Re: Re: CULT: survival & list

I think that Linda's goals should remain rigorous. It is only if we stretch the goals will real progress be made. If one expects a plant to survive (maybe thrive would be pushing it) in the hands of the folks who don't read directions, live in the wrong zone, etc., then it will continue to be ignored by the Harriet Homeowners. I personally think that reblooming most years in just about every zone in the US would be a nice goal, hence reblooming consistently for me will be part of my breeding program.

I gave some cross-bred amaryllis seedlings away several months ago, still in their little seedling 6-packs, and one gal told me yesterday that she wondered why mine already had leaves almost a foot long and hers (oh,my) were still scrunched up in the original container, probably one gross mass of roots. Maybe that's an extreme, but folks just don't follow common sense occasionally, so the breeders should anticipate and push the limits.

How about irises that tolerate having their rhizomes planted a couple inches deep, the most likely naive thing to do?

George
Harpers Ferry WV Zone 6
9/12/2005, you wrote:
In a message dated 9/11/05 5:22:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lmann@volfirst.net writes:

<< Add to that high disease burden here because my goal is to grow only
cultivars that can tolerate such conditions - no spray, no grooming, no clean
cultivation. >>

After several years of this, have you ever considered lowering your
standards, as it were?

As I have understood you, your interest has been to test, at an extreme, for
your own pleasure and information, and also to select stock for a personal
breeding program, the goal of which is to develop irises with modern form and
color which can survive the conditions in your locality, and your own
horticultural style.

It seems to me that very few highly developed garden plants are likely to
persist with no care, and fewer still thrive, nor is it clear to me they should
be expected to do so.

I am curious; how many bearded Iris cultivars of the half that survived the
first year are still with you, and doing well, at the five year point? Have you
a list of those names handy?

Cordially,

Anner Whitehead
Richmond VA USA

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