OT-BIO Carolyn Needham

Hi Fellow Listers!
I've been lurking lo these many months and have enjoyed you all very much in
the  anonymous sort of way and learned soooo mmuuch.  Unfortunately I'll have
to unsubscribe til after the holidays, as while it's always a problem for me
to keep up with the volume of mail on this list, it's going to be impossible
for the next few weeks.  I just wanted to let you know of my appreciation for
all the wonderful information, sage advice, and good humor I've gleaned from
all you terrific folks on Iris-L .  It's been great having a place where my
"iris fever" seems "normal".  There were times, however, earlier this year
when some of the "chit chat" was so fustrating when I was trying to catch-up
in the wee hours of the morning, so I just wanted to say thanks also for the
efforts people have obviously been making to consider what should be posted
to the list.   

AAAAnd, just thought it's only fair that I finally post my bio since I do
intend to come back, so you'll know a little about me as I feel I know a
little about a few of you. 

I've always loved iris, as long as I can remember.  This was probably
influenced in part by my parents growing, among others, an iris named Carolyn
Louise - my name. (I just located a listing for it in the R&I this summer and
found that it predates me by a few years.)  It isn't very attractive to me,
kind of a sandy yellow plain thing, just interesting to us because of the
name.  The one that really gave me the iris fever in the begining is one my
dad called "Chantilly Lace" an old very laced pink and yellow.  I think it
might really be the "Chantilly" I found listed in a catalog last year and am
going buy it to grow and compare to ours to ID.  
I've grown the unnamed iris from my folks for years.  They reveived most of
their's from some relatives, Charlie & Opal Lewis, who did some pollen
daubing.  Don't know if they ever actually introduced anything.  
Several years ago I located the iris club here - The Greater Kansas City Iris
Society.  They introduced me to a spectrum of iris I didn't know existed -
JI's, Sib's, MTB's, SDB's, IB's, SA's, and REBLOOMERS! Be still my beating
heart!!!  Needless to say my garden has grown expotentially due to my
purchases from club sales/auctions,  catalogs, local growers, as well as the
generosity of my fellow club members.  
My #1 favorite this year was bonus from Schriener's - "Thunder Spirit" a
gorgeous ruffled indigo self with a little bit of velvet on the falls.  Kinda
like a more ruffled Dusky Challenger with velvet.  And my first rebloomers
did their thing this past summer and fall.  Took some stalks into work before
the freeze and made some heads turn! 
I've jumped in with both feet with my iris club and am the recording
secretary and (haphazard) publicity chair (welcoming all suggestions at this
point).
Also have reinfected my family with the "iris mania" to the point that when
my aunt saw "Dusky Challenger" blooming in my garden this past spring, she
actually jumped up and down and clapped her hands - she was so excited
because she had already ordered it from a local grower!  
Attended my first spring regional this year (Region 18) and had a great time
in spite of the delayed spring and hope to be able to go again this coming
year and perhaps even the National in Denver.  

Well, take care of yourselves.  I hope to be back soon.   
Thanks again, 
Carolyn Needham  irishapygl@aol.com
Kansas City Metro Area USDA Zone 5
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