Test Gardens
- To: "Sibrob"
- Subject: [sibrob] Test Gardens
- From: C* W*
- Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 23:36:58 -0400
From: "Carol Warner" <draycott@qis.net>
I have enjoyed reading the pros and cons of test gardens and suppose as
vice president of SSI I had better add my two cents worth. I'm sure that
the board will consider a proposal if one is submitted or the subject is
raised when we meet again, possibly in Iowa. I do not recall any
discussion on that subject in the past. Many of the officers and directors
are slightly busy shipping and transplanting irises at this time but we'll
catch up eventually.
Sadly, it has been my experience that many public gardens are not well
versed in the finer points of growing siberian irises (or most irises in
general). We had two in the Washington, DC area for a number of years but
labels were lost or incorrectly placed and plants were not well grown.
Often at conventions the public gardens have the worst showing of the
guests. One person and not a club should be responsible for overseeing the
garden, otherwise there are always excuses about who didn't weed and who
was supposed to spray or water at what time.
I am a tour garden for the AIS Convention in 2001 and am growing one third
of the beardless guests. I check those plants (as well are the 200 or so
bearded guests) almost every day for signs of rot, botrytis or borer or
anything that might indicate that a plant is not growing properly. I
couldn't do that if the plants weren't right here in my own back yard.
Experience has taught me that I must pot up plants from certain areas of
the country or plants which have been regularly irrigated or I will
definitely lose the plants. I fear that public gardens in particular may
have problems without very dedicated guidance.
I also think that it may not be a good idea to rate plants which are up for
awards. Too many people vote on what they read instead of what they see
in the garden.
This is a good subject for more discussion and I will take your ideas to
the SSI Board.
Carol Warner
Zone 6/7
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