Re: re G.C. Bush iris and bloom report, convention, etc.

In a message dated 6/13/00 12:00:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
irisgardens@hotmail.com writes:

<< At the Siberian 
 convention, we were treated to a non-juried show and LAVENDER FAIR was one 
 of the stars. It is a TDF iris = to die for iris. Gawjus as Walter Moores 
 would say. >>

Hi Ellen,

LAVENDER FAIR was indeed striking.  Since we didn't get to see many Siberians 
in bloom at the convention, Tony and I and Gene Tremmel decided to take a 
detour through Michigan on the way home.  Monday morning we scouted out a 
perennial nursery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and then made our way to the garden 
of Jim and Jill Copeland in Lawton, Michigan.  I addition to Siberians we saw 
a number of their white I. pseudacorus seedlings and various forms of I. 
versicolor including the stiking violet and white MYSTERIOUS MONIQUE.  There 
were several gorgeous plantings of AQUATIC ALLIANCE.  Siberians we liked 
included SHIPS ARE SAILING, Schafer/Sacks' brilliant blue bitone; their 
lovely white COLD FROSTY MORNING; and their DROPS OF BRANDY, a hard to 
describe pastel with a darkspot in the center.

We spent the night in nearby Kalmazoo and went on to Ensata Gardens a short 
distance away in Galesburg.  John Coble and Bob Bauer showed us around the 
garden which had suffered a rain storm the previous day, but most stalks were 
up and showing off.  There were a number of Schafer/Sacks and Hollingworth 
Siberians, as well as their own introductions and seedlings.  Some noteworthy 
Bauer/Coble varieties were RIGAMAROLE, a double lilac; SHEBANG, full red 
violet double; GIGGLES, large light blue; and MAGNUM BORDEAUX, large deep red 
violet.  Although not new, Currier McEwen's REGENCY BUCK, deep blue violet, 
and REGENCY BELLE, blue violet bitone, were spectacular.  Tamberg's BERLIN 
RUFFLES, large blue violet, and BERLIN PURPLE WINE, deep red violet, were 
very attractive and made us glad we had obtained them this spring.  Hal 
Stahly's MOON SILK, near white and pale yellow, was growing taller than it 
usually does at home, making quite a show.  Some more Schafer/Sacks varieties 
looking good were FOND KISS, rosy pink blend; RIVERDANCE, ruffled bright blue 
with white edge; and NAVY FANFARE, full blue.  Last, but not least, was the 
first bloom on Lorena Reid's Japanese iris SPRINGTIME MELODY, pink and white 
stripes.

After lunch, we stopped at the Hollingworth home garden, but found that most 
of the irises had been moved to their "farm" a few miles away.  At the "farm" 
was LAVENDER FAIRE, looking as good as the one in the show at Iowa City.  
Some of the older Hollingworth varieties, JEWELLED CROWN, SULTAN'S RUBY, LADY 
VANESSA, HIGH STANDARDS, PAS-DE-DEUX etc. were in a display bed along with 
more recent SHALL WE DANCE, pale/full blue violet; SOMEBODY LOVES ME, ruffled 
medium blue with large white signal; BAND OF ANGELS, deep blue violet with 
white signal and wire edge; STRAWBERRY FAIR, fluted orchid pink; and 
BLUEBERRY FAIR, fluted soft blue violet.  There were hundreds and hundreds of 
seedlings planted in long rows.  Judy Hollingworth showed us some that they 
especially like and marked  about 30 seedlings that we thought were 
exceptional.

It was dark when we arrived home on Tuesday night, but we found quite a few 
Siberians still in bloom the next morning.  Among them were Hollingworth 
varieties BLUEBERRY FAIR, SHALL WE DANCE, JEWELLED CROWN, PAS-DE-DEUX and 
THAT'S MY BABY, a smaller round deep red violet with hardly any signal.  
Calvin Helsley's AT THE BALLET, ruffled orchid pink, and LOUISON, deep red 
violet, were also blooming along with McGarvey's late-blooming white ESTHER 
CDM and our MYSTIC LAGOON, wide medium blue with little signal.  Just  now 
opened was PATTY KAY HALL (Jack Norrick 98) nice deep blue with white signal. 
 We still have more Siberian bloom than they did in Iowa and our first 
Japanese just opened.  We're also seeing the tail end of bloom on various I. 
versicolor forms and ROY DAVIDSON and our white I. pseudacorus seedlings.

Dorothy Willott, Northern Ohio, Zone 5

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