Showing posts with label phil williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label phil williams. Show all posts

Monday, February 26, 2018

Gerald Richardson

By Phil Williams

This blog is to honor the quiet legacy left to the iris world by Gerald Richardson.  I hope he is barefoot and up to his waist in new seedlings on the other side.  It is called paradise for a good reason!! 

Gerald Richardson was no ordinary guy!  Fully invested in his work at the Atomic Energy facility in Richland for most of his working life, his eventual retirement there gave him more time for growing and hybridizing Tall Bearded irises. Short in height, this brilliant and talented man was a giant among mortals.  He purposely remained busy and involved in his many studies and hobbies; he was an amazing wizard of investment, quietly turning his spare change into a sizable fortune.

Photo by Dale Austin

Richland is not a short drive from the Salem-Portland area. It was one of my highest honors and privileges to visit his matchless garden 5 times in the past 15 years.  This quiet and unassuming gentleman always had a garden filled with bloom. He declared that he had no idea how or why virtually every named variety and seedling in his garden were filled with stalks!  It was a corner lot that would slow traffic to a crawl. More often than not, this energetic human dynamo was covered and dressed for protection from the hot desert-like sun while his feet were bare and dusty!!!!

On my final visit with my friend Gerald, Parkinson's had slowed his speech and movements to a crawl—yet his mental capacities were as incredible as ever. He apologized profusely for not having felt up to fertilizing his plants though yet again virtually every clump was filled with iris stalks. Barbara Nicodemus exclaimed after her visit there that she had never seen such massive percentage of bloom in her lifetime of growing and breeding irises!

Gerald selected seedlings based on two primary factors: (1.) He had to really like it and (2) it had to show distinct improvement or be uniquely different from other irises in commerce. He was the first established hybridizer to quietly work with Allen Ensminger's “broken-color” patterns and he was an early fan of the Lloyd Austin “horned, spooned and flounced” irises.  He said he was not breeding irises for profit (followed by a full body laugh!) and that he felt that “different” was necessary for expanding interest in the tall bearded iris classes. He taught great lessons by example. He believed that an iris was a garden plant and he grew impressive 2-3 year clumps in his garden to perfection!

His last and final great gift to the iris world was financial in nature to the American Iris Society with a cash gift.  He wished above all else that his gifts would be  invested in innovative, hands-on, much needed research on bearded iris diseases—specifically soft rot, crown rot, and botrytis. 

And now a look at some my favorite Gerald Richardson introductions!
    
'Angler Fish' was his delightful contribution to the horned-spooned-and flounced iris flower form.  The combination of blended colors in the flowers with consistent  appendages on all flowers, “horns” of contrasting colors and easily grown plants were 
all accomplished in this fine iris.

'Angler Fish'--image by Dale Austin

'Crimson Tiger' and 'Infernal Fire' were his two contributions to the variegated/broken color patterning randomly applied to the entire flower.

'Crimson Tiger'--image by Brock Heilman

Blue was clearly his favorite color.  And why not? How many perennials with blue flowers are in your perennial garden?  'Blued Indigo', 'Donaghcloney', 'Dusky He-Man', 'He-Man Blues', Magheralin', 'Perrymount', and 'T-Rex' were among his darker and mid-toned selections.  Each had large, clean, smoothly-colored flowers with excellent substance and plant habits.  I would tease him about filling a void for magnificent blue varieties when Schreiner's Gardens expanded to many additional color schemes in their breeding program.

'Magheralin'--image by Dale Austin

'Surfer's Dream' was his supreme addition to the softer blue color class of garden irises!  I remember seeing this as a seedling in his garden for the first time on the day of its maiden bloom.  Gerald was glowing and standing tall just waiting for me to point and gasp at this magnificent iris!

'Surfer's Dream'--image by Dale Austin

'Bev' is named for his iris friend Bev Petrak. (She and one other iris person attended his memorial service.)  The red color in this iris is smooth and strong with chestnut undertones. 'Bev's Babe' followed a few years later and is still likely the strongest approach to “true” red in the garden. I never quite understood why one of the better known hybridizers didn't work with this amazing color gem. Both had unusually good form for the red color class.

'Bev'--image by Terry Aitken 

He worked consistently with lavender and magenta irises in all shades. '
'Blockbuster' had huge flowers and huge plants in a soft blue-lavender color combination with infusions of gray and yellow.  It was also tall and the stalks remained upright on established clumps. 'Blueberry Fudge' was a deep, rich “electric” violet like no other. Its bronze beards and blue flushes make it one of the most uniquely colored irises ever to appear in American gardens. 

'Lucille Richardson' was a blend of gray, lavender and orchid; its wonderful color and flower form can likely be credited to Larry Gaulter's 'Mary Frances'.  'Nora Eileen' was the first iris I grew with smooth, pleasing flowers in the magenta color class. Too few breeders have touched the surface in this vivid color class.  They should as visitors spot this color from afar!

'Nora Eileen'--image by Dale Austin

'Spring Social' was his favorite seedling from George Shoop's 'Spring Tidings'. It was a quality flower in shades of lavender, pink and rosy violet.

Gerald's work with pale blue flowers and dark violet beards was a difficult class that earned his diligent devotion.  'Clyde' is a milky blue with very dark violet beards and a dark purple eye just below them.  'Emilo' was a milky blue with beards not quite so black.  However, its perfectly formed rounded flowers on shorter stalks was the exceptional garden plant with wonderful, compact plants and strong stalks. 'Clouds of Glory' was a very pastel blue-white with fine deeper blue pastel petal edging. It is a difficult color pattern to work with but its impact on seasoned iris growers is to “ooh and ahh” at its simple elegance!
'Clouds of Glory'--image by Elladan McLeester

I was taught early on that concentrating on limited colors and patterns was the key fame for an iris hybridizer.  (Gerald NEVER made that declaration!)  Blends were everywhere in his seedling rows!  'Carousel of Dreams' was his newest and brightest and a spectacular combination of lavender, red, soft gold and wire gold rims on petal edges.  In addition, it is a great garden plant that offers heavy spring bloom with good increase and plant habits.


'Carousel of Dreams'--image by Dale Austin

'Days Gone By' is a wonderful combination of lavender, violet and peach with striking red beards. It is a sister seedling to 'Spring Social' mentioned above. 'Golden Legacy' is a superlative creations with strong, tall, well branched stalks, 7 buds, and strong plants that produce large flowers in gold and amber tones with orange beards.  It can hold its own among the best of the best! 

'Golden Legacy'--image by Dale Austin

'Grace Whittemore' is an early introduction from Gerald that is superior to many in the cream-yellow and white bi-tones.  Its amazing super-wide flowers was far ahead of its time and went hardly noticed by the iris crowd. Also heavily ruffled, it has soft yellow standards, cream-white falls with precise, yellow borders and orange beards. I would brag on it during every garden visit.  I was amused that he had the good sense not to waste time trying to improve it.  It remains a magnificent iris with a perfect score!  There is also no category or rival to 'Ivory Ghost'. Huge, perfectly formed flowers on strong stalks are ivory-white, infused violet and deep yellow hafts with faint amber wire edges and orange beards. Vigor and form is no doubt from 'Fogbound'.


'Ivory Ghost'--image by Betty Jacobs

'Sunset Storm' is from variegated/broken color breeding but it is not revealed in this flower. It is an attractive blending of lavender and buff and was years in the making. (Check the lengthy parentage!)  Sadly, its plant proved erratic in its behavior. Its magnificent blending of colors earns it a spot among my favorite Richardson introductions.

Three others stand alone.  'Demonic' is a sibling to 'Blueberry Fudge'. It is deep, deep violet and has beautifully formed flowers with domed standards and excellent holding power in the garden.  Its plants are wide bladed and can be left in 3-4 year clumps with excellent results. It is not quite black … and Gerald was working on the next step that never quite appeared--a sooty black iris with good form, strong foliage and good plant habits. 'Smoking Embers' is from 'Wild Jasmine' breeding and is a very dark rust iris from the brown side. The standards are slightly lighter and the falls have a pale with tiny “shadowed” rim.  The hafts and beards are yellow and there is a white sunburst at end of beards.  Compact plants and stalks that do NOT fall over.  Last I will mention 'Temple of Lights', and iris I will likely grow forever. It is a very wide flower in cream with strong flushing of melted butter; intense amber-gold style arms.  The cream falls have smooth gold hafts and tiny golden edging and orange beards. 'Grace Whittemore' (see above) is the proud Mother of this beautiful iris. Expect a magnificent flower on a rugged plant.
'Temple of Lights'--image by Dale Austin

Thank you, Gerald, for choosing me as your friend.  You have made my life and the lives of iris lovers around the world brighter and more interesting because of your tireless joy of spreading pollen in your wonderful garden.  I miss you terribly and I will see you on the other side with dirty bare feet and your wonderful, welcoming smile!

Monday, July 10, 2017

Exceptional Performers in a Lousy Bloom Season

By Phil Williams

When one has grown Tall Bearded irises for 55 years and been an AIS member for 51 years, you see lots of improvements in the iris perennial, many disappointments, and far too many steps backward.

The iris should be a hardy, easily grown perennial plant.  Clearly many of the modern hybrids do not qualify. It is the result of a love affair with the flower and the perennial has suffered by too many irises with gorgeous flowers introduced with low bud count.  Most of today's modern hybrids are produced in mild climates leaving those of us in parts of the country with challenging growing conditions scratching our heads!

The judges’ handbook requires a minimum bud count of 7 buds per stalk in order to be seriously considered for any garden award.  The mention of bud count, reminds me that the sequence of those 7 buds opening into blossoms can result in a clump easily remaining in bloom for a full month.  There are introductions who promise up to 12 buds per stalk which could extend the bloom season ensuing for 5-6 weeks.

Grab A Grape--Image by Steve Kelly

That is made possible by growing a variety that opens only ONE BLOSSOM at a time on the stalk.  I have long ago ceased seeking varieties with multiple open blooms on a stalk.  My devotion is to a quality garden plant with 2-4 increases per year. I prefer stalks with high bud count and wide durable flowers with holding power (remaining open at least 3 days) that can remain upright during our beating rainstorms and strong winds.

This listing includes varieties with a maximum of 2 open blossoms at once.   My devotion to a quality garden plant with 2-4 increases per years also reflected in this list. (I do not enjoy dividing plants every 2 years that increase like a weed and I refuse to donate and share those plants with others at our auctions and plant sales!) Every plant on this list has been grown for a minimum of 2 years and survived the worst disease attack to ever strike here, fueled by late spring rains that blew northward from the marshes of Louisiana!

Two final last comments.  I try to avoid all irises that boast of an early bloom season.  Rare is the spring that our rows are not hit by early frost and freeze damage. Interesting that some varieties introduced as early consistently perform here in mid-season.  Go figure. No testing here for rebloom reliability.

Grab A Grape--Image by Steve Kelly

'Grab A Grape' (Steve Kelly  2017) Sdlg. PBD 09-2. TB, 36" (91 cm), M
Standards dark violet; style arms violet; Falls dark violet, orange tint on hafts; beards bright orange; slight fragrance. Paul Black X Decadence. 

Serene Lady--Image by Don MacKendrick

'Serene Lady' (Don MacKendrick 2017) Sdlg. 12-09. TB, 28" (71 cm), E-M
S. light heliotrope (HCC 636/3); style arms same, tinted tangerine at edges; F. same, hafts tinted tangerine; beards tangerine; ruffled; purple based foliage; slight sweet fragrance. 06-01: (04-01: (Wishful Thinking x unknown) x Lavender Park) X 07-02: (06-01: (04-01 x Lavender Park) x Feature Attraction). 

Chaps--Image by Nancy Price

'Chaps' (Nancy Price, 2016) Sdlg. 07-117F. BB, 28" (71 cm), M
S. and style arms yellow-tan; F. yellow-tan, darker ½˝ rim of tan; beards tan. Game Plan X Severn Side.


Edna Carmean--Image by Wild Iris Rows

'Edna Carmean' (Greg Hester, R. 2017) Sdlg. 10B4-1. TB, 36" (91 cm), M
S. light lavender-blue; style arms light lavender-blue and blue-violet; F. medium blue-violet, white wash around beards; beards white in throat, orange in middle, lavender end; ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. Jazz Band X Dance Recital. 

Caramel & Chocolate--Image by Rick Tasco

'Caramel & X Chocolate' (John Painter, 2015) Sdlg. J10-63A. TB, 42" (107 cm), M
S. lemon overlaid with brown veins and outer edge; style arms lemon, heavily veined and lined brown; F. black-burgundy-brown; beards antique gold. Rum and Coke X Latte.

Lemon Jade--Image by Rick Tasco

'Lemon Jade' (John Painter,  2015) Sdlg. J07-46A. TB, 38" (97 cm), M.
S. and style arms lemon-green; F. same, shoulders deeper; beards gold. L05-96: (J03-222A: (Honky Tonk Blues x unknown) x Richards 10201) X J04-6A: (Green and Gifted x Coffee Malt). 

Waves of Joy--Image by Rick Tasco

'Waves of Joy' (Richard Tasco,  2015) Sdlg. 09-TB-02-04. TB, 39" (99 cm), ML
S. naples yellow (RHS 11C), slight violet veins on midrib; style arms cream-white, naples yellow edges, violet ridge; F. violet (86B), naples yellow rim, light bronze shoulders and veins near upper portion of beard; beard hairs based white, golden indian yellow (17A) tips, minor violet tipped hairs at very end; moderately ruffled; light purple based foliage; pronounced sweet fragrance. Kona Waves X 05-TB-27-31: (Antiquity x 00-TB-05-01: (Can Can Dancer x Three Strikes)).

Gilded Girl--Image by Nancy Price

'Gilded Girl' (Nancy Price, 2014) Sdlg. 10-49-B. TB, 36" (91 cm), M
S. white, gold rim; style arms yellow-gold; F. white, gold-yellow overlay; beards yellow-gold; ruffled. Celestial Explosion X Dream Team.


Carpe Diem--Image by Mike Sutton

'Carpe Diem' (George Sutton 2012) TB, 36" (91 cm), M-L.
S. and style arms sulphur yellow; F. sulphur yellow, white area radiating out from beards; beards sulphur yellow with fuzzy yellow horns; bubble ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. Bride’s Blush X Q616: (Dark Passion x Midnight Thunder).

Point to the Sun--Image by Mike Sutton

'Point to the Sun' (George Sutton, 2013) Sdlg. U-1557. TB, 36" (91 cm), M-L.
S. white, pale mimosa-yellow flush at midribs and veins; style arms mimosa; F. white; beards yellow in throat, white at ends, palest lavender horns; slight spicy fragrance; ruffled. R-384: (Wishful Thinking x Eagle Landing) X Wedding in White.

Subtle Beauty--Image by Rick Tasco

'Subtle Beauty' (Richard Tasco,  2011) Sdlg. 05-TB-20-14. TB, 40" (102 cm), M
S. light chartreuse-cream veined slightly darker, red violet at base extending half way up midrib; style ams light chartreuse-cream, red violet flush along midrib and on fringed crest, blue under style arm; F. violet (RHS 87A), slightly lighter around beards and toward edge; beards white base, hairs tipped burnt amber-gold; moderately ruffled; slight fragrance. Haut les Voiles X Louisa’s Song.

Adventurous--Image by Mike Sutton

'Adventurous' (Michael Sutton, 2010) Sdlg. V-334-A. TB, 35" (89 cm), ML
S. barium yellow, slightly veined white; style arms barium yellow; F. violet blue veined light blue, ¾˝ ruby red band; beards barium yellow, violet blue at end; serrated edges; slight sweet fragrance. Soft Side X T-714-A: (R-3911: (Seakist x Snowed In) x Spot On).

Secret Land--Image by Kaska Cholewa
'Secret Land' (Robert PiÄ…tek,  2017) Sdlg. 10-118-D-RP. TB, 36" (91 cm), M
S. salmon, wide light orange rim; style arms lilac-blue and yellow; F. dark violet with darker rim, lighter streaks in middle, lilac veins around beards on white background; beards intense orange; ruffled; pronounced sweet fragrance. Naples X unknown. 

Cold Fusion--Image by Mike Sutton

'Cold Fusion' (Michael Sutton, 2011) Sdlg. U-308-A. TB, 34" (86 cm), ML & RE
S. white, heavily veined yellow, yellow midribs; style arms white, yellow crests; F. white zonal burst veined yellow becoming violet blue which bleeds into midnight blue, pale red-purple rim, dark purple wire edge; beards yellow; ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. S-481: (Connie Sue x Ghio 98-3F, Applause Line pollen parent) X Mountain Sunrise.

Day on the Bay--Image by Larry Lauer

'Day on the Bay' (Joseph Ghio, 2012) Sdlg. 05-19N4. TB, 30" (76 cm), VE-M
S. creamy lemon yellow; F. white, wide violet band that bleeds toward center; beards gold. Center Ice sib.

Rocky Brook Lady--Image by Kent Pfeiffer

'Rocky Brook Lady' (Chun Fan, 2013) Sdlg. F91-728. TB, 38" (97 cm), EM
S. and style arms pale yellow-cream; F. same, deeper in heart and shoulders; beards orange in throat, yellow in middle, pale blue at end; ruffled, lightly laced; slight musky fragrance. Melted Butter X Summer Gown. Fan’s Iris 2013.

Platinum Jubilee--Image by Rick Tasco

'Platinum Jubilee'  Joseph Ghio,  2013) Sdlg. 07-95C. TB, 36" (91 cm), VE-E & RE
S. blue-violet, more pink at base; F. same, pinker toward heart; beards tangerine. Restless Heart X Treasured. Bay View 2013.

Moonlit Mirage--Image by Evan Underwood

'Moonlit Mirage' (Barbara Nicodemus,  2013) Sdlg. D21-02. TB, 30" (76 cm), M-L
S. grey-white or whiter, fine gold edge; style crests same, style arms touched wine-purple grey-white; F. wine purple, few grey-white striations; beards gold in throat and middle, ends wine purple; lightly ruffled. Ozark Rebounder X Chantell’s Lace. Rockytop Gardens 2013.

Scandinavian Gal--Image by Rick Tasco

'Scandinavian Gal' (Thomas Johnson,  2012) Sdlg. TB129B. TB, 37" (94 cm), EM
S. brassy yellow with green tones; style arms brassy yellow; F. brassy yellow, lighter white flash, slight violet flash around beard; beards bright yellow-orange; slight fragrance. Blyth O139-B: (Wintry Sky x Mango Daiquiri sib) X Audacious Amber.

Angler Fish--Image by Dale Austin

'Angler Fish' (Gerald Richardson, R. 2013) Sdlg. 04-14-02. TB, 33" (84 cm), M 
S. and style arms pale lavender; F. light buff, stippled violet; beards light orange, upward pointing violet horns; slight fragrance. Sunset Storm X Thornbird.

Flirtatious Gal--Image by Barbara Nicodemus

'Flirtatious Gal' (Barbara Nicodemus,  2016) Sdlg. N55A. TB, 35" (89 cm), EM-M-L
S. gold-peach lightening around lower midrib; style arms light peach, peach crests, white at stigma; F. white, edged peach, deeper gold-peach on outer shoulders; beards white base, orange in throat, yellow-gold in middle, white end. Fogbound X Barbara My Love.