Re: ads for The Siberian Iris _ spring issue

 

Hi Anna
It may surprise you to know that I have only  met Jennifer Hewitt once at an AGM about six or seven  years ago .I didn't get a chance to speak to her as she was surrounded by other members and as I was a fairly new member at the time didn't want to but in. She still writes lots of articles for our journals and others so I believe she is still going strong,like you Anna mae.If you have a great interest in all things gardening it keeps you going.
Our weather here is nuts at the moment.Temperatures reached 30 this Easter weekend in the south east of UK and seems more like July than April.Everything is being pushed forward bringing the irises into bud and bloom very early.
I have bearded and beardless blooming at once.My PCI's are out now and lots of long scapes on Siberians,but none yet on s.Peter Hewitt,which I got from Alun Whithead two year's ago at a spring show.It was in full bloom and bought it on sight. Unfortunately it didn't flower last year so hoping it will this.
I do have some Bob Hollingworth sibs.'Lady Vanessa ,Lavender Fair and more,  all do well for me.I also have 'Ships are Sailing and Roaring Jelly,by Schaffer Saks,but both fail to flower .I think they are smothered by other plants so will have to move them,that or a big dose of manure might help.
My seeds of sibs I got from our society have germinated well. 'Lake Keuka,Dirigo Black Velvet ,King of Kings ,Hot Sketch and others.Patience is a virtue they say.I hope to see some in bloom,say,three years down the line!!!
I'm off to Wisley trial ground this morning to do some judging for British Clematis society.The day is cooler and overcast so I won't get too hot in the open field.
Happy gardening
Iris Clarke
----- Original Message -----
From: I*@aol.com
To: s*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: [sibrob] ads for The Siberian Iris _ spring issue

 

How is Jennifer doing? I didn't mean to lose contact with her but am such a poor snail letter writer. Does she have email? I would love to have it. I would love to come to England again but as I am 86 I don't think that is too do-able and it is very difficult to find someone that wants to travel at same time and do same things. I do have a quilting friend inear Windsor Castle that I could probably visit a couple days. But I don't think it is in my future. I hope your hybridizing will give you some good results. I have not been able to see why you Brits as so stuck on species and siberians that are such old introductions. I feel that the progress in larger flowers, newer colors, shapes and more garden effect for the same amt of work (& I also include many of the gardeners in the US-they'll pay as much for Perry's Blue, Snowcrest etc as for most of Currier's ierises and many of his were not too worthy and too inbred but certainly Marty Schafers and Bob Hollingworths and Bauer-Cobles and I think mine have improved the siberians since the 1970's due to the influence of White Swirl by Cassebeer.  anna mae

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