Breeding Program–Present

BB Winter Romance (Lockatell, R. 2019)

Winter Romance

BB Winter Romance (Lockatell, R. 2019)
Alice Bouldin Cup for “Best In Region Seedling” at 2016 AIS Region 4 Spring Meeting

Chances are few to create new pink reblooming bearded irises. One idea was crossing Lockatell TB Re Sdlg.#20229BB, a two toned pink tall bearded, with BB Wooing (Jameson, 1993). a border bearded pink self. The result was obtaining Lockatell BB Sdlg.#21110B, a surprising white with red beards tipped white. Planted in the BP Market display bed, my median seedling was voted the Alice Bouldin Cup for “Best In Region Seedling” at the 2016 AIS Region 4 Spring Meeting held in Richmond. Despite being a spring only bloomer, Lockatell BB Sdlg.#21110B was registered as Winter Romance in 2019. The Richmond area origination is a vigorous grower with nicely ruffled flower form.

BB Winter Romance (Lockatell, R. 2019)

BB Autumn Shower

TB Re Autumn Shower (Lockatell, R. 2019)
“Best Seedling in Show” at 2019 AIS Region 14 Fall Flower Show

TB Re Autumn Shower (Lockatell, R. 2019)

Lockatell TB Re Sdlg.#20526 was one of many tall bearded reblooming fancy plicatas from a TB Re Northward Ho (Zurbrigg, 1991) X TB Re Double Vision (Ghio, 1999) cross pollination. Standards have a near solid rose wash over gold ground with gold washed rose style arms. Falls have gold ground and veining washed darker rose. Orange beards are tipped yellow. Double Vision contributed modern flower form and plicata patterning. Northward Ho added reliable cool season rebloom to the package. Flowers are unaffected by lower bloomstalk height for the tall bearded classification.

After successful trials in Maryland and Pennsylvania, the decision was made to release this eye catching beauty. Lockatell TB Re Sdlg.#20526 was registered as Autumn Shower in 2019 with formal introduction in the near future. The Central Virginia origination won “Best Seedling in Show” at the 2019 AIS Region 14 Fall Flower Show in California. If you are a plicata fan, here is a nice coloring to see twice in the same growing season.

 

 

TB Re Autumn Shower Lockatell 2019

BB Autumn Shower (Lockatell, R. 2019)

TB Re Hidden Sky (Lockatell, R. 2019)

TB Re Hidden Sky (Lockatell, R. 2019)

Lockatell TB Re Hidden Sky is a first generation seedling from TB Re Metro Blue (Lockatell, 2015). Maiden bloom occurred in mid September prior to the 2013 AIS Region 4 Fall Meeting held in Richmond. The hyacinth blue has a lighter area under  orange-yellow beards tipped white with a diamond dusted finish. The Metro Blue child rebloomed last summer at Kim Bowman's Dancing Dragon Garden in Morristown, TN. Lockatell TB Hidden Skye previously rebloomed in Pennsylvania and has turned in solid fall flowering at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Goochland County, VA. Introduction is expected in 2021.

TB Re Hidden Sky (Lockatell, R. 2019)

 

Lockatell Tet SIB Sdlg.#20150-26-2B

Lockatell Tet SIB Midnight Tide, (Lockatell, 2021)

Lockatell Tet SIB Midnight Tide (Locktell, 2021)

Mike was very impressed with the value Siberian irises could add to the suburban garden  setting. Tetraploid Siberian irises developed by the late Currier McEwen were planted in his initial display garden in Powhatan County, VA. Tet SIB Supernatural (B. Blyth, 1004-95) was grown from seed sent to Tempo Two from McEwen and imported from Australia in 2000. Seed was obtained from crossing Supernatural with Tet SIB Chandler's Choice (Mc Ewen, 1995) in 2001. Seedlings had maiden bloom in 2004. Dr. William Shear from nearby Farmville, VA and the “The Gardener's Iris Book” author noticed one of them had an interesting narrow white rim on each fall. A bloomstalk was exhibited at a subsequent Fredericksburg Area Iris Society (FAIS) Spring Flower Show in Northern Virginia and won “Best Seedling in Show.”

Lockatell Tet SIB Midnight Tide resided in a rock garden planting at a South Richmond, VA residence for many years. Clump health and flowering remained consistent and attractive. Before the homeowners moved to a new address, divisions were sent to Carol Warner from Draycott Gardens for display at an AIS Region 4 Spring Meeting and the Siberian National Convention. During the latter, Mike's seedling won the Alice Bouldin Cup for “Best Seedling” given by the Eastern North Carolina Iris Society at the AIS Region 4 Spring Meeting amd Runner Up for “Best Convention Seedling”.

Lockatell Tet SIB Midnight Tide has thrived to make large clumps, without center dead spots, in multiple Central Virginia locations. Five inch flowers with handsome green foliage make it an interesting addition to any Southern garden.

Tet SIB Midnight Tide (Lockatell, 2021)

Lockatell Tet SIB Midnight Tide (Lockatell, 2021)