Is everyone familiar with the AIS Iris Encyclopedia? I find it a very valuable resource for doing a little light research about specific iris cultivars. If you haven't done so you ought to give it a look.

i use it a lot, but seem to have trouble getting pictures, getting a lot of "error" messages....Arlyn

I've contributed many iris pictures to the data bases here on ATP and also cubits. I've never done so on the Iris Encyclopedia....has anyone done so?

I don't even know how to contribute here. Yes I have used the encyclpedia to double check things.

Yes, I have many pictures in the Wiki but I did not put there but was asked if this person could and I told her yes. I only use in once in a big moon because I think having the word iris in front of name of the cultivar is a pain and sometimes throws me off.

D

I contributed a large number of pictures up until they had to split it into different databases, and then suddenly I started having trouble so I stopped.

I did a few before I started Cubits. I'm not overly impressed with the way it's set up. And the info is only as good as the person that enters it. I don't see a lot of checking going on. Maybe I'm wrong, but on Cubits and on here Dee and I both check, and we know our irises-her the bearded, me the beardless.

Polly, you've touched on something that I've noticed. In checking iris "stats", and pics, I've noticed that there can be a wide difference...if you check growers websites, the wiki, ATP,Cubits, Dave's,etc, its 'no doubt some of these people are showing/describing the wrong iris! Some of this is no doubt due to human error, and some to improper ID, at some point in the past. Differences in height, or color "saturation, or intensity" can, of course, be explained by culture or climate,but I've noticed what I believe are errors in class, wrong picture, wrong intro date, etc.One would like to think that the AIS site would always be the "final word", but ,sadly, it dosen;t seem to be....Arlyn

Do you have access to the iris registry Arlyn. I would think that would be the most accurate for class, dates of registry, etc.

It is not 100% correct as remember people imput, but the description and such are pretty right on.

To me it is worth every penny it cost per year.

Really the only thing that is linked directly to the hybridizer.

Yes, I have access, Polly. I have a hard time logging in, though. I "go" to several sites, or forums that really give me log-in problems. I'm not sure if my problem is the old computor, or the old man trying to use it! I don't want anyone to think I'm "knocking" any of the sites i named above, my point was that a person has to be aware that mistakes are out there! The AIS site is great!Probably the most accurate of the bunch, but , they can only list the pics, or info that they are given! And if the wrong pic, or info is given them, and no one contacts them to challenge it, then we end up with an error on what we think is the "final word" site. A lot of iris are being sold, or "gifted" to people under the wrong name.And that's the name that they will be known as, from then on.So you end up with TWO iris being passed around as "Wabash"( just an example). So the water gets muddier....Arlyn

That's absolutely right, Arlyn, and why Dee and I are such sticklers for never trying to name a NOID. I know Caesars Brother, the siberian has gone by the wayside. No one knows what the real one is. But I'm hoping that's not going to happen as much with the new ones, between the registry, and so many pictures being taken of all aspects of the iris, such as close ups of the beards.

We really have to get it out to people to enjoy their NOIDS as NOIDS, don't try to identify them. The rule to ID them is to buy a known one of the variety you think it is, and wait a few years to see if they are the same. But who is going to do it. As much as a stickler as I am, I've only done it once, on a historic pallida I wanted to be sure of, with the help of the great guys at Superstition.

You might not be computer savvy, Arlyn, but you sure are iris savvy. So glad to have you on here and Cubits!

Thanks! All that being said, I have a lot of NOIDs, I want to put a name to. Just narrowing down the name to one or two, in order to purchase a "test" iris will be a real chore ! The thing that bothers me is the "test" iris going to be correct ?I guess if one buys from a reputable seller that's the best a person can do. Too bad we can't do DNA !...Arlyn

The entries in the Iris Encyclopedia are copied directly from the iris registry so the information should be pretty good. There are a few errors, but every database has errors.

If I was only allowed to use one source of information for irises, it would be the Iris Encyclopedia. It's nearly as complete as the online iris register (has more information than the register in some cases) with the added benefit of over 30,000 pictures. Fortunately, there are now many sources of information on irises on the web that compliment each other nicely. Just a couple of years ago, DG and the iris register were pretty much all there was.

Paul, I would encourage you to sign up and add photos to the Iris Encyclopedia if you are interested. They can always use more pictures. The only real headache is that the pictures need to be resized to be less than 75kb or they won't load. Don't know why they don't just automatically resize them like most other online databases Other than that, it is very simple.

And what reason do you have for identifying them? Are they heritage irises, or important to you for some reason, like they were your Moms, or is it just driving you nuts not to know, LOL.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying to ID a NOID as you're doing, and I applaud you for doing it right.

And Kent, I sure agree with having different databases to refer to, and compare with.

And I need to be more specific, it's not the info itself on the AIS site, as that is copied from the registry, as are most of the databases, it's the photos. And yes, of course, there are errors on all sites.

But, everyone, we need pictures of all aspects of the iris, not just it's pretty face, close up of the beards, PBF, etc. I think the answer would be to have the hybridizer him or herself put the pictures in the AIS.

Most of my NOIDs are "family" iris, Polly. Some from both Grandmothers, some from an aunt, and most from my parents.My parents kept track of their iris with the "map" method, and with 2 interstate moves over a 30 year period, additions, losses, and "gifts", names are pretty jumbled! We got a list of names of the iris they had purchased,(and from where),to work with, and that will help, but due to losses over the years, it's hard to narrow things down. One of the iris from my aunt( came from my G-ma, first) Is either Honorabile, or Sans Souci. And I can't find anyplace that agrees on the difference-too much contradictory information! The more I read about these two, the more confused I get!! And, yes, you're right--It's driving me nuts!!....Arlyn

Well, then, of course IDing them is important. I would start by taking pictures and sending to Superstition, and ask if they had any idea what it was, and if they had one you could purchase to compare it to. Rick Tasco @ Superstition is one of the most helpful people there is.

I use the Iris Encyclopedia to find information on iris pictures which come up on random plants. A picture just came up of Pagan Pink. When I clicked on it there was little information. I went to the Encyclopedia and found that it was a Byers Iris from the 1980's. I enjoy seeing that info. Sometimes I add that info to the ATP data base.........is that helpful? With limited space in my garden I prefer to grow newer named varieties...