Hybridizer Earl Roberts (1910-1977)

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Earl Roberts received the American Iris Society Hybridizer Award in 1975.

From The Bulletin of the American Iris Society No. 227(Fall 1977): In the passing of Earl Roberts, at age 67, on June 22, Region 6 and the American Iris Society have lost a faithful member and a staunch promoter of irises. Earl's iris interest ran the full gamut of the genus. His garden contained many of the collected species which he not only used extensively in his own breeding projects but which he also made available to anyone interested in them. He was one of the founders of the Median Iris Society and its first president, and for many years he maintained an MIS display and test garden. In addition to winning honors in international competition, Earl earned many of the AIS awards and medals for his irises and the AIS Hybridizer's Medal of which he was justifiably proud. His origination of the pink SDBs opened a whole new field for development by median hybridizers.

However considerable and valuable. Earl's contributions were to the iris world, his work did not stop there. He was also an extensive breeder of daylilies and was very active in the American Hemerocallis Society in which he was also an Awards and Honors Judge. Visits to the Roberts garden were always an interesting, informative, and pleasurable experience because of the willingness of this talented and unselfish man to share not only his plants, but more importantly, his experience and knowledge. —EMMA HOBBS

Registrations/Introductions:

Arilbred: 'Sharksiana',

Border Bearded: 'Coral Eyes', 'Forever Amber', 'Lemon Tart', 'Peach Cordial', 'Sharksiana', 'Snow Lemon', 'Stylmark', 'Twilite Time', 'Zimbrakeet'.

Intermediate Bearded: 'Amber Rays', 'Astralite', 'Blue Fragrance', 'Cherie Amour', 'Dream Maker', 'Elfin Antique', 'Elfin Erin', 'Elfin Goldtone', 'Elfin Halo', 'Elfin Myst', Elfin Princess', 'Elfin Royale', 'Elfin Silver', 'Elfin Smoky', 'Fairy Cheeks', 'Fairy Time', 'Flame Tip', 'Gypsy Flair', 'Midas Kiss', 'Paganite', 'Party Finery', 'Radiant Love', 'Regal Fashion', 'Spring Cheddar', 'Spring Majesty', 'Starfall',

Miniature Dwarf Bearded: 'Alaskan Ice' 1963, 'April Sky', 'Azure Morn', 'Barium Gold', 'Blue Beret', 'Brownett', 'Canary Caper', 'Cranberry Chalice', 'Creamette', 'Elfinite', 'Flirty Eyes', 'French Wine', 'Gay Flirt', 'Gold Flush', 'Inca Idol', 'Inca Star', 'Inca Toy', 'King's Robe', 'Pansy Heart', 'Sky Dot',

Miniature Tall Bearded: 'Cedar Waxwing', 'Desert Quail', 'Mockingbird', 'Painted Rose', 'Paltime', 'Parakeet', 'Pixakeet', 'Pixavar', 'Royal Thrush', 'Timpala', 'White Canary', 'Wild Canary'.

Standard Dwarf Bearded: 'Amber Shadow', 'Amber Touch', 'Aqua Green', 'Brite Bee', 'Dache Model', 'Dancing Bee', 'Desert Haze', 'Dove Wings', 'Easter Dream', 'Eye Shadow', 'Four Spot', 'Frosted Ice', 'Garnet Star', 'Gleaming Gold', 'Half Crown', 'Hammered Copper', 'Irish Heart', 'Irish Sea', 'Lenna M', 'Lilac Shadow', 'Lilaclil', 'Lime Rhapsody', 'Little Dogie', 'Mandarin Jewel', 'Melon Honey', Mint Ice', 'Music Caper', 'Pagan Butterfly', 'Pink Amber', 'Platinum Gold', 'Ruby Crown', 'Russet Dot', 'Satin Sheen', 'Sky Shadows', 'Sleepy Eyes', 'Solar Flight', 'Solar Gleam', 'Spring Fern', 'Tiger Rouge', 'Tomingo', 'Tornado Capers', 'Velvalure', 'Velvatine', 'Watercolor', 'White Gem'.

Tal Bearded: 'Accentuation', 'Evening Radiance', 'Frosty Waves', 'Grecian Melody', 'Gunsmoke', 'Marion Hamilton', 'Paganite', 'Rose Orchid', 'Sky Clipper'.

-- BobPries - 2011-08-09