■(TB) 'Wabash'
1936, Williamson
'Wabash'. (
E. B. Williamson, R. 1936) TB, Midseason bloom, Color Class W3D (White and Dark Bicolor). (
'Dorothy Dietz' X
'Cantabile'). Honorable Mention 1937; Award of Merit 1938;
American Dykes Medal 1940. Longfield 1936.
1939 Checklist citations: H.M., A.I.S. 1937; Bull. A.I.S.
66:88 Sept. 1937; A.M. A.I.S. 1938; Bull. A.I.S.
71:37 Oct. 1938.
From Cooley's Gardens catalog for 1938: "A new iris so far in advance of others of similar color combination that they are simply not in the race. With clean white standards and bright purple falls, it might have been called 'Elk's Temple,' so well does it call to mind the colors of that well known fraternal organization. The flowers are large and are borne on well branched stalks reaching almost forty inches in height."
Note: The variety
'Bright Hour' has been known to be grown and passed around under the name 'Wabash' - the true 'Wabash' has purple based foliage (PBF), 'Bright Hour' does not.
"The variety Wabash is a good example of top-branching, but the habit has rarely been held against it for two reasons; first, the proportions of the plant are such as to help disguise the poor branching; and, second, there is as yet no widely grown substitute for Wabash. There are better amoenas, to be sure, but it will be several years before they are as widely grown, and as widely known". [
What Makes a Tall Bearded Iris Good or Bad. The Handbook for Judges, The American Iris Society, Second Installment, July 1953. Reprinted in
A.I.S. Bulletin 130 (July 1953): 81].
WABASH (Williamson). Here is one of the finest irises ever raised, even better than
Cantabile and easily the best amoena in commerce. Standards snow white, of perfect form. Falls deep violet with clear white edge. A larger flower than
Cantabile and a more branching stem-36". [G. L. Pilkington, "Iris Notes",
A.I.S. Bulletin 74 (July 1939): 32.]
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Interested in Tall Bearded Iris? Please visit the:
Tall Bearded Iris Society website.
Your Observations Are Valued. Please make note of bud count, branching, purple based foliage and bloom time, etc. Because these are affected by climate, note date, year and geographic location and write these and other comments in the comment box below.
--
LaurieFrazer - 2010-01-17
- The second image is probably 'Bright Hour'. Note the very round falls. 'Wabash' has falls that are somewhat square, as in the other images. -- JoeSpears - 22 Feb 2011