Just got this message from our Iris Society President.

Hidden in the fine print of the Bay View Gardens catalog from Joe Ghio.

POSTSCRIPT

IN 1963 we announced our first introductions on a mimeograph flyer printed on the Mt. Eden High School machine where I began my teaching career. From there to today has been a long, exciting, wondrous journey. Now in the ninth decade of my life, the time has come to wind up the journey and concentrate on what all was about: Hybridizing. The trip began in 1953 when I placed my first iris order with Schreiner's Gardens - $7.50 for 8 of the most popular irises of the time. And now we announce the closing of the circle. We are excited and pleased to announce that starting in either 2020
or 2021, depending on stock, SCHREINER'S GARDENS
will be the introducer of Ghio bearded iris creations.
Bay View Gardens will become iris archive history.

So, another iris garden succumbs to time.

Not another one... So sad to see. Good to see that they had a good and long career.

Thanks for the info, Carl.

Thanks Carl! I understand at that age, he not wanting to continue selling but so sad for us, his service is excellent. I always received impeccably filled orders and very healthy rhizomes.

So very sad indeed, but happy for Joe! I hope I can still play with my iris at ages 80 to 89.
Edit to fix ages.🙂

Just to clarify. I crossed the 80 line this past year which now puts me in the 9th decade of my life. The hybridizing will continue and all future Ghio irises will be introduced by Schreiner's. Gives me some time to begin enjoying the life style of the rich and famous..........

GuiseppeJ - a BIG welcome to the forum!!

Carl ~ Thank you so much for sharing that important information. At least Joe is still going to be hybridizing. It is a lot of work, maintaining a huge business and at the same time, tending to seedlings and doing all the work necessary with that.

That is why he is "excited and pleased to announce...", as his work load can be reduced, but at the same time, he can focus on bringing new beauties into the world.

Thank you, Joe, for all of your wonderful hard work and dedication for all of these many years. We look forward to more beautiful irises from you in the future.

Joseph/Guiseppe, siamo onorati di averti tra noi e di voler conoscere tutti i tuoi segreti in crescita!

He not only did his introductions, but people will miss his lovely grab bags.

@GuiseppeJ Thank you for all the wonderful contributions you have made, to the world of Iris growers. I hope 'Adriatic Noble' will be of some hybrid use, next year. I appreciate your help, locating that Dahlia, too.
Enjoy your life of retirement. I am sure you will have plenty enough to still keep you busy.

GuiseppeJ to the Forum and so so much for all your hard work and the joy it brings to our gardens. I completely understand why you would want to wind down on the sales side and focus on hybradizing.
Hey, Brad has been showing us huge amounts of pictures of seedlings you are evaluating. I think we all feel like you should introduce them all! We love your Irises!!!

I just read that in his catalog this morning. It looked like they were going to do his introductions. I'm not sure if that means he will still be making crosses but just not doing his own marketing? Guess we'll see.

As I understand (what he said), Joe will still be hybridizing and hopefully producing more beauties which will come to market.

Schreiner's will be doing the mass production of Ghio bearded irises going forward, so that will be our go-to place for Ghio irises after this year.

(Like others, I am wondering about the PCIs....)

Marilyn,
Me too regarding the PCI's. Schreiner doesn't carry them, at least not yet. Hopefully? Joe had some PCI's in the pipe line that are amazing.

and thank you for the advancement of our favorite flower, @guissepej.

congratulations on your your retirement.

many of your irises have graced our many gardens over the years, and i look forward to many more of your creations. i am an admirer of your flowers, and appreciate the bubbles and ruffles of the newer varieties.

i am glad that you are not discontinuing the hybridizing portion of your life's work.

brad's photos on this site have given us glimpses of your extremely exciting introductions on the horizon, and i look forward to the many new ones, and congratulations on your retirement wonders.

to the Iris Forum @GuiseppeJ !


I'm so happy you found someone to do the intros for you and I wish you good luck indeed with the 'rich and famous' life style!



for all the loveliness you've shard with the rest of us so far.

Another to the Iris Forum @GuiseppeJ ! Hurray!

One of my first Ghio irises that I ordered back in the early 90's was Olympiad, Ghio, 1983-4. A lot of irises have come and gone from my gardens, but Olympiad has been here since and will stay forever! This iris (and all the bubble ones) impressed me so much that even today it is among my top favorites. It's almost like a dream it is so impressive.

So Thank You Mr. Ghio for all your years of creating a lot of beauty. Please know your irises are at home here, especially Olympiad!

Joe/G- Thank you for creating the lovely Magical and My Beloved. Truly survivors in my southern garden and so very beautiful in form and color.

TBGDN said:One of my first Ghio irises that I ordered back in the early 90's was Olympiad, Ghio, 1983-4. A lot of irises have come and gone from my gardens, but Olympiad has been here since and will stay forever! This iris (and all the bubble ones) impressed me so much that even today it is among my top favorites. It's almost like a dream it is so impressive.

So Thank You Mr. Ghio for all your years of creating a lot of beauty. Please know your irises are at home here, especially Olympiad!

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Olympiad')
• Uploaded by TBGDN

Leon ~ Yes, that truly is a beauty!