Caroline DeForest (1896-1991)

October 8, 1896 - August 28, 1991

Although most people thought of her simply as the widow of Fred DeForest, winner of Dykes Medals for 'Argus Pheasant' and 'First Violet', Caroline DeForest was an iris personality in her own right. She played an integral part in the Irisnoll operations, a fact driven home after Fred's death in 1960. Those who corresponded with Fred continued to receive letters written in the same distinctive handwriting; the color of the ink was changed, as was the signature at the bottom of the letters, from "Fred" to "Caroline de."

With Fred Jr.'s help, Caroline continued on at Irisnoll, growing irises and Exbury hybrid azaleas at the same Canby, Oregon garden visited during the 1960 convention. Until about fifteen years ago, she was still introducing irises. The best known of Caroline's registrations was 'Bayberry Candle', which won an Award of Merit in 1972. She lived at Irisnoll until about three years ago, when she went into an Oregon City rest home. She was in her mid-nineties when she passed away last August. ["In Memoriam", A.I.S. Bulletin No. 285:45-April 1992]

Registrations/Introductions:

Border Bearded: 'Pixie Circle'.

Tall Bearded: 'Admiral Sideburns', 'Alenette', 'Aloha Land', 'Ancient Gold', 'Bayberry Candle', 'Belle Beaute', 'Black Pansy', 'Bluebell Lane', 'Cadette', 'Color Rich', 'Coppercana', 'Coralene', 'Cotton Top', 'Daisy Pink', 'Dawn Fires', 'Doris Gay', 'Evenfall', 'Fairy Lamp', 'Fantast', 'Festive Frills', 'Fine Fettle', 'Flaxflower Blue', 'Floating Moon', 'Hilltop Gold', 'Honey Rae', 'Lilac Idyl', 'Lilac Ridge', 'Master Mariner', 'Moonlit Mist', 'No Secret', 'Shiny Bubbles', 'Spicy', 'Spring Confection', 'Sunny Season', 'Talking Point', 'Tanya', 'Violet Dusk', 'Waymark', 'Wide Lode', 'Widespread'

-- BobPries - 2012-05-18