Re: TB Best Sellers and Most Popular

From: "S&C Rust" <srust@fidnet.com>

Jon, I don't know why you think older iris are top winners.  The "four"
older iris that consistently win high awards at our local show are Stepping
Out, Laced Cotton, Babbling Brook and Winter Olympics.  I would call them
older iris.  Of these, the only one the "general public" is remotely
interested in purchasing is Stepping Out.  The general public that buys at
our sale is looking for something different.  They are totally unaware of
space age iris, but will buy them, even at higher prices if you show them a
picture they like.  They are beginning to learn about rebloomers and must be
warned about the cultural requirements and individuality of each
rebloomer...which does not stop them from buying them.  They do not normally
want purple, lavender, white, pale yellow or anything they consider "old."
They absolutely will not buy a historic, saying they have tons just like
them already!  They avidly look for and will purchase quickly, orange, red,
newer pinks and blues, and also, black.  Bright bi-colors are very popular,
and last year we had many requests for peach!

On the other hand, club members quickly bid up space age and reblooming
iris, newer to newest iris, anything unusual.  As to basic colors, pink and
blue are most popular.  The first club sale I attended I ended up buying all
the yellow and white iris for very low prices.  The whites have gained
somewhat in popularity in recent years, but last year's high seller was
Honey Scoop, both a space age and rebloomer iris.  Third high bid was for a
new pink TB called Halo in Pearl (bid submitted by my 12 year old daughter,
much to my shock!!).  Last year, the public snapped up 12 shoeboxes filled
with every class from MDB to TB, including at least one rebloomer and one
Dykes winner per box.  So, it is rubbish that they aren't interested in the
smaller things...they just aren't normally offered to them, at least not
attractively.  Club members are never offered historics at auction, but they
will snap them up if brought in by other club members and the rhizomes are
good size and condition.  When selecting for our club sale, we try to choose
rhizomes that are very large and healthy.  We clean them and tag them
scrupulously.  We also include as many space age, reblooming and unusual
rhizomes as we can, also anything a few years old or newer.  This brings in
the most money for our club.

Cindy Rust, Missouri, Zone 5b


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