Just wanted to pass along an excellent article by Don Spoon at Winterberry Iris Gardens. If you want to do iris breeding right and want to know the genetics behind all the traits you're looking for, he has most of it pinned down. It does require studying, but he uses it to train youngsters in the science and mechanics of iris breeding and has the best info on the subject I've seen so far.

http://www.winterberryirises.c...

Thanks Ivan

Thanks Ivan!

Ivan_N_Tx said:Just wanted to pass along an excellent article by Don Spoon at Winterberry Iris Gardens. If you want to do iris breeding right and want to know the genetics behind all the traits you're looking for, he has most of it pinned down. It does require studying, but he uses it to train youngsters in the science and mechanics of iris breeding and has the best info on the subject I've seen so far.

http://www.winterberryirises.c...

Ivan ~ Welcome to the Irises Forum!

Thank you for that information. I go back and read all of their posts on their website several times a year, as they are very informative.

Unfortunately for many of us, time is the biggest obstacle in breeding for specific traits since it takes multiple crosses over many generations as well as a lot of space to bloom them out. But even for many of us who would only like to cross our 2 favorite blooms, Don shows a very good way to save your pollen if you have to wait for a later bloomer.

I hear Keppel has some good videos on iris breeding that I have yet to look into but this one at Stout Gardens in Oklahoma is really good for beginners.

https://www.facebook.com/stout...

Ivan ~ for sharing that video.

Unfortunately for many of us, time is the biggest obstacle in breeding for specific traits since it takes multiple crosses over many generations as well as a lot of space to bloom them out. But even for many of us who would only like to cross our 2 favorite blooms, Don shows a very good way to save your pollen if you have to wait for a later bloomer.

I hear Keppel has some good videos on iris breeding that I have yet to look into but this one at Stout Gardens in Oklahoma is really good for beginners.

https://www.facebook.com/stout...

Ivan and thanks so much for the info!!!

i call this one "Strawberry Dream" . . . it is a cross between Rocket and a noid collected in 1987 that resembles 7 Hills.

Very nice!

i call this adventure "Rumspringa" . . .it is a cross between Coffee Whispers and Thornbird.

These are all from one pod [los Coyotes X Noid (resembles 7 hills)].

campsharyn said: These are all from one pod [los Coyotes X Noid (resembles 7 hills)].

I love the fine veining on this one . Its siblings are nice too.

Different colors from the same pod, which why hybridizing is such fun. Also why one should pick seedpods if you don't want different flowers appearing, the old iris change color myth.