Newsletter: September 2006
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN IRIS SOCIETY Inc.
It has been quite a trying month with the many folk who have had to battle with the viruses and flues that have been plaguing our community. Lets hope as the weather warms up it will dispel some of these nasty bugs that stop us doing the things we love whether it be gardening or other hobby.
Here’s a cheer up!!
John Turner visited the iris gardens in North Adelaide on Saturday 23rd September and what did he find !!! A healing sight for sore eyes. These gardens are situated in front of the main entrance to the Adelaide Oval, very close to the large statue of Sir Donald Bradman and within walking distance of St Peter’s Cathedral. In April 2004, the members of the SA Iris Society planted these gardens. Although some beds consist of older varieties, there is a large selection of colours of tall bearded iris, with an odd patch of Spuria. It really is worthwhile to stop and have a close look if passing by. There is also a good range of early to mid to late bloomers, all making a grand spectacle amongst the neighbouring rose beds.
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If your require any information regarding the events of the SA Iris Society please contact
President - Julia Jacobs - 08) 8339 3601
Secretary - Rosemary Turner - 08) 8387 4647
Library Highlights by Ann Head
With the earliest blooms already opening, some of you may be wondering if this is the year to try a little iris hybridizing. If so, you may be wondering how to go about it, if not, you may be asking yourself why would anyone want to hybridize? Well, as it says in the Margaret Summerill article (see last reference listed) – “the answer is simple, it is the most exciting thing one can do in the gardening world.”
Here are a few articles on different aspects of hybridizing:
Why hybridize irises?
“Hybridising –our beginning” by Sue Stribley, pp16-18, Iris Society of
Australia Yearbook 2004.
How to hybridize irises
Bearded irises:
See Sue Stribley’s article (listed above).
Also: Tempo Two catalogues 1995-96 (p 24) and 1996-97 (p 4). (The 95-96 one has much more detail on the whole process, the 96-97 has a close-up picture).
Beardless irises:
“The Siberian Iris” by Currier McEwen, pp 87-90
Okay, I’ve made a cross, now what?
Basic guidelines to follow, and some information on colour genetics:
“Basic hybridizing principles”, pp 43-44, Iris Society of Australia Yearbook 2004.
“On the Raising of Iris Seedlings”, pp 121-130, Irises by Harry Randall
“Objectives in Hybridizing,” pp 135-143, The Louisiana Iris. The information given here is applicable not just to Louisianas, but also to other iris types.
“Flightlines: Hybridizing Iris: Random Notions Gleaned from the Internet” by Shannon Hiatt, pp 85-91 American Iris Society Bulletin No. 342, July 2006.
Planting Seeds and selecting Seedlings
“Having a go, it’s the fun” by Margaret Summerill, p 42, Iris Society of Australia Yearbook 2004.
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New books coming into the library for borrowing – Check them out, absolutely wonderful illustrations and reading!
Irises by Sidney Linnegar and Jennifer Hewitt;
Irises by Theodore James Jr
The Illustrated Check list of Irises by Robert Pries
2006 Catalogues from the USA - Keith Keppel Iris, Aitkens’s Salmon Creek Garden, Mid-America Garden 25th Anniversary Edition, Irresistible Iris 2006.
Bus Tour - Sunday 12 November - Fleurieu Peninsular Gardens.
Members – Time is running our to make your booking intentions known to John Turner (8387-4647) before or by the next Iris Society meeting on 12 October. Members free - guests $40 all-inclusive. Members of community will be invited to join our tour to make full use of the 50 seater coach. For quick service at our lunch stop a pre ordered menu is requested. Choices - Main Course – Quiche or Lasagne. Dessert – Apple and Rhubarb or Cheese Cake. Please have your menu choice selected with your booking. Any of your friends are cordially invited to join the tour. There are six seats still available.
Show Time- is drawing near. 21 October 11am – 5pm and 22 October 10am – 4pm. at the Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa Street, Goodwood. Keep an eye on your plants; protect them from snails and other nasties so that they will be in top form when it is Showtime I am sure some of your irises are spiking by now and you will be watching with expectation as the buds begin to plump up.
Floral Design – Lets make floral design for the Show a little less stressful by following a few hints given in the book “Iris” by Theodore James Jr.
“ Cutting and conditioning most irises for indoor arrangements is very straightforward. In all cases – except for Spuria and Louisianas, cut when the first bud opens on a stem. (Cut Spurias and Louisianas when they start showing colour at the end of the first bud.) Place cuttings in cool water as soon as they are cut. As each flower spends itself, pinch it off. Some arrangers suggest putting one teaspoon of sugar in the vase water. Most do not do this but it will not hurt the flowers if you do.
Selecting Iris for arrangements
Bulbous Dutch Iris has the longest vase life.
Median and Miniature Dwarf bearded irises are ideal for mixing with other varieties. They last about a week.
Spurias are also great cut flowers. They mix well with other types of flowers and have interesting flower shapes for arrangements. They last about a week.
Louisiana irises are among the most beautiful of all flowers in arrangements. Cut stems about two inches above the ground when the first bud shows colour. Each stalk bears from five to seven buds and often two or more are open at the same time. Behind each flower there is usually a second bud, which will open later. Blooms last about a week.
Japanese irises although very flamboyant, last for only one day in an arrangement and they are short lived so it is better to select flowers from other varieties.”
To make your arrangements last longer.
Use plain cool water.
Change the water every two days – don’t just top up. This is the single most important thing you can do to keeps your flowers looking fresh.
Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, and move them to a cool place at night.
Do not mix irises with daffodils, since daffodil stems give of a compound that is toxic to other flowers.
Keep flowers away from fruit, which releases a gas that causes flowers to age more quickly.”
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Tall bearded irises are also a delight to use in floral design. They are tall and can give your design height or they can be cut shorter to accommodate your personal design. They give a majestic as well a soft dimension to any creative imaginings. Tall bearded irises are so generous as when the first flower is spent there is another to take its place. Keeping that in mind designing with iris becomes stress free, as it does not all have to be done at the last minute.
Happy and creative designing for the show.
N.B. We have a floral design segment at our monthly meetings. Why not try out some of your talent at club meetings and our president gives us very constructive information about design. (Give John Turner some competition. Ed.)
Member News - I will continue with the story of our capable and dedicated Treasurer - Margaret Kuchel
Descended from a family of flower farmers and fishermen on the island of Bryher in the Scilly Isles off the coast of Cornwall, it is not surprising that Margaret always had a fascination with flowers. She started her gardening career in Strathalbyn growing succulents and cacti in pots at the age of eight. From there she soon graduated to her own garden bed in the front of the house where she grew flowers. Her father grew vegetables out the back and Margaret could have as much space as she liked in the front. (Lucky girl)
When Margaret married in 1964 and moved to Bull Creek she had a very neglected old garden with very little except fruit trees and japonica growing and a patch of daffodils on the bank of the creek below the garden. This was a challenge for her and after a few years she managed to landscape the area surrounding the house with lawns, flowers and some shrubs. The old orchard was a good place for vegetables and fruit trees, which kept them supplied with plenty of fresh fruit to preserve for the rest of the year.
Not long after moving to Bull Creek, a neighbour called Doreen Geister introduced Margaret to her love – the bearded Iris.
Margaret became hooked and soon added her first iris bed to the garden. In 1973 Margaret moved to Sherwood, east of Keith taking many plants with her. This became a bigger challenge than Bull Creek as the soil was a white non-wetting sand and water was extremely salty. The irises survived quite well with compost and manure added to the soil and they didn’t seem to mind the salty water too much – they are tough. Later Margaret moved to another farm in the area where the water was much better and could grow a much larger range of plants including fruit trees and vegetables.
At this time Margaret contacted Doreen again to buy some more iris plants. She sent her a package of about 100 varieties for $50. She was delighted and they all thrived. On Ash Wednesday, 1983, Doreen’s garden was destroyed by fire. Her irises were mostly burnt and the nametags disappeared in smoke. A month later Margaret moved back to Strathalbyn taking all the irises with her and she was able to give Doreen back many of the iris plants to restore her garden. Later Margaret and Doreen were able to identify some that had survived the fire. Doreen still grows a lovely selection of irises at Nairne.
Margaret’s interest in irises grew and when she learnt that there was other people interested in starting an Iris Club in South Australia. She was very happy. The SA Iris Society was formed in 1990 and Margaret was on the steering committee to set it up and was also on the first elected committee of the Club. At present Margaret is the treasurer and is on the Show committee so most of her Thursday evenings are spent pursuing her love of the iris on a committee level.
At one of the early SAIS meetings, a speaker demonstrated how to pollinate an iris. This was another challenge for her, to go home and try her luck. Since then a number of irises in her garden have gone from a hundred or so, to thousands with many new seedlings being propagated every year. Her husband Graham who helped with the digging and shovelling manure and a huge amount of weeding encouraged this expansion.
The vast majority of seedlings were discarded after the first bloom season but the best she retains for another year to be reassessed. Her aim has been to breed irises that bloom much earlier than the usual October early November bloom season. Margaret now has many cultivars of tall bearded iris that bloom, some as early as July and August, weeks before the named ones in her garden.
It is difficult to find new varieties anywhere else that flower at the right time to cross with her super early ones although some remotant ones oblige occasionally. Margaret purchases new varieties every year from the best Australian breeders and importers and she keeps trying to add new genetic material to the breeding lines.
Margaret has seedlings in both NSW and SA trial gardens and has been delighted to be awarded five highly commended in NSW. In 2004. Some of her cultivars have been registered with the American Iris Society. In 2005 another of Margaret’s irises received and highly commended and “Patricia Videon” was awarded High Merit. (Congratulations Margaret)
If there is anyone who shares the same interest as Margaret in the hybridising of early blooming Irises I am sure she would love to hear from you. Ed)
Next Month – 12 October 2006
Guest Speaker – Sue Stribley - Hybridising Iris
Floral Design -Drowning in Iris – This is the Iris month with an abundance of blooms. Water and iris work very well together, especially Louisianas. However the beautiful flowers of any type of iris enhance any water feature. The title this month Drowning in Iris can let the imagination flow with all sorts of accessories to create a delightful artistic design-featuring iris.
Supper Roster - Nancye Kopunic and Colleen Modra.
Thoughts for the Month. – The imagination should be allowed a certain amount of time to browse around. – Thomas Merton
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world – Albert Einstein
Minutes of the Meeting on 14 September 2006
Meeting opened 7.40pm
President Julia Jacobs welcomed 31 members. Special welcome to new members and guest speaker David and Linda Barrington.
Apologies - Karl Meredith, Nancye Kopunic.
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as correct. Moved J. Turner, seconded Sue Stribley. Carried.
Correspondence:
Western Australian Iris Society Minutes and Bulletin; Zoo Times;
Australia Post – extension of Mail redirection Service (This was cancelled);
Flower Garden Newsletter, Shakes Road, Nairne. Regular opening times, Thursday, Friday Saturday, and public holidays (except Christmas) Sunday 10am –5pm;
Herb and Salvia Show – Sunday 5th November – 10am –4pm. At Fullarton Park Centre;
Enfield Horticultural Society Spring Show;
Brochures from Yarrabee –Sue & Jeff Stribley;
Impressive Iris – Colleen & Les Modra;
2006 Spring Garden Fair 14th & 15th October 10am-4pm at David and Linda Barrington – Daph-O-Dill Cottage 20 Ayr Street, Bridgewater in aid of the Peter Nelson Leukaemia Research Fund inc.;
Goodwood Community Centre –inviting us to conduct a monthly stall at the Adelaide Showgrounds Farmers Market. It was decided we decline the offer, as the ongoing monthly commitment would not be able to be met. An invitation to “Share Your Culture” at the Goodwood Community Centre on Friday 22nd September, declined; Form requesting the need for a liquor licence – declined;
War of the Roses – Invitation to the Club to judge the Rose Trial Gardens on 23rd October from Mr. George Thomson, Event Manager and Mr. Dean Stringer. This was declined due to previous Club commitments;
Pomona Cottage –55 Pomona Road, Stirling. Garden Club Tours, Small Weddings, Wedding Photography,
Ring Jack –0432 370 144;
Renmark’s 12th Rose Festival –21st – 29th October;
Illustrated Spuria Checklist - donated by Darrelle Watson.
AIS – President Helen Reid – informing us of a telephone meeting link up
Treasurers Report
(Not published in online version)
Moved Marg Kuchel, seconded Peg Lane that the above report be accepted. Carried.
Business:
Show- Posters advertising the show are available for distribution.
Show Committee recommended – The Club trading table not to sell old types of iris or $1 bags of iris. Commission table – rhizomes to be named, washed and the colour noted.
Colour tags are available from Colleen
All judges are to be available for judging. Helpers are required as stewards, as door takers and for trading table, also for setting up on Friday 20th Oct from 12 noon. On Sunday 22nd Oct helpers are required for dismantling as we have to vacate the premise by 5pm.
Ikebana Society has consented to decorate the stage for our Show.
Bus trip is organised and well under way.
President of Australian Iris Society Helen Reid requested nominations be presented for the coming terms of office.
Members put forward the following nominations -
President - Don Grieves of Western Australia - Moved J. Turner, Seconded Ann Head.
Dykes Medal Test Coordinator - Maurice and Delma Birthesal
Associate Register - Helen Reid.
Year Book Editor (which is now an elected position) - Maurice and Delma Birthesal.
The meeting carried all these nominations.
A proposal is put forward to the AGM of the AIS by the WA Iris Society Region that “the Convention be held every three years and on a compulsory rotational basis”.
After much discussions Ronda Burg moved and J. Turner seconded the following -
Conventions.
1. If all regions participate (5), to have conventions every two (2) years. If only three (3) regions participate, every three (3) years.
2. A minimum of three (3) days for convention. It is up to the region if they wish to organise more activities with more days.
3. All regions are encouraged to sponsor a convention, but not a rule.
4. Conventions to be on a rotational basis.
The meeting carried this motion.
Two national conference telephone link ups were arranged
Monday 25th September at 8pm - to discuss Trial Garden Rules and the Judges Manual, which is in the process of development. (This meeting was changed to Monday night 2 October)
Monday 27th or Tuesday 28th November AGM the elections will take place and the above motion would be discussed.
Congratulations - to Joy Maxwell who was awarded the 2006 Eleanor McLeod award for service to the community for her enthusiasm, dedication, love of gardening and generosity in her community of Balaklava and in many gardens in South Australia. (Tribute to Joy Maxwell in next month’s newsletter)
Show Bench results: Judge - Colleen Modra
Garden Bloom – 1 stem - 1st - Ranunculi - J. Turner
2nd – Jonquil - J. Turner
3rd - Daffodil ‘Geranium’ - J. Turner
Garden Bloom single - 1st - camellia ‘CM Wilson’ - J Pongrac
2nd - Camelia ‘Nuccia Gem’ - J Pongrac
3rd - Camelia ‘Debbie’ - J Pongrac
Dwarf Bearded Iris 1st - Little Buccaneer - Margaret Kuchel
2nd – Pink Kitten - Ronda Burg
3rd - Mighty Mouse - Margaret Kuchel
Iris Dwarf/Medium 1st - Sundown Red - Julia Jacobs
2nd - Sundown Red - Julia Jacobs
3rd - Furiosa - Marlene Gibson
Bearded Floret 1st - Seedling - Margaret Kuchel
2nd - Seedling - Margaret Kuchel
3rd - Royal Remembrance - Julia Jacobs
Species Iris 1st - Bourne Graceful - Sue Stribley
2nd - P.C. Seedling - Julia Jacobs
3rd - Evansia - Pat Crouch
Dutch Iris 1st - Apollo - J. Jacobs.
2nd - Discovery - J. Turner
3rd - Apollo - Sue Stribley
Iridaceous 1st - Yellow Freesia - Julia Jacobs
2nd - Cream Freesia - Margaret Kuchel
3rd - Yellow Freesia - Pat Crouch
Floral Design - Spring on the Wing
1st - J. Turner
2nd - Joy Maxwell
3rd - J. Turner
NB. Only Irises are to be entered for competition during the iris season. Other flowers can be exhibited but will not be included in the judging.
Show and Tell
John Turner showed a booklet on ‘Wild Flowers of Alaska’ which featured Iris Setosa growing in the wild.
Raffle was drawn.
Supper
Guest Speaker Mr David Barrington of Bridgewater - Pacific Coast Iris.
Julia welcomed and introduced David to the meeting. David spent 36 years working for National Parks and Wildlife then Environment and Heritage Conservation. David received a Public Service Award for his dedication to Conservation and Wildlife issues.
The passion he exhibited in his working life he now transfers to his love of gardening and the growing of Pacific Coast Irises.
His interest began 40 years ago when he procured irises, the colours being mauve, purple, lilac and brown. In 1969 he shifted to Bridgewater where he planted the iris around rock borders. Ten years ago, much to his delight, he was able to increase his collection of Pacific Coast Iris after having visited Iris Acres.
Pacific Coast Iris like a slightly acid soil, well drained and in a semi-shaded position. In the hills they can tolerate a sunny position and do need water during the summer. After a long hot summer, the foliage becomes unsightly so it needs to be trimmed back with secateurs or knife. Dead foliage encourages slugs and snails.
Pacific Coast Iris are good companion plants but do not like intense competition.
Paths are mulched with wood chips up to 10 cms thick next to the border of iris and a light organic mulch is applied.
Feeding the iris towards autumn with Rapid Raiser and a light sprinkling of Nitrophosta Blue.
Seeds are collected in summer time. Let them ripen on the bush, then place them in a paper bag, tie it up and keep them in a warm place.
Sow them with in weeks of harvesting, in the late summer up into the autumn, directly into the garden.
Pacific Coast Iris do not like to be disturbed, however, if the rhizomes do need dividing the best time is after the autumn opening rains. They prefer to be divided with a reasonable clump and planted immediately. They are fairly vulnerable to fungus. Frost does not worry the plants.
Pacific Coast Iris is a very good cut flower as they last very well in the vase. They are very generous with their flowers and reward us with a six-week flowering period.
To obtain a slightly acid soil either plant in a raised bed and mulch with a fine pine compost to get a slightly acid soil.
If you have alkaline soil replace soil with an acid soil to a depth of 30 cms. This puts a buffer between the alkaline and acid soils.
David gave us a wonderful insight to the beautiful PC’s (as they are known) he has bred through the means of a DVD presentation.
David was given a vote of thanks by John and presented with a gift.
Next Month - Guest Speaker - Sue Stribley - Hybridising
Floral design - Drowning in Iris
Hostesses - Nancye Kopunic and Colleen Modra.
Meeting Closed at 9.50pm
