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After a full year of germinating, weeding, hoeing and pampering the hybridized seedlings of 2005, they are beginning to open! Like anyone else who has walked this 'pathway' either professionally, or as a hobbyist (like me), you can either breathe a sigh of relief or wonder what went wrong. With the beginning batch of SDB's opening from the cross Gentle Grace X Chubby Cheeks, my initial feelings are disappointing! Not being a professional, I have to wonder WHY so much YELLOW is showing up! I've read articles of the hybridizing greats like Keppel, Ghio, Niswonger, Black, Grosvenor (and others) and now understand what they mean by 'culling', composting and eliminating. In 2005 I was only able to keep five or six of my very best seedlings: My batting average this year might well be much fewer! I must be honest and say my first thoughts when viewing the opening buds were summed up in one word, "UGLY"! With this said, I must remember that Thomas Edison made 1000 attempts before successfully creating the first light bulb. I don't know if I have the patience and endurance (or life span) to make a thousand crosses to get my perfect iris. The fun part is in the TRYING! So I was back out again this morning working on the 2007 batch of crosses:-) The primary focus of this entry is to feature some rejected seedlings which I will eliminate. Updates will follow.
Entries and Updates
Apr 28, 2006
This is a random photo of one of my disappointments. I cannot even imagine this coming from Gentle Grace or Chubby Cheeks! I especially do not like the brown pin stripes running half way down the falls.
May 27, 2007
I made a neighbor very happy with this 'gift'! GONE.
