Garden Chit Chat

GARDEN CHIT CHAT

            We are very glad to once again say “Thank You” to our loyal customers for another prosperous and rewarding year. We are always very aware that without you, we wouldn’t be where we are. You are our backbone. We are hopeful that gardening helps calm the nerves and jitters of these challenging times and also that somewhere you have a little money tucked away for a new plant or two. Flowers, like our companion pets, help make life more beautiful.
            Many of you have followed the trail that our companions, our very much loved pets, have made with us. On December 20, it was a very sad note to have to say goodby to our oldest husky, Fancy. It is a sadness for us, a sadness of missing her and her gentle, loving nature. We can’t be sad, however, that after a great life of 13 1/2 years, she went to sleep and didn’t wake up. There was no pain or prolonged sickness. As the snow began to fall on December 19, I took my last picture of her enjoying great husky weather.
        Nickel is also starting to slow down. It seemed time to add a new husky to help keep the property cleared of rats, mice and gophers. A new little husky girl named Kita, short for Nikita so she doesn’t get confused when we call Nickel, has been adopted by all the Mid-America crew. Some of the crew are liking her better than others. Cher thinks she’s a bit too rowdy. Adjustments are a part of life, even for dogs. There may yet be another husky added to the crew before you get this catalog. Cher and Diva are doing fine, but like us, they get the winter blues. They’re ready for spring so they can romp and play among the plants. Amazingly, these low to the ground bulldozers cause more damage to iris stalks than the huskys ever did.
        Thomas and I are both delighted with how well some of our irises were recognized in the awards system. We appreciate all the judges who took their time and energy to grow and evaluate some of our creations. We hope that they continue to please not only AIS judges but also the gardening public. We work toward creating hybrids that can withstand the rigors of the everyday garden. Here is a look at those awards.
        For Paul - Cook Douglas Medal for SDB, Cat’s Eye. Walther Cup for SDB Bluebeard’s Ghost. Ben R. Hager Cup for Crow’s Feet. Devil May Care was runner up to Sass Medal and Tingle was runner up to Caparne-Welch Medal. Award of Merit for TBs, Bold Encounter and Aardvark Lark. Also for BB, Be My Baby; IB, Spiced Peaches; and SDB Attack Cat and Eye of Newt. Honorable Mentions received were TBs, Padded Shoulders, Conjuring Cat, City of Gold, Dressed to Kill, Cimarron Trail, Fine Porcelain, with Bushwhacked and Dramatic Style runners up. HMs were also awarded to BB, Crow’s Feet; IBs Nickel and Fire in the Sky, with runners up Abbey and Sweet Potato Pie; and SDBs, Bluebeard’s Ghost, Wish upon a Star, Canadian Kisses, Big Blue Eyes, Hugs, Pussycat Pink, Experiment, Gingerbread Trim, Fine Idea, Ghost Ship and runner up Bright; and MDB Dollop of Cream. City of Gold won 5th place at the International Iris Competition in Florence, Italy.
        For Thomas - Award of Merit for TBs, Brussels and Mythology with Bridal Icing a runner up. Honorable Mention for TBs Wild Angel, Discovered Treasure, Athens, Peace Prayer, Material Girl, Modern Woman, Spiced Lemon, with Foreigner and Gallery as runner up; SDBs Leopard Print, Scream, True, and Cub Cadet. Suspect was top AB. Saving the best till last, Thomas had an amazing array of awards from the International Iris Competition in Florence, Italy. Morning Sunrise won 1st Place and also the award for Most Original Color. Power Point won 2nd place and also the award for Most Commercial Variety. Last but not least, Peace Prayer won the award for Best Scented Variety.
        Thomas and Kirk added a lovely new gazebo to the garden. You are welcome to come and look around a bit and then sit in the shade of the gazebo and enjoy your lunch or snack and maybe a sip of wine.