Marvin number 4 has my vote I want a clump of it in that color

Bonnie That is beautiful and what a good sign Spring Finally somewhere.

Wow! Number 4 really IS a stunner!!!

It sure is!!!

I love all of them. #4 sure is stunning!

Number 4 for me also, beautiful

A big thanks to all of you who have enjoyed my seedling pictures. I see that there have been many visits also by those who didn't comment and I hoped they liked some of them too. I still have more to post, but I have been pretty busy with a lot of other things this winter. And then this morning, I go out to feed the birds and there is a definite different feel to the air. You know, there is always one day in the winter when you first feel that. It is not so much the temperature but it is partly that too. It is about forty degrees here this morning and the snow is quickly melting. So now the sense of urgency to get my indoor things caught up is setting in. I look forward to it but I sort of dread the spring rush too. So much to do.

Marvin, keep us in mind when you are clearing out those seedlings you don't wish to keep. I am quite certain each of them can be handily rehomed.

A big thanks to you, Marvin -- for sharing your seedlings with us!

I will probably be unpopular for expressing this opinion but I think the only time a seedling should be shared is with a fellow hybridizer for using in making future crosses. I personally hope that gardens will not be flooded with unnamed seedlings that will then have pictures appearing in the future on gardening sights asking for an ID. It is very difficult to discard pretty seedlings but it is a necessary part of the hobby. If a good hybridizer gave his seedlings away why would anyone spend money to buy his intros?...........just my opinion

Paul -- I never thought of that -- the part of future gardeners trying to identify Irises that have no identity. For myself, it's not a problem because I identify mine as *So-and-So's Seedling*. But I can see how that problem could come into being.

So --- you're not unpopular with me, and I appreciate your opinion.

And I see that I need to clarify my post right before yours -- what I should have said is "A big thanks to you for sharing your seedling PHOTOS with us".

I see your point Paul. A seedling is an important part of the process of iris creation. Only the hybridizer knows what traits he/she is looking for and would not want to share an inferior iris and one that is great should be introduced bearing the hybridizers name. however, on the flip side of that coin there are many people who buy named varieties and discard that information on planting the iris so you will always have ppl asking for iris id.

There is a hybridizer locally that creates beautiful iris and gives them names and sells them but never goes through the process of registering them. This creates confusion when someone buys one of his irises and puts its name on the marker and then several years later another hybridizer in another area gives the same name to his creation. I have not bought any of his irises so far. If I did I would have to put on its marker his name and 'not reg'.

Some hybridizers that have a valuable iris often send it to different zones to be grown to see how it does. It usually has a number at that point and the person 'testing' the iris is known to be responsible and not to sell, divide, share, etc. this iris and when it is named to follow the hybridizers wishes and to correctly label it.

I do not know much about hybridizing but I think there would be as many people for sharing seedlings as against in this case. Only my humble opinion and not meant to be anything more than expressing my thoughts to people who will not take offense at my ignorance....and you have to factor in the BEAUTIFUL irises that have been posted here and our little hearts yearning...... smiles

I agree with you , Paul. Even if that un-named, and un-registered seedling ends up in a garden like MaryAnn's, where it is given a description as "Paul's Seedling" , when it's shared out from THAT garden..is the seedling STILL going to be known as a seedling? Then after 2-3 more "shares", and 10-15 years, all anyone knows is that it is a "neat iris"! And then the search for a name begins! There are too many iris out there that have the wrong name, or ,no name, now, to want to add to the problem. I've read of one case where, after his death, a noted hybridizers seedlings were donated to planted in the cities' parks. And confusion reins till the present day ! There may be one named variety, that has several, un -registered siblings ,that are quite similar, and ,if put into various gardens, will muddy the water forever more ! I don't do any "pollen daubing"( but I may try give it a try !), but my feelings are the same as yours, If it's good enough to register, do so, and if it's not, and you aren't going to continue breeding with it..compost it!...Arlyn

You are right, Paul. I got carried away with all the beauties shared with us via photographs. Please do keep posting photos, Marvin, I promise to drool quietly to myself.

me too Debra.

And, Paul? I may not always agree with someone's opinions, but, particularly with the people on this forum, I am always interested in knowing those opinions.

I hope I didn't sound preachy or offend anyone. I really enjoy going to nurseries and visiting gardens and seeing plants. I always look at the label and am often disappointed when it says something like "lily" but no cultivar name. I'm probably obsessive but I do not have any noid iris, roses, or hosta. I have a few summer phlox which I failed to keep records of and they frustrate me. Obsessive and compulsive here......

Oh Paul, the practice of the hybridizer that does not register his irises would make you cringe. He has a lovely one for sale called Boot Scootin Boogie and recently I saw where another hybridizer has registered an iris with that name. I know that in the future two people are going to declare that their iris are the original Boot Scootin Boogie and that they bought them from an iris farm with that name on them......or perhaps they will not care what the name is.

I think from the pictures Marvin has shared with us that we can see that he is producing some quality desirable seedlings. We ought to try and buy any of his intros to encourage him. Then he may register more and make them available.

Paul, I sincerely appreciate it when you voice an opinion. Since I no longer work or drive, ATP is virtually the only place I can find intelligent conversation of interest to me and I always enjoy reading what you have to say. PLEASE keep posting your thoughts.

Debra....thanks for the sweet comment. I am retired and am alone much of the time since my wife passed about 2 years ago. My children and grandchildren and other family members and friends are great and attentive but have there own lives to live so some days seem quite long. My friends at ATP including you help.........