CAT: What makes a good provider?

Sheryl wrote:
> Now that we're in the computer age do you like a lot of data in the
> catalogues?  Hybridizer, year, number of buds, awards won, geneology (I
> don't know if that is the proper term)of the hybrids, rebloomers, color
> patterns, height, flower size, frangrance.

I bet we all have different things to say about this one, but the things
I want to know so I can better evaluate potential performance here in
this difficult climate and worse location are hybridizer, ancestry, and
timing of bloom.  If information were available on performance in
different regions, that would be WONDERFUL.  As it is now, I tend to
avoid irises that originate in both dry climates (including Colorado)
and in cold wet climates until I hear from someone in the southeast that
it does well in this region and can take both the intermittant heavy
rain, high temperatures, and rollercoaster temperatures in winter.

Color, pattern, and fragrance are also important.  Awards less so
because they don't say much about performance.  About colors - I find a
simple color description like red or blue more helpful than garnet lake
with shadings of bishop's purple.

And of course pictures - they show form and pattern even if the colors
aren't always the best.

Another thing that would be a nice addition to catalogs would be what
makes a particular cultivar in an abundant color class be different. 
Like maybe for JESSE'S SONG - paler color than many blue plicatas, most
vigorous yet in all regions.  With early bloom season added, I would
know it can get cold injury here in the spring.

When I am winter wish shopping, I usually have to get out R&I books and
all the picture catalogs to supplement the info in any given catalog. 
So my comments are for what I would like to see in the 'perfect'
catalog.

And a link like Superstition has to color pictures on the net is really
nice!

Linda Mann east Tennessee
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