Clarence Mahan
In the New Zealand Iris Society popularity poll in 1996, there were actually twelve on the "Top Ten" list. This was because eight irises tied for 5 th place, each receiving the same number of points. Tall bearded irises remained the most popular type of iris in New Zealand, receiving 35% of all votes cast. The cultivars that ended up getting the highest number of voting points, however, represent a great diversity of type. So here were the most popular irises in New Zealand last year:
| Rank | Name |
Hybridizer & Introduction Yr |
Type of Iris |
1. |
Butter and Sugar | McEwen, 77 | Siberian |
2. |
Windrose | Blyth, 89/90 | SDB |
3. |
Silverado | Schreiner's, 87 | TB |
4. |
Kirigamine | Unregistered | Setosa |
5. |
Loudmouth | Rich, 70 | AB |
| Ingleside | R. Harvey, 91 | TB | |
| Pure Allure | Richie, 87 | SDB | |
| Harpswell Haze | McEwen, 77 | Siberian | |
| Crown Sterling | Moldovan, 72 | TB | |
| Silver Edge | McEwen, 74 | Siberian | |
| Lucy's Blue Silk | Delaney, 86/87 | IB | |
| Bumblebee Deelite | Norrick, 86 | MTB |
The Species Group of the British Iris Society has an interesting Bulletin, and I always look forward to its arrival in the mail. For overseas members, the dues are ten pounds for three years. The dues may be submitted to the Treasurer, Mr. Charles Lyte, Carters Corner Place, Cowbeech Rd, nr. Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 4HX, England. In the February 1997 issue of the Bulletin, there was an interesting item on an iris species not particularly well-known in North America by Mr. Chris Rose, who has been editor for the Bulletin.
In Brian Mathew's The Iris (London, 1989), the author states that "An unforgettable sight for me when I visited Iran one year was a scattering of clumps of this iris [Iris imbricata] amid red oriental poppies on the scree slopes of the high Elburz." For a long time botanists confused the yellow-flowered Iris imbricata with FLAVESCENS (or I. flavescens as it was called in former times). This species is native to Iran and northward into eastern Transcaucasia. Mr. Rose's article describes his success in growing this species from seed:
It was thought that this description of the experience of growing I. imbricata from seed might be useful to others who might like to try it. This could be quite beneficial considering that I. imbricata has not been widely used in breeding garden irises.
The Festival Crown Plate, presented to the New Zealand Iris Society by Anne Blanco White, is awarded by that society for meritorious service. In 1996, this award went to Dora Sparrow, one of the founding members of the New Zealand Iris Society. Ms Sparrow has held many offices in various iris societies and is widely respected for her expertise in all aspects iris growing, hybridizing and showing. She has hybridized various types of irises, and in particular is known for her work with Pacific Coast Natives. Over the years she has imported many irises to New Zealand for donation to the Christchurch Botanic Garden and other public gardens. A long-time member of AIS, we congratulate Dora on the well-deserved honors bestowed upon her.
The new Chairman of the Iris Society of Southern Africa, AndrË Buitendag, has advised me that the annual dues in that society for overseas members are $10.00, plus $2.00 if you wish to receive the Bulletin by airmail. Having had a number of items damaged or lost when surface mail was used, airmail is definitely recommended. AndrË also advised that the many friends of Graeme Morgan may correspond with him at this address: P.O. Box 71, Sterkstroom 5425, South Africa.
During my trip to England this spring I was able to obtain three recently published books on irises, all quite excellent for the material covered. If you do not have another means of acquiring these books, most book dealers will special order them for you.
The first book I will mention is in German, and is the work of a superb horticulturist, Susanne Weber. For fifty years, Susanne was the right-hand of Grafin Zeppelin at her famous nursery. Her book is Iris: Die besten Arten und Sorten f¸r den Garden (Verlag Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co, Stuttgart, 1997). The publisher's address is Wollgrasweg 41, 70599 Stuttgart (Hohenheim), Germany. This is a lovely book with 107 beautiful color pictures. Even though I do not read German, I much enjoy looking through this book. It is a book intended for the gardener, not the botanist or the specialist; but the botanist and specialist will find much of interest. It has some excellent garden plans incorporating irises, and a list of European and American nurseries where one can obtain irises.
A Guide to Species Irises, Their Identification and Cultivation (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1997) was produced under the auspices of the The Species Group of the British Iris Society. A number of iris authorities contributed to this monumental work, and I was fortunate enough to get the autographs of several of them in my treasured copy, i.e. Anne Banco White, Brian Mathew, Nigel Service and Peter Maynard. (Now I shall have to get Jim Waddick to sign it also, since he wrote the section on Iris pariensis.) There are a nice selection of color plates and some excellent maps by William R. Killens and line drawings by Christabel King. This is the definitive modern monograph on the subject. No one who wants to be an iris "expert" can be without this wonderful book.
The third book I found this spring is The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises by Geoff Stebbings. This book was published jointly this year by David & Charles Publishers (UK) and Timber Press (USA). Geoff Stubbings is currently Features Editor of the Royal Horticultural Society's journal The Garden. With this sort of credential it is surely redundant to say that this book on irises is very well written. There are chapters on all types of irises and such topics as hybridizing, using irises as cut flowers, landscaping with irises and cultivation. This book has many useful appendices and many attractive color plates. A lovely work.
What can I say? For those of us fortunate enough to attend the 75 th anniversary fete of the British Iris Society at Hadlow in Kent, the garden of England, it was a marvelous experience. The tours were educational and delightful. The programs arranged by the British Iris Society were first-rate. The courtesies and kindness of our hosts were beyond any reasonable expectation. Most of us who attended this convention combined our attendance with a visit to the Chelsea flower show, about which I will only say that I now know what paradise must be.
Everyone was apologetic because a late freeze had damaged many irises and delayed bloom beyond normal expectations. But there were many irises to be seen in glorious gardens. I was fortunate enough to take the tour to Wisley with the learned Ray Jeffs as a guide. Many of the American median irises on trial there were doing quite well, and Dick Sparling's beautiful white border bearded iris ALLENDALE (1989) was near perfection.
The work that the Kent Group put into the planning and conduct of this convention was thoroughly evident. Thelma Naylor who served as registrar deserves a special thank you. The efforts she made to assist overseas visitors were extraordinary. Berney and Alice Baughen surely deserve a gold medal for their many contributions. To the fine people in the Kent Group who worked on this affair: "Thank you!" To the British Iris Society: "Happy 75 th Birthday!"