Re: CULT: Cyber trial gardens

I think this email pretty much sums up the misconception that is being exhibited so far and what I have been trying to get at.  Note that it is not directed at any one person even though their comments may be included below.  They are only the latest representatives of a mindset.


<<With all due respect I appreciate and applaud the positive approach!   I 
truly do.  But if an iris won't live for me (my main concern) it really  isn't 
going to matter much what type of branching and bud count it WOULD have  
presented! >>

I don't think you do appreciate and certainly NOT applauding it at all.  That is a VERY self-centered approach.  AND I WILL STATE AGAIN, if it doesn't bloom no data for that is taken.  How hard is that to understand?  The viewpoint of a comment like that is presupposing FAILURE which is kin to a self-fullfilling prophecy.

The "lives or dies" approach and how it grows in your region or locale is very defeatist.  Yes, that is good to know the gardenablitiy of an alreay established variety that has been Registered and or Introduced.  However, if it is the intent to develop better Iris that live in your area and all that has been done is to select amoung what survives, without regard  to low bud count or have poor branching,  THEN THAT IS ALL THAT LIKELY BE GOTTEN IN FUTURE GENERATIONS.  How much $$$ a Trial Garden evaluator spends, if any, would need to be determined by the person wanting the information and data taken, if any such information is being gathered.  Plus a Hybridizer would be sending their seedlings for FREE.  If you are interested in FRee Iris , then you should become a Trial Garden for a Hybridizer wanting to introduce and register new varieties.  A Varietal Trial Garden could simply be based on RESPONSIBLE people reproting on what thay have already bought and growing.  If you aren't willing to but the more expensive Intros, then don't.  If you don't agree to the terms (and none have been set up by the way) then you don't do the garden or the evaluation.  PERIOD.  Denouncement of the proposition before any real ground work has been laid is a rather negative attitude.  

How can someone who LOVES plants, even our wonderful Iris with all its potential faults,  
not want to be part of a solution and the improvement with CONSTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE 
thoughts to contribute?  Maybe no one should answer that.  It might be too depressing to 
actually know what is running around is some of those heads.

What is YOUR solution?!  I have yet to really hear anyone (except Char and Linda) 
state anything of any real significance except to gripe about "all the work" involved.


<<Without some objective parameters such as branching, bud count,  stalk 
height, flowers size, purple based foliage, etc. the survey is of value  only to 
those who live in the Death Zone.>>
Bob, >>
 
INCORRECT, it works in reverse as well!  How about varieties from CA or elsewhere,
my locale, NC?!  Do you not think I ( or others) would like to breed varieties that grow
 in your area as well a mine or Linda's or Bob's?

 
<<If I'm understanding your approach to the situation we would buy all the  new 
introductions each year (what the wallet would allow) and only report on  
those that LIVE?  How would we determine what would NOT grow in our  area?  And 
how to best avoid wasted money and energy?>>  

NOT what has been suggested at all, but maybe should be discussed further.

 
<<Count me frustrated!  Maybe I'm missing a link here, but seems like a  lot of 
work involved not to produce the information many of us need.  >>

Yes, you are missing it completely.  It is a group making a concerted effort amoung
hybridizers and growers to get actual data, general and/or specific (PREDETERMINED 
by who wants to know the WHAT information and someone WILLING to write it down 
the information in an appropriate and well designed Evaluation Form) instead of the 
haphazard reports and gossip of what grows where and how pretty it is or isn't.  It is 
also an effort to give questionable plants such awards as the Dykes Medal where we 
all know it is not necessarily deserved.
 
I am unlikely to respond to anymore of these negative and confiningly ridiculous emails 
in the open Forum and simply dismiss them as just that.  Those of us who are willing to 
take the Trial Garden group to it's next level WILL, with or without you all.  Those of you
willing to actively participate and be positive toward a common goal keep in touch.  Yes, 
that also includes those who are just READING all these posts.  Come on speak out.  
Although,the negative comments have enabled us to suss out what we would be up against 
in the "Real World".

Paul Archer
Raleigh, NC  Zone 7

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