Someone wrote to me that this cultivar is often voted the number one favorite iris by voters in this country. I love 'self' iris and this is indeed a beautiful purple self, but what is it about this iris that sets it apart from all the others? Was this the iris Harold drew with his purple crayon? (For those of you who appreciate fine children's literature). Is there some hidden secret or mystical power in the fragrance emitted by this hybrid? Do the rhizomes have an anti-rotting gene? Or could the bloom shape meet an unconscious, but real geometry that Homo sapiens fall in love with, some sort of 'love potion #9'? It doesn't have the most ruffles or lacing so that can't be it. It doesn't have a spectacular space age appendage, but the beard sure looks strong and pronounced for a hybrid of it's birth date. So what is it folks? Why should I add this to my collection?
