Re: TB, HYB, HIST mystery of my grandfather

Dave,

I would now agree. From the amount of responses both direct and posted there
is much more interest than I would have thought. Look for some pictures come
spring. If you like I am sure we could arrange to get some to you.

As far as hardiness, I had no idea that oranges tended to be weak. Very
interesting. These are tough as nails. As you know it gets pretty cold here
and summer is hot and very dry and our soil pretty much sucks. If it can
grow here it you can probably grow it anywhere. Then last 20 years they
spent in my grandmothers garden they were all but abandoned as she lost her
sight and quite working much in the garden. They did fine. Since we moved
them they have exploded at my fathers house, again under neglect, but now
with an automatic sprinkling system. I figure we might have about 1000
rhizomes to introduce by next year if there is interest when I post
pictures.

These sound like something you would like. Earlier I said they were the
color of canned peaches, as I think about it more that is a bad description.
More like the color of cantaloupe flesh. The lighter looks like a faded
version of the darker. They look best with reds, purples, and some of the
more more peachy pinks. I have not seen any selfs that look like them. Most
oranges I have have seen are garishly bright orange-peel color. These are
very soft orange, like a cantaloupe. The petal structure is very old
fashionedsimple and clean. From what you have said, I am sure you would
like them. Keep in touch and I will make sure you get the picture and if you
like some plants.

k

> From: DFerguson@cabq.gov
> Reply-To: iris@hort.net
> Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 12:37:45 -0600
> To: iris@hort.net
> Subject: Re: [iris] 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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