Newsletter: May 2006
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN IRIS SOCIETY Inc.
JOHN TURNERS STORY
My earliest memory of falling in love with garden flowers began in 1948. Calendulars grew in my mothers farm garden at Nelshaby, which is on the foothills of the Flinders Ranges 8 miles east of Port Pirie. Sometime later I was seated on a horse drawn cart waiting for my father. As he chatted to the neighbours I was dazzled by a nearby unforgettable spring display of anemones which has left an indelible memory.
The love of iris came later in life when in 1969 I attended the Coonalpyn Show for the first time. On display were some tall bearded iris grown locally by a lady I was later to meet named Julia Jacobs.
I could not resist trying to grow TB iris during the 1970s in my frost prone garden at Meningie East, which over the years has led to a large collection to where ever I moved, McLaren Vale, Salisbury Heights and now Reynella.
Competing at country shows particularly with iris has been a favourite endeavour of mine. It has always meant getting involved with people and with plants that are breathtakingly beautiful, showy, and fragile and always having an element of surprise.
Exhibiting at the McLaren Flat spring show was always a feisty and thrilling challenge. I entered every class with two entries each to maximise my chances. Being frequently beaten did not discourage me, as I always wanted to win one champion. In 1996 from a large clump of Spatzel (burgundy over white plicata) I entered a spike of three open florets. This won the championship iris award and went on to become champion cut of the show. Success at last!! However, I was fortunate to win again in 2003 when Apollo` a yellow and white Dutch iris took off champion cut at the Enfield Garden Club Spring Show.
Now in retirement at Reynella, I grow TB iris amongst my 70 plus roses and they fight for space in a long terraced garden bed. Passers by get a full measure of iris beauty and I love to share my passion.
The love of iris has given me a reason to travel as I have attended state shows in Perth, Hobart, and Melbourne and of course Adelaide. I have met so many like-minded folk and as you read this, my wife and I are on our way to the 2006 American Iris Convention in Portland, Oregon, USA. What a delight that will be!!
LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS by Ann Head
50 Years of Hybridising: Joseph Ghio and Keith Keppel Talk with George Waters
pp 49-52, 57-62, 2004 British Iris Society Yearbook
This article also appeared in the October 2005 issue of the American Iris Society Bulletin, pp 90-100
The title of this article is fairly self-explanatory, but it is fascinating to see 2 hybridizers, who have each been hybridizing for 50 years, respond in different ways to the same set of questions.
FOR THIS MONTH
It is the time for iris rest. Maintenance is required with keeping the irises weeded. Remove any mulch that may have accumulated over the rhizomes to prevent rot and make sure the irises are well drained, as it could be a problem when the weather gets wet. Now is the time to repair or make nametags for the irises.
KEEP THIS DATE FREE
On Sunday 12th November 2006. This is a free day out for all Iris Society members.
John Turner will be taking bookings for the Fleurieu Bus trip at the meeting on the 10th August.
Bookings close at the 14th September meeting for Society members. Friends and community are welcome to join us and will be offered any unbooked seats. Non-members to pay $40, which includes lunch, morning & afternoon teas, and garden entry fees.
NEXT MONTH - 8 June 2006
Guest Speaker - Philip Smoult - of Pooraka Garden Supplies.
Floral Design - Arrangement in Green Tonings
Supper Co-ordinators - Betty Parsons and Sandra Westbrook
THOUGHT for THE MONTH - Always laugh when you can; it is cheap medicine. Merriment is the sunny side of existence. -- Lord Byron
REMINDER
Membership fees are now due!! If you have become a member since the 1st of October 2005 your membership is paid until February 2007. For anyone else who has not renewed since February this year, please fill in the attached form and return to the Treasurer with the appropriate fee to continue your membership. Otherwise this will be your last newsletter.
Minutes of the South Australian Iris Society meeting held 11th May 2006
Meeting opened 7.31pm
President Julia Jacobs welcomed 20 members present. Special welcome to guests John and Beverly Gay.
Apologies: Sue Stribley, Graham Kuchel, Doreen Churchill, Colleen Modra, Karl Meredith.
Minutes of the previous meeting were adopted after correction. Moved Ronda Burg, seconded John Pongrac. Carried.
Correspondence:
- Email from Pat Toolan re: Supper Roster
- Australian Tax Office: we now have a Tax File No. as well as an ABN.
- Goodwood Community Centre: rules of room hire.
- Goolwa Bus Service: receipt for coach hire payment.
- Newsletter from the NSW Iris Society.
- Newsletter and Minutes from the WA Iris Society.
- Flyers for the Tulip Time Show at Bowral.
- Garden Clubs of Australia: Our Garden Journal and zone listing.
- Adelaide Zoo: Receipt and certificate of adoption of Iris the fallow deer.
- Botanical Gardens: Letter and A Season in the Gardens brochure.
- Tall Bearded Iris Society (USA): Tall Talk magazine
Business Arising:
The Botanical Gardens have asked if we are interested in a presentation to the public as part of their A Season in the Gardens series. Colleen Modra has previously volunteered to do this, and Julia Jacobs is willing to do a demonstration on the use of iris in floral art as well. Date to be arranged Julia will follow through with Katrina Nitschke.
Treasurers Report
Moved Marg Kuchel, seconded John Turner that the above report be accepted. Carried.
Expenses to be paid:
- Petty Cash $100 required
- Newsletter: $103.20
- Gifts for speakers and auditor: $108
Moved Marg Kuchel, seconded Gwen Alexandrou that these accounts be paid. Carried.
Show:
Catering to be done by the Girl Guides. Questions regarding the early entry system to be resolved by the show committee.
Moved John Turner, seconded Gwen Alexandrou. Carried.
Secretary:
As Rosemary and John Turner will be away in the USA for 2 months, Ann Head is to send out the newsletter and minutes for May and June, with Julia Jacobs handling the correspondence.
It has been arranged that our guest speaker in November will be Teresa Bignell on Daylilies. Teresa will speak at 7:30pm, followed by the business meeting and presentation of show prizes. Julia Jacobs to contact Teresa.
Show and Tell
Gwen Alexandrou: Photos received by email from Judy Watters in St Louis, Missouri, USA. Judy won the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd top awards at her local iris society show. Judy won Queen of the Show (USA equivalent of our Grand Champion) with a stem of Thornbird.
Margaret Kuchel: 3 fridge magnets, 2 with irises and one of a blue wren.
Pat Crouch: Handknitted jumper with iris design.
Belinda Meredith: Franklin Mint Plate with a Tall Bearded Irises design, purchased on eBay.
John Turner: Iris tie Algerian Iris (I. unguicularis).
Thanks
Our appreciation for the sterling work done by:
Ronda Burg and Marlene Gibson: Trading table.
Nancye Kopunic and Margarent Douglass: Raffle
Don Burg: Library
Edna Pongrac: Steward for cut flower displays.
Nell Tanner and Pam Hilton: Supper conveners.
Birthdays
John Turner, Julia Jacobs and Pat Crouch all celebrated birthdays in April, while John and Edna Pongrac have just celebrated their 47th Wedding Anniversary. Best wishes to all.
Show Bench Judge - Marg Kuchel
1 Stem of TB Iris 2. Autumn Circus - Belinda Meredith
3. Double Shot - Ronda Burg
Bearded Floret 1. unnamed - Gwen Alexandrou
Dwarf Bearded - 2. unnamed - Julia Jacobs
1 Stem of Species Iris - 1. Iris unguicularis John Turner
2.
1 Cut of any garden bloom (Multiple head) - 1. Rose Baby Faurx John Turner
2. Chrysanthemum Ronda Burg
3. Rose Dream Glo John Turner
1 cut of any garden bloom (Single Floret) - 1. Dryandra Julia Jacobs
- 2. Camelia Fimbrata Pat Crouch
- 3. Species Camelia John Pongrac
Floral art theme Mothers Day - 1. John Turner
2. Margaret Kuchel
3. John Turner
John Turner thanked Julia for her professional judging.
Guest Speaker
Supper was served after which we received an excellent talk from John Gay, of the Murray Bridge Orchid Club. John started his talk by displaying a Learners Permit sign, and commented that even though he has now been growing orchids for many years, he is still learning. (Something Im sure we can all relate to with irises!). When the Murray Bridge & Districts Orchid Club started, the members only grew cymbidiums, which are the orchids most commonly available in SA. However, this meant that they had no flowers to display between the end of October and April, as that is outside the cymbidium bloom season. 90% of the orchid growers in his club have now moved away from growing cymbidiums (at least to some extent) in order to try other orchid types, and as a result, they see bloom 12 months of the year.
All the orchid types that John displayed require a shadehouse in summer in SA, and in their wild habitat, many naturally grow on trees. In winter, some types of orchids can be left outside, but most are best kept under a solid roof. John commented that there are at least 30, 000 orchid species, so that no-one will ever have a complete collection.
John showed a wide variety of orchids in bloom, including dendrobiums, cattleyas, cymbidiums, miltonias, phragmipediums, oncidiums, and some cross-species hybrids. There was a stunning range of different colours and forms. It was interesting to learn that sometimes, types which have similar flowers may have quite different cultural requirements, e.g. slipper orchids can be quite finicky growers, and mustnt be overwatered, whereas the phragmipediums from South America, which have a bloom similar to that of a slipper orchid, cant be given too much water, and in fact, prefer to be grown sitting in a dish of water. This is reminiscent of their natural habitat, where they grow on granite boulders in the middle of streams, with their roots hanging down into the water. The phragmipediums are progressive flowerers, as were some of the other types shown.
Some of the varieties displayed at the meeting were:
- The Dancing Lady oncidium, which had a graceful arching spray of flowers in pink and brown tones (the usual form is yellow and brown).
- Crucifix orchids these are used as street plantings in Queensland, and are usually orange or red, but there are at least 50 different colours.
- Miltonias these are easy to grow, and come in a variety of colours from purple to yellow-beige.
- The Wet-dog orchid, named for its smell. This is an epiphyte, and needs a host plant or piece of wood with coarse open bark. This is one of Australias native orchids, and is found on rocks and fallen logs in NSW and Queensland.
- Another spectacular epiphyte orchid that John displayed a photo of is the Bridal Veil orchid, native to NSW. This has huge sprays of flowers which hang down from a piece of bark.
- Cattleyas these are very eye catching, and come in a variety of colours, with a range of bloom sizes. Some of the standard-type hybrids now have blooms 5 (12.5cm) across, with a near-circular form. John showed a large pink one, named Singapore Welcome. There was also a stunning velvety maroon one, called Leone. John commented that some cattleyas bloom on a 9-month cycle, so they bloom earlier every year.
- Stenoglottis longifolia a progressive flowering terrestrial plant, which has small mauve flowers for up to a month.
- Cymbidiums - John commented that South Australia is the best place in the world to grow and flower cymbidiums, due to our climate they like hot days and cold nights. Water once a day in hot weather, ideally at dusk.
John Gay also treated us to a demonstration of how to divide and repot orchids. He said that cymbidiums can be divided at any time when not in flower, but it is best to avoid dividing them during the hottest or coldest parts of the year. If you really need to repot them while in flower, then cut the flowers off.
John said that it can be quite difficult to remove the orchid from the pot. His method is to hit the pot all around with a rubber mallet to loosen the roots from the pot. When repotting, you usually find that there are a number of actively growing bulbs, and a number of leafless ones (pseudobulbs). Remove the pseudobulbs if it can be done without breaking apart the remaining bulbs. If it is necessary to leave some pseudobulbs in place, then remove the husks on those to increase airflow.
Secateurs should be sterilized between plants, as viruses can be a problem. Dust cuts with dusting sulpur to prevent fungus getting in. (The dusting sulphur can be tied up in old pantyhose to make it more convenient to use.) All dead roots should be removed. Leaf-tip dieback can be trimmed off, with sterilized scissors or shears. Terracotta pots can be used, as most orchids love them.
The pots are prepared by placing some broken foam in the bottom to increase drainage and promote airflow around the roots. John Gay said he used to use a fairly open bark mix in the pots he now uses a finer bark mixture. Alternatively, you can use coconut mulch fibre on its own, or mixed with granulated polystyrene foam or perlite. When you have filled the pot to 1 (2.5 cm) below the top, add some Neutrog Rapid Raiser fertilizer, then add more pine bark on top. Osmocote or soluble fertilizers can be used on top of the pot instead of Rapid Raiser. Terrestrial orchids are heavy feeders the big orchid growers fertilize every time they irrigate. A good system is to fertilize at a different time to when you water, e.g. water in the morning and fertilize at night.
Dont repot bulbs singly, as they take too long to get established you can replant all the divisions together in one pot, but it is best to leave 1.5 2 (4 - 5cm) between the plant and the edge of the pot.
The pseudobulbs (or back bulbs) can be propagated on their own once removed from the main pot. They usually dont produce leaves while attached to actively growing bulbs, but can shoot when planted on their own. Remove the roots (which are often dead), then plant. You can plant several together in a small pot, using a bark mixture, or fine granite chips. They may even shoot without any potting medium John Gay showed us several which had done so. Once the bulbs have leaves 6 - 8 (15 20 cm) high, they can be planted out separately (however, it can take 18 months for them to reach that size).
John also commented that orchids can be propagated from the nodes which develop on the stems of some species (e.g. Crucifix orchids). Pieces of stem with nodes attached are placed in water, until the nodes develop roots, then they can be potted.
At the conclusion of the talk, John Turner presented John Gay with a gift from the Iris Society, and thanked him for giving such an interesting presentation.
Meeting Closed 10:05 p.m
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