Local Business Displays Rebloom
11/12/13
A random glance at a mixed roadside planting in South Richmond on Tuesday, November 12th led to a chance discovery. Displayed in front of a low evergreen hedge, a pink petunia drift was flanked by impressive clumps of Clarence (Zurbrigg, 1991) and Daughter of Stars (D. Spoon, 2001).
The planting at the Learning Playhouse on Providence Road in Bon Air was a complete surprise. Bloomstalk count on both clumps were exceptional particularly DOS. Without any reservation, it was the best fall bloom on the Spoon tall bearded rebloomer I have ever seen. The micro-climate was surely responsible for each variety’s outstanding performance.
Daughter of Stars, a purple luminata plicata is a child of Clarence. Both tall bearded rebloomers were finalists for the prestigious Dykes Memorial Medal, the American Iris Society’s highest award for an iris. To date, no reblooming iris has ever won the coveted honor.
 Learning Playhouse |
 Daughter of Stars |
 Clarence |
 Daughter of Stars |
November Rebloom Shines at Maymont--11/12/13
A nasty cold front from the West finally arrived November 13th through November 15th to torture metro Richmond area landscaping. Morning temperatures at Richmond Airport on 11/14 dipped to 25°F. It was time for perennials and deciduous woody shrubs to slip into winter slumber until next spring.
The Maymont Park reblooming tall bearded iris planting has been a pleasant surprise this fall. After being replanted in March due to building restoration, there were minimal expectations for fall flowering. As the American Iris Society Region 4 Fall Meeting approached on October 18 and 19th, rebloom stalks miraculously started appearing on some varieties.
During a 11/12 visit, Unchained Melody (white), Star Gate (blue-violet), Northward Ho (pink-brown plicata), Echo Location (butter-yellow), My Friend Jonathan (fuchsia & brick blend), Daughter of Stars (purple luminata plicata) and Lunar Whitewash (white) had open flowers. Additional developing bloomstalks were detected on Coronation of David (maroon red), Anxious (lavender), Radiant Bliss (beetroot plicata with gold standards), Rosalie Figge (purple). Summer Radiance (metallic yellow) and Gate of Heaven (medium blue).
Given the display bed s protected location, some bloomstalks may have escaped nature s devastating cold. If future morning low temperatures can somehow hover around freezing, any warm spells may indeed spark further late flowering. We ll simply hope for the best.
 Maymont Planting |
 Star Gate |
 Maymont Planting |
Maymont Rebloom Shines Despite Frost
10/29/13
Even though metro Richmond exercised a light frost on Saturday morning, October 26th, the tall bearded rebloom planting at Maymont Park was untouched by the grim reaper. Thanks to protection from the Carriage House and a stone wall, significant untouched bloom was encountered in the display bed.
Lunar Whitewash (Innerst, 2003), My Friend Jonathan (B. Miller, 1996) and Echo Location (Wilkerson, 2007) continue to lead the color parade this fall. All of the above were in flower during the Japanese Stroll Garden tour at the recent AIS Region 4 Fall Meeting held on October 18 & 19. Echo Location, a buttery yellow, had open flowers on two show bench bloomstalks. The Kentucky bred rebloomer provided a nice contrast to My Friend Jonathan s blended red coloring.
Northward Ho (Zurbrigg, 1991), a pink-brown plicata had two open flowers on its second fall bloomstalk. Luminata plicata, Daughter of Stars (Spoon, 2001) had a terminal flower ready to unfold. A rich deep purple with lighter veins and a thin white edge, the Winchester, VA release was a finalist for the prestigious Dykes Memorial Medal. A late fall performer, DOS was a welcome sight to behold.
The Maymont Park trial bed was replanted in March after restoration work was completed on the historic Carriage House there. This week s tally indicates eight tall bearded varieties have new bloomstalks in various development stages. Flowering could great visitors on Thanksgiving weekend with a little help from Mother Nature. Horticulture Director Peggy Singlemann and her dedicated staff have done a magnificent job showcasing reblooming irises to a larger audience this fall. Well Done!!
 Maymont Planting |
 Maymont Planting |
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 Echo Location |
 Daughter of Stars |
 My Friend Jonathan |
Frosts End JSRCC Rebloom
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The reblooming bearded iris trial plantings turned in another stellar performance in 2013. Some varieties had been in flower since June. Unlike the previous year, heavy fall cold came one week early. The pity was many selections were approaching peak bloom for a second time in three weeks.
Rosalie Figge (McKnew, 1993) is still the best purple tall bearded rebloomer in commerce. Its reliability can sometimes be confounding depending on weather conditions. The Maryland bred remontant finally developed bloomstalks at JSRCC in early October on two clumps. Some flower were open for the AIS Region 4 Fall Meeting, but peak bloom occurred as frost descended on the display beds.
Likewise, I Do (Zurbrigg, 1974) matched Rosalie Figge’s effort on one clump. Sunday cleanup found twenty bloomstalks. Wow!! A white veil of snow appeared to cover the foliage during peak bloom. The white tall bearded’s fall performance confirmed its immense value in the late Dr. Lloyd Zurbrigg’s breeding lines.
My Friend Jonathan (B. Miller, 1996) revealed a similar story. The blended red rebloomer was an excellent companion to nearby Pink Attraction (E. Hall, 1988). Flowers seemed endless on both tall bearded varieties. MFJ averaged twenty rebloom stalks per three year old clump. Spring bloom was no match for their fall performance.
A surprising late comer to this year’s fall show was TB Echo Location (Wilkerson, 2007). A butter yellow rebloomer with nice flower form typically starts its autumn flowering in mid-September. Developing bloomstalks finally began appearing in early October. Flowers were open for the Fall Meeting, but Jack Frost brought an abrupt end to a significant late season show.
Like Echo Location, Lunar Whitewash (Innerst, 2003) waited until October to dazzle visitors. The clean white self with impeccable flower form bloomed for the balance of the month on thirteen stalks in one clump. Another reliable September performer in Central Virginia, its latter bloom sequence was puzzling.
Other tall beardeds at JSRCC with spring-like bloom at the end of October were Iceland (pale glacial blue), Christiane Elizabeth (medium blue-violet), Anxious (lavender), Renown (oyster white), Gate of Heaven (medium blue), Liquid Amber (tan and lavender), Queen Dorothy (violet plicata), Starring Encore (raspberry and plum purple), Again & Again (medium yellow), Clarence (blue-violet) and Just Call Me (white and pale blue). After struggling with drainage issues in 2012, Soda Fountain Shuffle (Lockatell, R.2009) had a positive response to garden reconstruction. The fragrant white tall bearded with mimosa yellow overlay had four stalks in flower during October. One bloomstalk was exhibited at the Fall Meeting’s Flower Show. It received an Exhibition Certificate by AIS judges in attendance.
The median rebloom selections at JSRCC also turned in stellar spring-like bloom by late October. Award winning MDB Trimmed Velvet (D. Spoon, 2006) had six deep plum purple flowers open for viewing. Other star performers were SDBs Rosalie Loving, (white and golden yellow), Sailboat Bay (white and baby blue), Sweethearts Again (pink), Baby Blessed (yellow) and Jameson A88 (blue). MTB Lady Emma (yellow), IB I’ll Be Back (white) and BB Peach Parasol (peach) were also impressive. BB Double Dare (Lockatell, R.2009), a rich burgundy red plicata, had six bloomstalks with open flowers. It won “Best Seedling” honors at the Fall Meeting Flower Show.
The original rebloom trial plantings will be in transition for 2014. Many clumps will require dividing after being planted three years ago. Some fall flowering for the coming year will be compromised. Nonetheless, results over the past two years exceeded all expectations. As we test seedlings and new varieties, there will be more surprises to treat visitors to the JSRCC display garden
 I Do |
 Trimmed Velvet |
 Echo Location |
 Rosalie Figge |
 Double Dare |
 Jameson SDB sdlg.#A88 |
 I Do |
 Trimmed Velvet |
 Lunar Whitewash |
The Reverse Is True In Early Fall..."--10/6/13
Daytime temperatures drive spring bearded iris bloom. As daily readings exceed the mid- eighties as May unfolds, peak flowering is quickly achieved. The color parade can be over in short order. No one blink an eye.
The reverse is true in early fall. Temperatures begin a steady descent into winter. The danger is soil temperatures cool off too quickly to obtain meaningful rebloom. This past week’s mini heat wave resembled spring conditions. Two days topped out at 90°F, so peak bloom was found on both median and tall bearded clumps. The good news is many varieties are still developing additional bloomstalks. Also, heavy rains in the Monday weather forecast thankfully did not materialize in the Richmond area.
The late Bernice Miller would have been pleased with TB My Friend Jonathan’s performance at JSRCC. Visits to the trial garden on Friday and Sunday found two clumps covered in red blooms. Alongside Pink Attraction (E. Hall, 1988), the combination was a standout. Again & Again (Innerst, 1999), a medium yellow, had two nearby clumps covered with big ruffled blooms.
I Do’s (Zurbrigg, 1974) value to rebloom breeding was on fall display. White flowers resembled a fresh snowfall. Its child, Lunar Whitewash (Innerst, 2003) featured delightful heavily ruffled clean white blooms with great substance. Rosalie Figge (McKnew, 1993) and Anxious (Hager, 1992) featured a catchy purple-lavender pairing.
On the median side, SDB Rosalie Loving (D. Spoon, 2003) continues to shine. Five bloomstalks were in flower. SDBs Sailboat Bay (Zurbrigg, 2004) and Baby Blessed (Zurbrigg, 1979) plus MDB Trimmed Velvet were impressive. BBs Peach Parasol (D. Spoon, 1997) and Double Dare (Lockatell, R.2009) also had stalks in bloom.
The Redbud Garden Club visited the JSRCC trial plantings on Friday, October, 4th. One comment was “Wow and Awesome!! Mike’s tour was wonderful. He taught us so much in an hour and patiently answered questions.” It was great fun surveying each variety and pointing out backgrounds and flower refinements. Thanks for coming. The show is hardly over. Please consider joining us for the American Iris Society Region 4 Fall Meeting taking place on October 18th and 19th in South Richmond. There is still time to register and enjoy fall bearded iris bloom in Central Virginia.
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I Do |
Trimmed Velvet |
Double Dare |
Lunar Whitewash |
 |
 Mike w/My Friend Jonathan |
 Redbud Garden Club |
 JSRCC Garden |
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"My visit to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College--09/22/2013
My visit to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College on Sunday afternoon was encouraging. The rebloom survey for the trial plantings there indicated 2012 results were no fluke. “Springtime in the Fall” will occur again. Thirty-three varieties in all bearded classes have developing bloomstalks or are currently in flower.
Anxious (Hager, 1993), Rosalie Figge (McKnew, 1993), Gate of Heaven (Zurbrigg, 2004), Lunar Whitewash (Innerst, 2003), Liquid Amber (G. Spoon, 2003), I Do (Zurbrigg, 1974), Again & Again (1999), Over & Over (Innerst, 2000), Just Call Me (Wilkerson, 2008), My Friend Jonathan (B. Miller, 1996) and Pink Attraction (E. Hall, 1988) are leading the way in the tall bearded bed with seven plus bloomstalks in flower or development. Of the twenty-two varieties counted, most selections had at least three bloomstalks on three year clumps. As daily air temperatures continue to cool, the quantity and quality of fall flowering in Goochland, VA should persist throughout October.
The median rebloom planting at JSRCC also had impressive results. MTB Lady Emma (F. Jones, 1986) continues to be a “shining star” with fifteen stalks in flower. The yellow rebloomer flanked by eight open stalks on IB I’ll Be Back (Aitken, 2004) is a memorable sight indeed. Likewise, SDB Baby Blessed (Zurbrigg, 1977) continues its customary fall performance with seven bloomstalks in flower. A light yellow, it is a wonderful color companion for deep plum purple colored MDB Trimmed Velvet (D. Spoon, 2006). Other noteworthy medians observed were IB Midsummer Night’s Dream (Baumunk, 1999) and BB Double Dare (Lockatell, R.2009).
SBD Rosalie Loving (D. Spoon, 2003) continues to be a reliable performer. A golden yellow with an eye catching red maroon spot on the falls (lower petals), this Northern Virginia origination may well be the next Standard Dwarf Bearded rebloomer to win a national award with American Iris Society garden judges. Named for a wonderful and beloved member of the Fredericksburg Area Iris Society, we hope to still find it in flower for the 2013 Region 4 Fall Meeting here.
 My Friend Jonathan |
 Lady Emma |
 JSRCC Garden |
 JSRCC Garden |
Rebloom Report 09/21/13
Carol Warner, AIS Region 4 Treasurer reported abundant rebloom at her Upperco, MD garden on Lockatell TB Re Sdlg.#20517MB. A Moorish blue tall bearded, it is a guest iris for the American Iris Society Region 4 Spring Meeting in 2014. Maiden rebloom occurred at Cosby Farm in Powhatan, VA back in 2009.
The Virginia origination was sent as a guest iris for the 2012 American Iris Society National Convention in Riverside, CA. 20517MB was a fall 2011-winter 2012 standout at Mystic Lake Garden’s master planting in Nuevo, CA for the Convention. Flowering started in mid- October and lasted until mid-February. (See “2012 AIS Convention Guest Irises” by Carole Buchheim in the Spring 2012 Edition of the Reblooming Iris Recorder.
The Lockatell seedling has now been registered with the American Iris Society as Metro Blue with a potential 2015 release date. Its proud parents are Gate of Heaven (Zurbrigg, 2004) and Daughter of Stars (D. Spoon, 2001). The latter was a finalist for the prestigious Dykes Memorial medal. The cross pollination was suggested by Dr. Zurbrigg prior to his passing before the 2005 spring bloom season.
Carol also reported rebloom on TB Violet Music (Mahan, 1990) and TB Total Recall (Hager, 1992).
Pam Mann from Powhatan, VA found significant bloom on Gate of Heaven at her home and at nearby St. John Neumann Catholic Church. The late Dr. Lloyd Zurbrigg’s last tall bearded introduction before his death, it was planted by Pam in the church’s meditation garden. I am sure Lloyd would be pleased.
Metro Blue
Rebloom Report 09/15/2013
Weather is indeed a prime mover in successful bearded iris rebloom. Quantity and quality are impacted by cool nights and warm days. This past week leading up to my Sunday visit to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College trial plantings in Goochland County, VA proved the point.
MTB Lady Emma (F. Jones, 1986), a mustard yellow, was a prolific performer in 2012. Rebloom stretched from late May until early November. Incredible!! Three developing bloomstalks were present during my Labor Day weekend visit. Sunday saw twelve stalks open and ten more developing. Alongside, IB I’ll Be Back (Aitken, 2004) had seven stalks in flower. A white with tangerine beards, the West Coast origination was a nice foil for its Eastern partner.
Activity in the tall bearded bed was even more breathtaking. Gate of Heaven (Zurbrigg, 2004) my late breeding mentor’s last TB introduction, had seven stalks in flower filling the air with its sweet fragrance. Over & Over (Innerst, 2000), a lavender plicata, also had significant bloom spaced over two clumps. Wow!!
Twenty tall bearded varieties will now see flowers in the coming weeks. Just Call Me (Wilkerson, 2008) and My Friend Jonathan (B. Miller, 1996) will surely lead the way. Each selection had one clump with an amazing seven plus bloomstalks in development. The difference in two weeks was astonishing.
Peggy Singlemann, Director of Horticulture at Maymont Park in South Richmond reported flowering on Gate of Heaven and Lunar Whitewash (Innerst, 2003). The latter had two stalks in bloom. The Pennsylvania selection now has four developing stalks at JSRCC too!! A clean white with impeccable flower form, Lunar Whitewash continues to rebloom faithfully each September.
Other noteworthy varieties are Queen Dorothy (blue plicata), Again & Again (medium yellow), I Do (white), Anxious (lavender) and Liquid Amber (amber-tan).
The median side showed additional fall flowering evidence. SDB Rosalie Loving (D. Spoon, 2003) has been in bloom since my last visit. Four more stalks were found with one having color in its terminal bud. Named for a long-time member of the Fredericksburg Area Iris Society, this Northern Virginia hybrid will surely be a favorite in future American Iris Society award balloting. SDB Baby Blessed (Zurbrigg, 1979) continues its late summer floral parade. Five flowers were open with more buds to flower. A mustard- yellow, its growth and bloom make it a solid choice for novice gardeners. MDB Trimmed Velvet (D. Spoon, 2000) had three developing stalks. A rich plum-purple, it has been a nice addition to the fall garden here.
Rebloom reports are being received from Northern Virginia. Scott Fearing has enjoyed flowering on TB Gate of Heaven. Lois Rose from Partlow, VA is finding bloom on both medians and tall beardeds. Former FAIS president and long-time member Jim Schroetter’s dad passed away a week ago. Lois was able to honor Jim and his father by bringing TB Over & Over bloomstalk to the wake. Fall flower can provide consolation in a time of loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim and his family.
 Gate of Heaven |
 Rosalie Loving |
 I'll Be Back |
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9/1/13
Rebloom Report 09/01/2013
Labor Day Weekend saw an increase in rebloom activity at the J Sargeant Reynolds Community College trial garden. Milder temperatures and new rhizome increase seem to be driving results.
MTB Lady Emma (F. Jones, 1986) was a star performer in 2012. Its rebloom performance stretched from June through early November. A reliable Eastern yellow selection, three developing bloomstalks were found. Another median variety, Baby Blessed (Zurbrigg, 1979) continues to impress. A mustard yellow standard dwarf bearded (8-16”), it had five open flowers and four developing bloomstalks. Wow!!
More tall bearded cultivars are showing signs of fall flowering. Blooms are coming on long-time favorites My Friend Jonathan (B. Miller, 1996) and Rosalie Figge (McKnew, 1993). Star performers continue to be Pink Attraction (E. Hall, 1989), Queen Dorothy (E. Hall, 1984), Over & Over (Innerst, 2000) and Again & Again (Innerst, 1999). Gate of Heaven, (Zurbrigg, 2004), a medium blue, was my breeding mentor’s last rebloom introduction. A Clarence (Zurbrigg, 1991) child, flared and ruffled flowers sport a sweet fragrance. One clump at JSRCC currently has five bloomstalks with color in buds. It should turn in another memorable floral show as September unfolds.
 Again & Again |
 Rosalie Figge |
 Pink Attraction |
 My Friend Jonathan |
8/24 & 8/25/13
Rebloom Report 08/24 & 08/25/2013
A cold front made my Sunday trip to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Goochland, VA a pleasant one. Thanks to Scott Burrell's efforts, a major improvement in the Ornamental Horticulture Department's Display Garden awaited my arrival.
Scott has meticulously upgraded every element in the display beds and plantings. The latest refinement was installing edging and top dressing walk paths with new crushed gravel. The new contrast enhances existing plants along each border. Since the garden has a slight slope, the edging and gravel also serve as an above ground drainage system to divert rainfall runoff. It was a nice surprise.
Persistent weekly summer rains have their advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, bearded iris clumps are healthy and starting to sprout new increases. Developing bloomstalks were found on additional rebloom varieties since my last visit in July. On the downside, broadleaf weeds continue to germinate in substantial numbers in some areas. Moisture and humidity have also caused some bacterial soft rot outbreaks.
Rebloom quantity and quality are slowly improving. I was greeted at JSRCC with a dazzling show stalk on TB Just Call Me (Wilkerson, 2008). It was simply gorgeous. This Kentucky bred tall bearded introduction has a consistent record for late summer rebloom.
The late Dr. Lloyd Zurbrigg's last tall bearded rebloom introduction, Gate of Heaven (2004) has also turned in reliable late summer bloom in my Central Virginia gardens. A child of Clarence (Zurbrigg, 1991), the medium blue has already flowered on one bloomstalk in July. A second clump at JSRCC now has five developing stalks. A nice show of color will soon follow in the coming weeks.
On the median side, SDB Baby Blessed (Zurbrigg, 1979) had five well spaced open flowers. One of the few rebloom varieties to win an AIS national award, there were more developing bloomstalks to come.
The overall summer stars at JSRCC trial beds were TBS Pink Attraction (E. Hall, 1989), Clarence (Zurbrigg, 1991), Over & Over (Innerst, 2000), Again & Again (Innerst, 1999) and Queen Dorothy (E. Hall, 1984). Over & Over has a wealth of new bloomstalks. The lavender plicata's record is solid again in 2013. IB I'll Be Back (Aitken, 2004) has also put up similar results. White flowers with red beards continue to appear on a large clump.
My first visit to Maymont Park since early summer held a nice surprise on Monday morning, August 26th. Due to restoration work scheduled for last winter on the Carriage House, Director of Horticulture was forced to dig reblooming iris clumps out of the display beds around the building. Originally installed in February, 2012, the plantings exhibited fall rebloom. After work was completed in early spring, Maymont staff replanted rhizomes.
Some varieties such as TBs Echo Location (Wilkerson, 2007), My Friend Jonathan (B. Miller, 1996) and Rosalie Figge (McKnew, 1991) are growing into nice clumps capable of fall flower. Lunar Whitewash, a nice ruffled white, had the most fans and a developing bloomstalk to boot. Unlike the JSRCC rebloom plantings, the display bed at Maymont is an integrated one with companion annuals and perennials. The irises are not the focal point, but a nice accent. Besides attracting the public's interest, the Maymont trial garden's chief goal is to measure the effects of metro Richmond's weather on fall performance. It is hoped a longer autumn bloom season will yield some important results. I am grateful Peggy has given me some valuable growing space for testing. The bed's location is in the Courtyard against the back wall of the Carriage House. Take a look for yourself. It is a dynamite sight.
 Lunar Whitewash |
 Lunar Whitewash at Maymont |
 Over & Over |
 Just Call Me at JSRCC |