Gabriel...My seedlings were not nearly as nice as Brads but some were not bad. If I were starting I would do a couple of things. Spend some money and get a few newer ones from the top hybridizers. Some like Keppel and Ghio list parentage which is a help and that info is available here on ATP. Determine which parents are working for them and use one of them with something completely different. For instance Ghio has been getting nice things from My Beloved. Check to see what he has been using for the other parent and go somewhere else to pick something nice but not related. Make what I would call some predictable crosses and also some wild crosses. Be prepared to cull, cull, cull, when they bloom. Some of the top Hybridizers are using Blyth Iris in their crosses. You mentioned Edith Wolford. I would not use something like it because when I have seen it in a pedigree it is usually back a few generations back. I don't know how old you are but you sound enthused. Get started. At my stage of life I am to old to start a well planned breeding program like Brads seems to have. I remember when Brad and Kathy Kasperak started attending out UIS auctions to buy some iris. They had been growing Gladiolus but were having problems with thrips or mites and wanted to grow something else. He focused on broken colored iris and did well in becoming recognized. Ask any questions you have. Someone will glad to give their opinion. Perhaps we could start a thread focused on these questions.
