Isn't it curious Mr.Spoon chose both for introduction? I could see that perhaps both pass different traits to offspring and are good to keep around for hybridizing efforts. I noticed in the database that both have yielded child plants.

Nikki, from what I can tell from the database photos, it looks like the form is improved in Alessandra's Gift. Very interesting to me how a self pollinated seedling has the possiblility of showing improvements over the parent.

There are a lot of different traits hiding in plants. the trick is to get them to show the way in which you want them to.

I'm thinking that 'trick' involves years of determination, hard work and patience?

One reason I lost some pods was due to pod borers. I want some organza bags which are rather cheap. What's an ideal size? There's fat pods and sometimes long pods. Would a 3"×4" be a standard or good size usually?

probably. remember I don't work with TBs.

I haven't tried organza bags on irises yet, so I can't say for sure. If you strip the standards or falls off post-pollination, though, then I'd guess that a 3" x 4" bag should be big enough.

How is everyone's book reading on irises coming?

Not the best, but now I have more time since I get two hour lunch breaks. I've been reading some though, but skip chapters and book, more seeking specific info.

for all the iris hybridizers here on the forum, i am sure you've all read donald spoon's 'hybridizing basics'? if you haven't it is on the winterberry iris site, & i found it a worthwhile read....briefly shows how parents pass their traits on to their progeny.

if i were getting "into" hybridizing at this juncture in my life, i would have studied the article more carefully. (the article was very informative)

no time, & space so it is not a baton i am willing to take and run.

forty years ago it might have been something i would have been interested in doing. we had the acreage, and time was on my side. however, we lacked the internet, and the free flowing access to all this knowledge that is readily available . but all of you who are willingly receiving the iris baton, go forth, seize the day, good luck, and i wish you much success in your efforts!

hurray for me, because i will be able to enjoy the efforts of your successes! (my purchases )

I'll take a look at the Spoon article, Daphne, Thanks!

Interesting article: people can see how the colors in their gardens came to be.

I like the current letter on the Rockytop home page. Says there needs to be more young hybridizers, and also more new selfs in a range of colors.

Hear that Gabe???? And Brad???? And Kent????

iciris said:[quote="Polymerous"]

I think the daylily hybridizer (I can't remember who it was) who said that it is easier to dispose of a plant with bad foliage (or was that bad plant traits? )before bloom, than after, has a good point.

I completely understand your point. It makes perfect sense and I hope you didn't take my comment as being rude, it wasn't meant to be! I just know "I " couldn't cull any plant after waiting for a few years before it bloomed. For me a little pollen dabbing is fun and waiting for the blooms is exciting and the reason why I do it.

[/quote]

I imagine it's more problematic if you are doing it on a bigger scale. If that one plant has a perfect flower but some other weakness, if you dab its pollen around you could in 2 generations start seeing the weakness turning up all over the place and instead of culling 1 plant you could be culling 100's.

Forgot to add that he also said there is a lack of hybridizer's outside California. Think NC and IA are crying out to be the next hot spot! 😊

Unfortunately, plants which do well in one area may not do well in another. We have only one active tall bearded hybridizer left in New England, although her main interest is MTBs.

Lucy - is that Carol Coleman?

Stephanie Markham. Carol lives in Idaho.

My first cross looks pregnant. I know, not a technical term but it is "with bloom":) I am extremely excited about this for 2 reasons: 1) If it is gearing up for bloom this early it may be a Rebloomer and 2) Of course cause it is my first. It may not be a real exciting cross for most as it is a cross between Clarance and Ecstatic Echo. I made the cross because I love the colors on Ecstatic Echo but they don't last long. Clarance is so strong here (it basically blooms 8 or 9 months of the year), I thought maybe I could try for a stronger Ecstatic Echo. Who knows what it will be but I bet I love it cause it is my first.

Also, I saw the post about Winterberry's site. I read Don Spoons website at one point, but thanks for the reminder because I think I need to go read it again.

How exciting Elsa! Looking forward to seeing your cross! Clarence put on a gorgeous display here last fall- the first time I've had a showy clump of irises in fall! Good thinking using it as a parent

Yes, I absolutely will share pictures of the bloom. And if it ends up being a rebloomer, I will share that as well (though that will take much more time to find out). I love my rebloomers. They hold me over till the next Iris season. So I am also interested in making crosses that produce rebloomers that do well in my area. But I absolutely need to go back and read Don Spoon's website because I believe he talks about it and I don't even know where to start with that.

I made two other crosses last year that produced seed pods. I don't know if they will be a success or not but in one nursery container, the bees decided to make a nest. Loving the bees that polinnate gardens, I just let them but who know what their little tunnel digging will do to any potential sprouting seeds. I may have blown it with these last 2 sets of seeds anyway because I decided to try the water soaking method and did not change my water enough and some of the the seeds had a little fungus on them before i put them in the ground. The next two months should tell me whether I had success there or not.