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I need to explain (to myself) and remind myself what my thoughts are when reviewing the SDB seedlings this year. I know that I go to "extremes" when analyzing these seedlings, and sometimes keep "duds" when I should have thrown them out! My first criteria in any iris is always quality of growth and bloom performance. Good looks comes second.
With these factors in mind it is difficult to judge an iris in one short year. "Good looks" can be judged the first season; but if it fails to be a healthy, hardy and easy performer, then it will be discarded! With this thought in mind, I have bought many beautiful irises in the SBD, IB and TB classes from the PNW which simply will not grow and bloom here because of rot, winter damage and even genetics. They're always sickly no matter how much I baby them. So, if an iris seedling (or named variety) won't grow here, it goes to the compost heap without any regrets!
I want to address my photography skills, and/or lack thereof in these notes. Although I get a reasonable picture, I must confess with all the digital technology at my disposal my pictures just do NOT give an accurate depiction of color hues and shades, primarily in the reds and blues. I am very disappointed with this, and will constantly strive to find the answers to this problem. An added note here; I refuse to use color enhancements because I feel this causes even worse problems! I'd rather use a "raw" picture than some "cobbled up" software fake! To me it is obviously "doctored".
These thoughts are written for my own learning process; and should another DG'er happen upon my journal, it will be noted that I have some shortcomings in the picture department!
Entries and Updates
May 14, 2008
Here is one example of what I've tried to describe in my initial comments. This is Seedling #08-3, and it is a good looking flower, however the color is not that intense in the garden. It is more subdued (pale) and more "red" in hue. This picture has it appearing more "blue" in the color spectrum, especially in sunlight. At least that's the way my eye sees it.
With this said, I will be graphic and compare this to a beautiful young lady; all the curves are in the right places!
May 15, 2008
Here is another example of color confusion. It is Sdlg. #08-12, and the picture was taken just as the sun was breaking through shadows. The bulk of color in this shot is in the red spectrum, which is correct. However, there are "blue" highlights showing in the standards and around the pale blue beards which should NOT be there! The beards are the only part of this picture having any shade of blue. Am I becoming a fanatic, or have I only noticed this phenomena recently?
