In Search of the Perfect Iris
By siris
9 comments
Firstly go to the perfect places.
Cayeux, probably the biggest producers/hybridisers in Europe.
20 hectares in the Loire Valley
One of the 2 presentation fields, open for viewing during a fortnight, usually late May.
Richard, the forth generation of Cayeux, pollinating in the adjacent field. After writing down his pollination notes, he told me how delighted he was to receive a gold medal at Chelsea this year. I asked him what his aim was for his future Iris.
COLOUR, was his answer.
Theses are some of his past creations:-
And unnamed crosses
A named Space age Iris not as yet offered for sale. I think this is an incredible colour and the flounce on the beard extension!
Other hybridisers creations are on display here. I took over 100 photos. I will just show you some of my favourites:-
My most favourite, lots of flowers nicely spaced, but the price!
And this if lovely, but I could not justify the price for one Iris
So I bought the lot, that is I bought their catalogue. Such a beautiful set of photographs. A work of art!
24 Jun, 2015
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Comments
I can see why you fell for the last one!
24 Jun, 2015
Stera, I do like the space age Iris.
Sbg, the last two pictured are in their Catalogue at £12 each. That is for one rhizome Then of course there is the postage, another 10 quid. I suppose the cost of developing a new variety over maybe 5 years, trialling it, adds up.
Some new ones, imported from USA, are currently selling at £40 per rhizome.
I get almost as much enjoyment looking at the photographs!
25 Jun, 2015
Some Irises come in such rich colours.They are really lovely but I've never grown any interesting ones and they certainly won't fit in with my plans for my new garden...shame as many of them really are spectacular!
25 Jun, 2015
They do come in array of colours as you say. Some of the modern ones are huge, but the historics have a subtle charm of their own, and it would be a shame to overlook them.
25 Jun, 2015
Looking at your pictures Siris , I can understand why people love them. I inherited some old favourites but never bought any. Maybe I should as deer does not like them...only slugs. Thanks for the blog. I really enjoyed to look at your pictures.
25 Jun, 2015
Your pictures are wonderful and the memories must be terrific. My daughter is an Iris fan and this site is one to drool over, not mail order sadly, but not far from me.
http://www.irises.co.uk/index.php?page=home
or this one with an offer on Iris
http://www.classicroses.co.uk/mailouts/mailout20150515-irisoffer/
or these!
https://www.woottensplants.com/product-category/plantlist/hardy-perennials/iris/
25 Jun, 2015
Klahanie, only slugs are a problem, here in suburbia.
Thank you Honeysuckle, Last year I visited Woottens, blogged it last year. Also bought 4 from them, 3 of which flowered this year, the 4th is in a 'hospital pot' as a slug decimated all the green at the neck! Making a note of the other sites to look at at my leisure.
26 Jun, 2015
Thank you Honeysuckle for taking the time to send me that info. Lucky you having Seagate near you. I did know of them, maybe one spring I will visit them when they have an open field day.
26 Jun, 2015
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I love iris. dare I ask how much they are? smashing blog thanks for showing.
24 Jun, 2015