r14 - 24 Oct 2016 - 06:52 - Main.af_2e83 | r13 - 06 Oct 2016 - 19:46 - Main.Harloiris | ||||
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Over the years John has reflected back on where his interest in plants began while growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska. John said, "My interest in plants goes back as much as I can remember. I took a teacher in Kindergarten a bouquet out of the garden". With Irises it began when he was a senior in high school. He said, "For 2 dollars I bought a collection of 8 irises. Among the eight were Sass's 'Jubilee' and 'King Carl', and his tetraploid innovations, 'Siegfried' and 'Tiffany'. Shortly after John planted them he went into the service during World War II, and by the time he got out those little plants had grown into great big clumps. When he saw the marvelous increase that had occurred during his absence, John saw dollar signs as well as beauty dangling in front of his eyes. He was hooked. But it wasn't until he got out of the military and was working in the meat packing industry that he "slipped into it backwards" and decided he could make a living working with plants. "I like plants and people, and after I got an education I was able to do both," he said. John received his doctorate from University of California at Berkley in 1962. |
Over the years John has reflected back on where his interest in plants began while growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska. John said, "My interest in plants goes back as much as I can remember. I took a teacher in Kindergarten a bouquet out of the garden". With Irises it began when he was a senior in high school. He said, "For 2 dollars I bought a collection of 8 irises. Among the eight were Sass's Jubilee' and King Carl', and his tetraploid innovations, Siegfried' and Tiffany'. Shortly after John planted them he went into the service during World War II, and by the time he got out those little plants had grown into great big clumps. When he saw the marvelous increase that had occurred during his absence, John saw dollar signs as well as beauty dangling in front of his eyes. He was hooked. But it wasn't until he got out of the military and was working in the meat packing industry that he "slipped into it backwards" and decided he could make a living working with plants. "I like plants and people, and after I got an education I was able to do both," he said. John received his doctorate from University of California at Berkley in 1962. |
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The first rebloomers were found in the wild 500 years ago, but it was not until the 1960's that development of cultivars - plants that could assure consistency in color and vigor - began in earnest. John began hybridizing them in 1970, including many dwarf irises. He had a 2 acre plot in Sanger, California which had become overgrown with his hobby. He wrote for the Fine Gardening Magazine in 1993 about the development of Rebloomers through painstaking hybridizing to achieve the needed vigor. He said the Valley, with its frost-free period, offers one of the most optimum settings for rebloomers, topped only by some Pacific coastal regions and Southern California. John cited reliable rebloomers that include dwarves such as 'Baby Blessed' (light yellow) and 'Plumwine' (plum red with violet shadings); intermediates such as 'Blessed Again' (light yellow) and 'I Blessed' (cream colored). |
The first rebloomers were found in the wild 500 years ago, but it was not until the 1960's that development of cultivars - plants that could assure consistency in color and vigor - began in earnest. John began hybridizing them in 1970, including many dwarf irises. He had a 2 acre plot in Sanger, California which had become overgrown with his hobby. He wrote for the Fine Gardening Magazine in 1993 about the development of Rebloomers through painstaking hybridizing to achieve the needed vigor. He said the Valley, with its frost-free period, offers one of the most optimum settings for rebloomers, topped only by some Pacific coastal regions and Southern California. John cited reliable rebloomers that include dwarves such as Baby Blessed' (light yellow) and 'Plumwine' (plum red with violet shadings); intermediates such as Blessed Again' (light yellow) and I Blessed' (cream colored). |
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An article in North View, April 1996, mentions his scientific articles and book chapters on tissue culture, cross-pollenization, diseases, and Reblooming that had been published in the United States and England. Friends recall with great delight the many questions John would answer for them without hesitation. One recalled of asking if a particular species of iris could still be found in the Sierra's, Dr. Weiler gave him directions without missing a beat. It did not matter if you were a friend or stranger John loved to talk about plants. |
An article in North View, April 1996, mentions his scientific articles and book chapters on tissue culture, cross-pollenization, diseases, and Reblooming that had been published in the United States and England. Friends recall with great delight the many questions John would answer for them without hesitation. One recalled of asking if a particular species of iris could still be found in the Sierra's, Dr. Weiler gave him directions without missing a beat. It did not matter if you were a friend or stranger John loved to talk about plants. |
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Border irises such as 'Double Up' (blue and white with dark violet borders); and tall ones such as 'Champagne Elegance' (white and pink ruffled). 'Feedback' (medium blue-violet), 'Immortality' (white) and 'Queen Dorothy' (white stitched with violet around the edges). His home garden now has varieties that include 'Immortality', 'Queen Dorothy' and 'Rosalie Figge' (a dark purple). "It's not until December 15 that we usually have frost hard enough to stop the blooming," he said", and sometimes will bloom again by early February and every month in between. |
Border irises such as Double Up' (blue and white with dark violet borders); and tall ones such as Champagne Elegance' (white and pink ruffled). Feedback' (medium blue-violet), Immortality' (white) and Queen Dorothy' (white stitched with violet around the edges). His home garden now has varieties that include Immortality', Queen Dorothy' and Rosalie Figge' (a dark purple). "It's not until December 15 that we usually have frost hard enough to stop the blooming," he said", and sometimes will bloom again by early February and every month in between. |
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r14 - 24 Oct 2016 - 06:52 - Main.af_2e83 | r13 - 06 Oct 2016 - 19:46 - Main.Harloiris | ||||