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Greetings for 2010

We are looking forward to another exciting year in the seedling patch. The quality, both blooms and plants, of irises is improving by leaps and bounds and we can see outstanding introduction material for the next several years. To cope with this situation, we will be ramping up our number of introductions, particularly in the Tall Bearded area. At the same time, we are expanding our sphere of hybridizing activity to many other categories of irises and orchids. We are pretty much committed to irises that bloom from earliest spring until the killing frosts of autumn (in the Northwest). ‘Rebloom’ is our objective in all of these activities.

In our thirty-second year, our catalog has evolved into a gathering of irisarians with a common interest in hybridizing. This year, Lynda Miller joins the group. She is a well known and long time hybridizer from Indiana, recently ‘transplanted’ to the Northwest. There are several other people who may show up in coming years. Our catalog may well become the ‘Shopping Center for Diversity’ in iris breeding of all types.

Top AIS National Awards for 2009 (introduced from our garden) go to TB ‘Slovak Prince’ by Anton Mego of Slovakia, for the John C. Wister Medal, and to MDB ‘Tiny Titan’ by Terry Aitken, which won the Caparne-Welsh Medal. Awards of Merit were won by IB ‘Oblivion’ by Marky Smith; and SDB ‘Photon’ also by Marky Smith. In addition, Awards of Merit went to Interspecies ‘Night Mood’ by Lynn Markham ; and to Japanese iris ‘Bewitching Twilight’ by Chad Harris. Many runners up and HMs are waiting in the wings for 2010.

Convention plantings stand at the ready for the Spuria Convention coming to Portland for the first time this summer, the week-end of June 12-13th. (Contact us for further information.) Immediately adjacent to the Spuria Convention planting are the Japanese irises growing for the National Japanese Iris Convention due to arrive here the week-end of June 24-25th, 2011. This will occur approximately two weeks after the American Iris Society national convention in Victoria, Canada, next year.

Our five acres of irises are planted by category and alphabetically for ease of viewing by visitors. Out back is about one acre of seedlings in varying stages of selection. This year is getting off to a very early start. Typical bloom starts in April with the MDB’s and continues into early July with the Louisianas and Japanese. Maximum bloom for many types usually occurs during the last two weeks of May. Visitors are welcome any time during bloom season, but it is best to call ahead, or e-mail, to check on bloom progress. The best time to reach us near a phone is after dark, Pacific daylight time.

In addition to this catalog, our online website with its shopping cart has become a major part of our world-wide sales activity. It also has many more pictures — check it out. International customers should email us for best shipping method for their destination.

We thank our long time customers and fellow irisarians for your support over many years. May your 2010 season be bigger and better than ever.

Terry and Barbara Aitken