  That there were survivors was more
astonishing than that there were 41 casualties.  We learned first hand that
318 MPH winds not only strip the bark from trees, polish fire hydrants to a
high metallic gloss, but also pull the grass from the ground.  It would
have been easy for AIS to simply have gone about its (slightly obsessional)
business in this context, but I was very proud to be part of a group that
responded so generously to what had happened, not only with a donation from
the treasury but with a collection from the conventioneers.  Most
impressive was the reaction of Oklahomans, who came together as a true
community--as they have done before.  We think of westerners as
self-reliant; now we must also think of them as compassionate people, while
reluctant to ask for help for themselves, ever ready to give it to others.

I would certainly recommend to anyone planning to attend a convention in
the future that they go to as many of the section meetings as possible.
These were extremely educational. In the median meeting, I heard George
Sutton talking about the latest from his hybridizing program, the Aril
Society International presented a show of rare slides of species and
hybrids, and despite the fact that the scheduled speaker for the Louisiana
meeting didn't make it, the discussion led by Faron Young (just
kidding--Faron Campbell, of course) was very enlightening, including
information about soil conditions where Louisianas grow natively.  It
appears the soil is poor in nutrients, and the plants get most of their
needs from what is dissolved in the water that floods the swamps in spring
and early summer.  Japanese iris are getting more and more exciting, with
reliable rebloom and repeat bloom and extraordinary flower size and
branching in the immediate future, according to Terry Aitken.

Unfortunately for me, my talk was scheduled at the same time Carla Lankow
was to address SIGNA.  Carla graciously repeated her program after mine,
but even so I had committed to a book signing and missed it after all.  I
was jumpy as a cat about my own talk, with numerous iris luminaries in the
audience, but they were characteristically generous and did not pounce on
my mis-statements and errors.  George Sutton added some good points about
pH and trace mineral availability, attributing his fantastic growth and
increase to a specially compounded foliar spray, including calcium.  It
seems research in Oregon has shown that bearded irises have trouble
absorbing enough calcium through their roots.  George has very high pH
soil, mine is on the low side, and we seemed to agree that perhaps the
importance of pH has been exaggerated in the past.

Thanks to the energy and dedication of Irv and Nancy Pocklington, my
book-signing went very well and we almost sold out of THE GARDENER'S IRIS
BOOK.  Some kind of dedication award also has to go to the Roses from
Lexington, Kentucky, who lugged along 35 copies of the book to get personal
dedications for all of their club members!  You Lexington folks owe
them--big time.

The socializing aspects of the meeting were just as important as the
irises, and it was a distinct pleasure to meet John and Joanne Jones, Kathy
Guest (head of the AIS Cheerleading Squad and perhaps the most positive
person on the planet), Maureen Mark, Ellen Gallagher, Joan Roberts, Mary
Brown, Clarence Mahan (a continual font of wisdom and hilarious stories),
Dave Silverberg, George and Olive Waters, the Lankows, and many, many
others.  Please forgive me if I haven't mentioned you!

By the way, would AIS consider providing at future conventions a list of
registrants, as is done at most scientific meetings?  It would be very
useful.

The convention gardens were all extremely interesting and instructive.  As
predicted, bloom was a little past peak in the best of them, and well past
in the Will Rogers Park garden (but somewhat made up for by some Louisianas
and Spurias in bloom).  The gardens ranged from straightforward iris
collections to imaginatively landscaped estates.  The garden owners were
unfailingly welcoming and hospitable, the bus captains firm but kindly, and
the refreshments at each garden very tempting.

The irises that stood out as impressive were duly awarded, as you have been
informed.  To pick out my favorite blooms, I will have to wait to look at
the nearly 200 slides I took, but as PLANTS, there were some definite
winners.  Both  HIGH STAKES and COLOR ME BLUE, from Schreiners', were
outstanding in growth and bloom at the Fernandes gardens, and the former
was my instant pick for out-of-region winner.  But I was persuaded
otherwise when I saw UNCLE CHARLIE, by Virginia's own Don Spoon, growing
vigorously and blooming away at several gardens under a variety of
conditions.  This plant is in my opinion a future Dykes contender (if there
is any justice).  Also impressive in several gardens was the very different
BOOGIE WOOGIE, and the much-awaited STARSHIP ENTERPRISE looked good as
well, though with a low bud count and in at least one garden, bloom-out in
progress.  But the color and pattern are truly striking and if it can
produce offspring with more vigor, it will become important in iris
history.  Ron Mullins' RHONDA FLEMING, a very nice plicata, was my pick for
in-region winner, and surprisingly, got it (my vote is the kiss of death,
for politicians if not for irises).  Not many historics were on view, but I
did see some old friends.  Mike Lowe confirmed my identification of HELEN
COLLINGWOOD producing a mass of bloom under some small trees, and then
pointed out WILLIAM SETCHELL nearby.  This still has huge blooms for an
iris, and was in the first collection of irises I ever purchased, back in
1954.  At another garden I saw and recognized OLA KALA and AMIGO.  Here and
there the madly mutating KALEIDOSCOPE had been tucked in among clumps of
much larger modern TBs, but still managed to steal the show.  PARIS BLUES
is perhaps not old enough to be an historic, but was superb in one garden.

I saw two seedlings that were worth mentioning, but I don't have their
numbers here at the moment.  One was an incredibly deep and patent-leather
glossy black from Schreiners'--I have never seen an iris with that kind of
finish before.  I wonder that someone with access to a scanning electron
microscope hasn't looked at petal surfaces to try and account for this
amazing gloss, or the deep, velvety nap one sees on some other blacks.  The
second seedling was from John Durrance, a BB (growing out of class as most
BBS seen were) with fine blooms in a sort of reverse blue bicolor, but with
magnificent stalks.  Would you believe five pefect open blooms on a single
4-branched stalk, and none of them crowded?
Unfortunately this gem was hidden in a corner of one of the gardens and I
fear not seen by many.  Did any of you spot it as well?  Also worth looking
for is Perry Dyer's GHOST, due for introduction in 2001.  It is a peculiar,
gray-toned flower that somehow manages to look cheerful despite its somber
colors.

While beardless irises were found only here and there, the Louisiana CAJUN
SUNRISE, which I added to my garden last summer, was outstanding.  I'm
looking forward to seeing it bloom under my conditions.

Most of my photography was restricted to portraits, because in most gardens
fungal leaf spot made clumps or garden views rather unsightly.  However, at
least two of the gardens were free of leaf spot, and I suspect the
explanation lies in the over-use of a product called Hu-More, compounded
out of alfalfa and manure, which was being heavily promoted in most, but
not all, of the gardens.  Where this material was used in quantity, I
thought I saw overly pumped-up plants, with soft growth susceptable to both
rot and leaf spot.  And indeed there were a good number of labels that had
no plants behind them--probably rot casualties.  The plants at the gardens
where Hu-More signs were not in evidence simply looked healthier and
thriftier to this gardener's eye.  Too much nitrogen and growth stimulant
are not good for bearded irises, creating an open field for disease and
suppressing bloom.  Not to say that Hu-More, used in moderation, could not
be very helpful under many kinds of conditions (perhaps at the Will Rogers
Park it would have helped; their soil seemed exhausted).  I'm just
suggesting that one should take it easy with such a powerful supplement and
perhaps focus on a modest phosphate feeding, if any feeding at all is
required.

Anyway, the OKC gardeners deserve applause for producing a very creditable
convention show under the worst imaginable conditions--last year's
prolonged drought and heat, heavy rains this spring, hailstorms the night
before the tours began, and many other obstacles.  They came through with
flying colors in true Oklahoma style!

Friday's Geek Dinner wasn't Geeky at all, but well-lubricated by many, many
bottles of local wine brought in from all over the country by the
attendees.  There was an uproarious auction conducted by Peter and John,
who may have a future as a comedy team, if comedy teams ever come back.  I
seem to remember Rosalie Figge paying $51 for a $50 gift certificate from
Suttons'.  Don't you think George will be a little generous with the
extras?  What was in that retsina anyway?

Well, the Awards Banquet, which for some strange reason took place at
another hotel, was great fun, if for no other reason than to watch David
Schreiner and Tom Abrego bouncing up and down to get their many and much
deserved awards on behalf of Schreiners' Gardens.  Ray Schreiner, who for
obvious reasons wasn't there, got the Hybridizer's Medal.  Do I worship
these guys?  Shamefully, yes.
Ron Mullin provided a highlight of the evening when he explained how to win
in-region hybridizing awards. First, marry off Hooker Nichols and get him
to move to Texas, convince Paul Black that he needs to go to Oregon, and
keep Perry Dyer from hybridizing for 15 years!  But that was a great modest
touch from the winner of just about every in-region award at the
convention--deservedly so, with some great iris.

And so to bed.  And so, the next day, home to Virginia.  My only regret
about attending the convention: I totally missed the short bloom season of
Iris verna, a longtime favorite of mine, and of Iris gracilipes, which I
have been trying to bloom for years!  Two nice little wads of collapsed
flower were awaiting me on my struggling clump of gracilipes.  There's
always next year.  TB bloom is peaking now, and last night we got our
much-needed rain--nearly two inches at this writing and still going on.
Sincere thanks to what Mr. Jefferson and Gen. Washington referred to as
Providence.

It was a great and wonderful experience to attend my first AIS convention
after having been a member (off and on) since 1956.  But do I need another
one right away.....hmm.


Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@hsc.edu>




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