SNEAK PREVIEW:
H.I.P.s. HAPPENING GARDENS

Return to Table of Contents	By Dorothy Stiefel, New York	Return to ROOTS Article index

On May 30, 1999, a group of intrepid "HIPSters", Region Two irisarians, and other interested central New York gardeners spent a part of the Memorial Day holiday weekend touring five gardens scheduled to be on display for the year 2000 event: the HIPs HAPPENING mini-convention.
....Upstate New York's iris season was early this year, and bloom was plentiful although we usually expect peak TB bloom about the first weekend in June. True to the season, the day turned quite warm, and the tents and shelters with refreshments and cold drinks provided a welcome respite well before the tour ended.
....It was a "self-guided" tour, and my companion Millie Horak and I decided to start at the most distant garden, and work our way closer to home. This meant a drive to Mexico. Mexico, New York, that is. We followed directions to the home of Liz and Larry Dishaw, where we found their well-kept and sense-satisfying garden set on an 80 acre farm. There is much to see at this garden and one could easily get distracted from the irises by the many other perennials, a garden train, a small bog garden, and a birdhouse garden. Then, one could be distracted from the gardens by other attractions in the form of ornamental pheasants, peacocks, ducks, and geese. Equally interesting are the colorful parakeets, which spend the summer months in a screened garden gazebo, amusing onlookers with their athletic antics.
....Iris bloom was good here, and should be even better for the convention. Among the historics seen were PERFECTION (Barr 1880), BLACK PRINCE (Perry 1900) and MME. HENRI CAYEUX (Cayeux 1924). It was interesting to compare the brilliant sun yellow OLA KALA (Jake Sass 1943), to ZANTHA (Fay 1947), another very yellow iris. It was gratifying to see Kenneth Smith's PINK RUFFLES (1940) looking just the way it does in my garden. I made the acquaintance of WESTERN HILLS (Muhlestein for F. A. Brown 1951), with its burnt gold tones and darker brown brushing. Lothario (Schreiner 1942) impressed me enough to gain a place on my "GET IT! List". GALA MADRID (Peterson 1967) was an old friend seen again. This was included in one of my first iris orders, neither one of us was "historic" then, but time does go on!
....All too soon, it was time to move on. We hopped back into the car and proceeded to the garden of Diane and Clayton Crandall. As I searched for the right roads, I couldn't help but think that conventioneers who believe New York State=New York City are in for a surprise. This is rural country.
....We passed the home of world-famous (well, OK, Northeast and Atlantic states-famous) Grandma Brown's Baked Beans®, and were at the Crandalls shortly. They have put a lot of work into their garden, starting out with "2 bushes and a row of rhubarb!". The guest irises are contained in landscape timber bordered rectangular beds with wide pathways between. This makes for easy viewing of both historics like the gorgeous dark SWAZI PRINCESS (Schreiner's 1978) and contemporary offerings such as the indescribably colored RAKU BLAZE (Aitken 1996), and SPLASH OF RASPBERRY (Hoage 1995), with its wonderful candelabra branching. One hundred guest irises have been planted here, along with the Crandalls' own collection.
....Next we were the guests of Anna Mae Cummings at her "Iris Haven". Anna Mae has been gardening in this spot since 1961, and selling historic irises for some time. She became an avid historics fan sooner than many of us, finding that many older varieties are well adapted to her challenging short-summer climate.
....Iris Haven is situated on a rolling acre of ground; this has not stopped Anna Mae from utilizing nearly all of it! One south-facing slope has become a large iris garden, though the degree of slope would daunt may gardeners. EDENITE (Plough 1959) was putting on quite a show this day, with its red-black tones splendidly illuminated by the intense sunlight. LOUVOIS (Cayeux 1936) attracted my attention with its plushy brown-red falls. Others that caught my eye were the unmistakable MULBERRY ROSE (Schreiner's 1941), HELEN COLLINGWOOD (Ken Smith 1949), SHANNOPIN (Pillow 1940), and FRANK ADAMS (Lapham 1937). Newer varieties that gained a second look included the lacy, floriferous, really pink LADY BE GOOD (Robinson 1987), and the delicately tinted pink amoena FLAMINGO WAY (Schreiner's 1985).
....Another sloped area near the deck has become a rock garden with dwarf irises and creeping phlox for early spring color. Other areas are planted with roses and primroses. Around the goldfish-stocked pond, pseudacorus, laevigata, and siberians grow in pots, while in the pond are the beautiful pink and yellow water lilies that seem extra exotic when encountered in a home garden. There was a lot to see, but we had more gardens to visit!
....Enchantment Acres, home of Donna and Ronald James, is a newer commercial garden in Hannibal. The James' have entered the realm of historic irises in a big way, having planted over 750 varieties in the past few years. They have the room (five acres) to do it, and an extremely sandy soil that is the epitome of "good drainage." There are also many varieties of daylilies and hostas on display. Conventioneers will want to stroll down to the acre and a half farm pond to check out the landscape plantings and gazebo. Another area to spend some time in is the shop where iris and garden collectibles may be viewed and purchased.
....An area of special interest features introductions of New York State iris hybridizers. Among these are MARY E. NICHOLLS, SUNMIST, MAYGOLD, BLACK WATCH and VALOR from Colonel Jesse C. Nicholls, and BARBI and PINK CHEEKS from L. F. Randolph. And, there are some unknown varieties submitted by irisarians who would dearly love to be able to put the real name on the tag, rather than garden names like MOM'S MUDDY ONE!
....Though a bit tired of tramping around in the sun, we had one more garden to visit. Phoenix Flower Farm, operated by Helen and John Schueler with able assistance from sons Delos and Matthew, is a well-established commercial venture and attracts a loyal local clientele. It features a large assortment of labeled perennial plants, shrubs and trees. There are especially good collections of irises, daylilies, hostas, and ornamental grasses.
....The guest irises are planted near a pond, nicely framed by a rail fence and shrub roses. There is a good number of MTB's, to please table iris lovers. There are also many Siberian irises on the premises, and some of the historics that may be in bloom include SUMMER SKY (Cleveland 1935), FAIRY DAWN (Scheffy 1953) and EARLY BLUEBIRD (McEwen 1970). Other interesting features include a small water garden and a rocky, dry, knoll planted with hardy cacti and succulents.
....The garden conveniently offers a vine-covered gazebo and several shady areas in which to sit and recharge for just a bit, which will be welcomed by some. But for those who can't get enough of looking at interesting plants-there is more than enough to keep one occupied for hours.
....We were very tired at the end of this day of garden traipsing but it was a wonderful kind of tiredness. HIPS conventioneers can look forward to a much more leisurely pace while enjoying the various features of these gardens. We'll see you there-Syracuse, New York, June 2-4, 2000!

Return to Table of Contents	Source: ROOTS Fall 1999	Return to ROOTS Article index