Re: TB, HYB, HIST mystery of my grandfather

Kendal,

I think you will find quite a few people who are interesting in your
family's orange Iris (sounds like you have two nice ones; I would encourage
introducing both).  The fact that they have survived and done well for this
long, and their age is of great interest.  It is too bad their ancestry
isn't known, but it's not that important; it isn't a requirement for naming
and introducing them.

Personally, I always had trouble getting most orange Iris to grow well (in
Colorado, Nebraska, and later New Mexico).  One that has thrived for
roughly 40 years in Utah sounds very interesting.  Plus, I tend to like
older Iris in form and appearance, better than a lot of newer ones (that's
jumping to a conclusion though, since I haven't seen yours yet).

My Grandfather (Dad's Dad) and my Grandmother (Mom's Mom) were both
interested in Iris.  My Grandfather used to order new Iris and visit Long's
every season to see the latest.  He was always questing for a really good
orange Iris right up into the 80's when he died.  I remember him pointing
out his latest wonderful orange Iris every year, especially during the 60's
(when my impression is that they were considered rare and wonderful), and
how much loving care he gave them.  Most of his new ones died in a couple
of years after blooming out or rotting, and there were usually only a
couple of orange spots in his garden every year.  Quite a few he threw out
because they were really yellow or brown, or he just didn't like them.  The
same happened with pinks, but he wasn't as "into" them, and didn't have
many.  My Grandmother was content to grow the old ones her Grandmother and
Mother had grown, and to trade with neighbors, and such.  She never even
knew the names of any of hers, they were just known by description (but she
knew which was which, every one of them).  In later years, she got some
more modern ones from my Grandfather, mostly via me.  I still have some of
those Iris from my Grandparents, but none ever had names with them, and a
lot I've never figured out.  Most have been resorted so many times that I
don't know where I got most of them any more.  I used to dig from vacant
lots and farmyards and trade too.  Anything that matched is generally all
in one place together now too, so I have no way to know if I got it one
time or a dozen.   I know I have a white that I think is 'New Snow' that
came to me in at least six different ways.

I'm not aware of either Grandparent having grown any Iris from seed, but I
know seedlings sometimes came up and were allowed to mature in my
Grandmother's garden.  I have a few (not great ones, but I like them) that
were probably volunteers in her garden, or perhaps later in mine.
Regrettably, even though I'm sure my Grandfather kept records, it is all
lost, and the yard is long since transformed into a lawn (none were saved,
other than the few I already had from him).  My Grandmother, of course,
kept no records either.  So, all the records for plants in my family start
with me.  I've probably lost a lot of really nice plants over the years
too.

I would love to find an orange equal to 'One Desire', which is the best
pink I know of.  I realize it's old in form and age, but I like it best (so
far), and it grows and blooms well.

I'm not even old - yet - just a little light snow on top so far.
Definitely a bit old-fashioned though.


Dave

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