Re: REB:Rebloomers Revisited

>Betty W. writes
> ... If everything in the
>> cumulative check list were put to a litmus test, much of it would have to
>be
>> removed.  I would personally consider that a disservice to hybridizers
>that wish
>> to include remontancy as a characteristic.

I can certainly understand Betty's reluctance to potentially lose 
valuable information in the Reblooming Check List, but I don't believe my 
suggestions to provide definitions within the reporting guidelines would 
result in any such loss.  I'm not asking for stringent definitions that 
require the digging and evaluation of clumps to see which rhizomes are 
increases of which others that may or may not have bloomed in that same 
year.  All I want are reasonable definitions such as "same clump, same 
garden, same year" (if that's the case) that will provide understanding 
and consistency to the reports.

I would think a certain amount of "tightening" of reporting procedures 
would work to the great advantage of hybridizers researching remontant 
qualities in potential parents.  For example, if a cultivar is listed as 
reblooming in zones 4-9, but it turns out the people reporting it in 
zones 4-6 mistakenly assumed the fall bloom on their newly planted CA rzs 
 was reportable rebloom, wouldn't the hybridizer want to know that the cv 
in question reblooms only in warm climates?

I think providing clearer reporting guidelines might also increase the 
number of reports submitted.  I wonder how many folks don't report simply 
because they don't understand what qualifies to be reported?

>Then Mike wrote:
>I do not belong to RIS or have I seen one of their rebloom reports. I would
>think the purpose of it is to help someone select reblooming iris for their
>area. I would think their main goal is to have iris blooming at other times
>than just spring. The report should help them do that.

I absolutely agree, and this is my primary concern.  I have read a number 
of complaints over the years, either on this list or at GardenWeb or via 
private email, from folks (mostly newbie iris gardeners) who purchased 
"rebloomers" expecting rebloom and getting none. This is sometimes the 
result of disreputable sellers using misleading advertising to sell 
rebloomers (check out SpringHill's "Sub-Zero" reblooming iris 
collection), but it can just as easily result from perfectly reputable 
commercial growers relying on information found in the Reblooming 
Checklist to identify rebloom zones in their catalogs.

The disappointment and frustration these gardeners experience when the 
irises they purchase don't rebloom promotes ill will towards rebloomers, 
the source(s) of the rebloomers, and perhaps even irises in general ... 
and that doesn't do any of us any good.  Of course, any experienced 
grower knows that rebloom is never guaranteed and that rebloom reports 
must always be taken in the larger context, but newbies don't have that 
understanding.  If they see a rebloomer listed somewhere as reblooming in 
zone 4, that's what they expect to see happen in their own zone 4 garden. 
 RIS can do its part to reduce this sort of disappointment by making sure 
that everyone who submits reports understands what qualifies as 
reportable rebloom.
>
>*legitimate, reportable rebloom* How many notarized witnesses do you have to
>have? I would think it would be under an honor thing.

Yes, honor has its place here as it does in all things, but the real 
issue is understanding the definition of reportable rebloom.
>
>If a hybredizer put *REB* on his registration form would he be punished in
>some way if it did not rebloom for anyone else? Should we have rebloom
>police?

No, and no.
>
>Am I going to have to put a label on each increase so I can be *legitimate*?

Not unless that's the directive of the RIS ... which would be a 
ridiculous requirement, IMHO.

Laurie


-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/shadowood/irisintro.html
USDA zone 3b, AHS zone 4 - northern MN
normal annual precipitation 26-27"
slightly acid clay soil

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