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Los Altos, CA (Zone 9b)   AndreaD May 23, 2018 2:03 PM CST |
| DH and I drove north to spend a few days in Salem, Oregon. DD went to Willamette University there and we would visit Schreiner's every spring when we picked her up. She graduated about ten years ago, but we still go up there every few years because we love to visit the iris growers there. Our first stop was Adelman's Peony Garden. Adelman's has a gorgeous display garden that was planted in 2008. It has beautifully grown irises in it as well as peonies; unfortunately, none of the irises are named. But here are some pictures anyway:  The picture above is best if enlarged.  I would love to know the name of this iris:   Second stop was Mid-America. We saw three different iris beds there, one just for seedlings, one for named varieties, and one for the 2018 introductions. Tom Johnson and a few other people were pollen daubing in the seedling bed. We would have liked to chat but they were busy. There was also a young man with an Australian accent daubing (I wondered if his last name was Blyth, but he was too young to be Barry). So we moved on to the named varieties bed to see the irises that we liked "in person". Each year I seem to be attracted to a certain color or pattern; one year it was blues, one year it was something else. This year peach colored iris were the favorites. So the irises that caught my eye were: Bashful Princess  Emblematic  These two iris are similar in height, they were introduced the same year, have the same bloom season, but Emblematic has considerably darker falls. I love them both; which to choose? Luscious Lace (a parent of Bashful Princess)  I also looked at Pumpkin Pie ala Mode, but the falls of that iris are really bright, brighter than I had realized from the pictures and too bright for my taste. That's why it is good to see these iris in person. Pastels with veining were also a constant theme: Call Me Maybe  Escape from Boredom  Gallic Softness  Some that were unusual caught my attention: The aptly named One of a Kind. Love the veining in the standards.  Gilt by Association  Some I just liked: Midnight Velvet  Shake It Up  Obsessed  Other Side of Heaven  Here is a picture of the named variety bed at Mid-America.  I only have one picture of an introduction because the introductions are too expensive for me, but this one was just a knockout. Song of Silence  The next stop was Keppel's. Keppel's iris are beyond my budget, but I noted down some I like and will wait til they get a little less expensive. Mayan Dusk Quaffable When in Love (really liked this one) Border Skirmish (this BB is very bright) Magic Mirror (hm, back to the peach and coral colors) Heavenly Host (this is not-quite white, I like the pink flush). Thought about going across the street to Iris Sisters Farm, but at this point we were pooped and decided to call it a day. The next day we went to Schreiner's. |
Los Altos, CA (Zone 9b) AndreaD May 23, 2018 2:43 PM CST |
| Schreiner's is a big enterprise, quite overwhelming. We spent three and a half hours there. The first stop was a barn-like structure in which they have stalks of practically all the iris they grow in jars, three to a jar. Enlarge it for the full impact:  It is fun to see the irises whose names are familiar, but from just seeing the stalk, you can't tell qualities of height, branching, stem, etc. For that you go into the display gardens:     As well as irises, the beds have delphiniums, which I love:  Some people were walking among the iris fields, but we were too tired. This picture just shows some of the fields. They go on for quite a ways:  Some irises that caught my eye were: Blueberry Parfait  Country Kisses. I like the violet blaze on the falls.  Flame Amber  Heaven and Earth  Legerdemain  Lip Service (this was marked not for sale. It is not a new iris, so it isn't a guest iris maybe they're growing it for next year? Anyway, I liked it.)  Llama Mama  Moonlit Water (this is a definite buy)  Overjoyed  Padded Shoulders (back to coral)  Petticoat Shuffle  Rare Find  Redneck Girl Rings True  Silken Trim  Twist of Sheree  Whale's Tale  Finally, after three and a half hours, we decided we were 'irissed out' (didn't believe it was possible) and went back to our hotel. It was a lovely two days. |
Name: Bonnie Sojourner Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a) Magnolia zone             grannysgarden May 23, 2018 3:03 PM CST |
Andrea.  What a lovely tour you have presented for us. Thank you for posting.  Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing? |
Name: Jan Wax Mendocino County, N. CA (Zone 9a) I'm a semi-retired studio potter.           janwax May 23, 2018 3:18 PM CST |
| Excellent photography, Andrea! Thanks! When you went to Keppel's, did you get to meet Keith? Life is a Gift ! |
Name: Arlyn Whiteside County, Illinois (Zone 5a)    crowrita1 May 23, 2018 3:21 PM CST |
| Thanks for taking us along !! |
Northern CA (Zone 9a)   iciris May 23, 2018 4:20 PM CST |
 I was planning to go up this year but with the family emergency a couple of weeks ago it's not possible this year!  • “Whoever said, ‘Do something right and you won’t have to do it again’ never weeded a garden.” – Anonymous |
Name: Scott Elburn, IL (Zone 5b)     BlueFlagFan May 23, 2018 5:07 PM CST |
Andrea, wonderful photos! What a sight to experience.  “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” --John Muir (1838-1914) |
Name: Charlotte Salt Lake City, Utah (Zone 7a) genealogist specializing in French    cbunny41 May 23, 2018 5:53 PM CST |
AndreaD said: Could it be Belgian Princess? |
Name: Charlotte Salt Lake City, Utah (Zone 7a) genealogist specializing in French cbunny41 May 23, 2018 5:55 PM CST |
| double posted |
Los Altos, CA (Zone 9b) AndreaD May 23, 2018 6:35 PM CST |
| Jan, Yes, Keith Keppel was there. He came over to say hello and shake hands, but then excused himself, saying he had to pick up Barry Blyth at Mid-America but would be back. We hung around a bit hoping to talk with these two iris heroes but they didn't return and after 45 minutes we left. Barbara, I'm sorry you were prevented from going to Oregon this year. I hope your family emergency has been resolved satisfactorily and you will be able to go next year. Charlotte, I think you might be right. Belgian Princess was one we saw and liked. I lost the labels on some of my photos.  |
Name: Robin Melbourne, Australia (Zone 10b)     Totally_Amazing May 23, 2018 6:50 PM CST |
| Andrea for all these beautiful photos. There are a couple of Australian iris growers posting photos from Mid America on their facebook. I hope they are purchasing some of the beautiful Thomas Johnson seedlings that Brad posted in his thread The thread "A Record Year" in Irises forum |
Name: daphne san diego county, ca (Zone 10a)   shizen May 23, 2018 7:31 PM CST |
| for the great photos and the tour. your photos and commentary made me feel as tho' i was actually along for the ride. 😃 |
Name: Evelyn Sierra foothills, Northern CA (Zone 8a)       evelyninthegarden May 26, 2018 10:53 PM CST |
crowrita1 said:Thanks for taking us along !!  so much for taking the pictures and taking the time to share them with us!  "Luck favors the prepared mind." - Thomas Jefferson |
Name: Jan Wax Mendocino County, N. CA (Zone 9a) I'm a semi-retired studio potter. janwax May 27, 2018 10:15 AM CST |
| Thank you, Andrea.! Life is a Gift ! |
Oklahoma (Zone 7a)       Rebekah May 27, 2018 11:05 AM CST |
Looks like it was lots of fun! Truthfully I might be a bit jelouse. I really like the look of Emblematic, Magic Mirror, Whale's Tail and Shake it Up! Thanks for sharing your adventure  |
| Riversdale1 May 29, 2018 11:37 PM CST |
Totally_Amazing said: Depends on whether or not the Australian public support the purchasers. |
Name: Robin Melbourne, Australia (Zone 10b) Totally_Amazing May 30, 2018 12:21 AM CST |
 you will get the support you need. I've already picked out two of your beautiful imports from last year's catalog and I am very keen to see your new introductions for this year. |
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