[SpaceAgeRobin] DATA Collecting on Consistency

This kind of data collection Michael (?and Cathy) are doing is going to be invaluable in the future.  MM, I realize this is a lot of work, but I sure hope you keep doing it.
 
Just to keep interest stirring--I have a piece in *Tall Talk* in the Spring issue about inconsistent SA expression--and go on to say that ALL bearded irises show inconsistent expression in things like ruffles, lace, behavior etc. and suggest a reason--the complex hybrid nature of our garden varieties.  The range of climates from which come the ancestral, collected clones on which our towering edifice of varieties is based is extraordinary--translated into US climate comparisons it includes both N and S California, Oregon, inland from New Mexico to Texas, north to Idaho, Montana and even Manitoba.
 
The genetics that govern behavior, bloom time, growth cycles and so on are so muddled in our advanced generation hybrids that it is amazing the varieties even survive.  That so many do--and even thrive--over a wide range of climates is astounding to me.
 
We are more aware of the variability in the SA traits than we are in the other variables of modern irises, but they exist, and run in parallel with the SA's.  THORNBIRD's variability in color is non-SA I would think, resembling that of the historic LADY MOHR, colored somewhat similarly, and extraordinarily variable from my experience in judging both in garden and on show bench. 
 
Even so, with the SA's some consistency in causes of variation have surfaced, I think, in our conversations in this Robin, including, but not limited to--
 
--soil pH, with different cv's responding in a variety of ways to pH factors, some performing more exhuberantly in lower pH conditons (Bill Burleson's experiments with MESMERIZER), some more SA-responsive in higher (Suttons and Burlesons comments on DEVONSHIRE CREAM)
 
--general fertility of the soil--noted here, and reading between the lines, in other comments: with all SA's--the richer the nutrition, the more elaborate the SA expression
 
--soil or air temps, AND/OR day lengths, temps or soil conditions at time of bloom initiation (fall), development (early spring), late development (approaching bloom)--climate zone variations noted.  The larger the zone number, the more elaborate (and consistent) the SA, it appears
 
--perhaps angle of the sun and intensity of insolation--ditto (climate zone variations)
 
--culture, including patterns of cultivation, presence or absence of root competition from other plants, presence or absence of mulches (affecting many of the above factors)--noted here
 
--more exotic or esoteric effects metaphorically expressed as the grower's presence and manner of acting in the garden (what my maternal grandfather described as "the footsteps of the farmer,")  or God alone knows what
 
--in addition to genetic substructure which appears to be highly relevant to developing consistency.  To this end MM's data collecting is aimed and will be especially useful.
 
A comment on the side of the above, the mention of SOLAR FIRE brings to mind Robin Shadlow's experience both with it and Lloyd Zurbrigg's GLADIATRIX.  Both have exhibited more elaborated SA expression for her than what is reported elsewhere, but that is her story to tell.  Robin?  Are you out there? (shovelling snow and ice?)
 
We will need to revamp our designated cross-parents in the next round of the data-generating crosses using Michael's collected data on performance consistency--but that didn't even need to be said, I think.  It seems self-evident.
 
Michael--would it be worth while for you to add experience with SA's from Pierre, Colleen, Bill Burleson and other z 7- 8-9 folks?
 
Good work!
 
Neil Mogensen  z  7 western NC mountains

Yahoo! Groups Links
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index