Neal, some folks might use Qtips for pollinating; I haven't tried that. Since the cotton is so firmly packed down on the Qtip, my concern is how well the Qtip would pick up, and/or transfer the pollen.

This video is interesting as it shows how to make a "tool" out of the bloom to do your pollinating. I don't always do this, as I don't like to destroy a bloom, but if I'm using a bloom for pollen that's starting to fade I often do. I don't break up the bloom that I'm crossing to either like he does. I don't have as many of each type as they would in a commercial operation, so I don't like destroying the blooms. I can see how that would make getting the pollen on the stigmatic lip easier though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

One of the crosses I made last summer was with Avenue Of Dreams (pollen parent) to Paul's Pink Seedling

Avenue Of Dreams (Pollen Parent) - Paul's Seedling (Pod Parent)


It produced 30 seeds. They are soaking right now, getting ready to be chilled soon. I made several crosses both ways with Pauls Seedling, it's very fertile, and all but one took. I'm so glad he trusted me with it to use. The other seedling he sent didn't bloom last spring, but it should next spring.

Tom, I'm excited to see what comes from that cross!

Me too!

If you're sad about the Owyhee seeds, you should see the other crosses I tossed out.

When working with amoenas (for your fantasy) it is difficult to keep the standards white. In my SDBs, they would keep wanting to turn into variegates (yellow standards).

On the subject of saving pollen in capsules. Years ago I did some median crosses, although not as many as I intended and saved some TB pollen right on the stigmas to use the next year. Using tweezers I removed the stigmas from several flowers of one variety and put them in one capsule and labeled with a small piece of tape. These capsules fit tightly and will not come apart by themselves. There is no need to take a flower apart or use cotton balls. The same when doing crosses that same day, just remove the stigma and take it to the pod parent. I find the best tweezers are those with finger holes as they are more steady and do not require pressure to hold..

I love amoenas, Lucy. I cant wait to see your little Reddy Set bloom in my garden... hopefully this spring. smiles

We use locking forceps to hold pollen from flower to flower. In envelops with a drying agent in a jar in the frige during the season. I have not tried freezing it. I have to get new 'flower-dri' as I have used the last bit.

You tell Reddy Set to' behave itself or else!'

Thanks Lucy Will those little silica gel packets in shoes work?

irisarian said:When working with amoenas (for your fantasy) it is difficult to keep the standards white. In my SDBs, they would keep wanting to turn into variegates (yellow standards).

Thanks for this info. I hadn't thought about the white being a recessive trait.

Neal, we just use paper coin envelopes. At least they worked properly when I sent pollen to Chuck Chapman in Canada.

White may be recessive to yellow, but not to blue. I have not read about it in World of Irises, I just found what happens. I asked Dave Niswonger who worked with TB amoenas & he agreed that keeping the white can be a difficult problem. But you never know what is behind the cultivars until you try. I used Paul black's 'Forte' to make a smooth red & out popped Reddy Set & 2 variegatas. I would not have expected it.

For some reason it struck me today that I've never seen a red iris with a white beard, reminding me of this thread. I'm sure there has been work done toward that goal, but I'm guessing there is a genetic challenge there. Lucy, I'm curious if you've ever worked toward those traits?

Nope, never thought of that one. Colors of petals & beards are inherited separately.

Neal, have you ever seen one with red standards and white falls? That would be a nice one.

Haven't seen anything like that either Bonnie- that would indeed be nice! 'Dare Me' caught my eye the other night and I looked closely to figure out what about it looked unique to me. Then realized it was the white lines making it stand out, and how I'd love to see a white beard there.


Lucy, it looks like Reddy Set has a partly white beard in photos, is that correct? I like the white contrasting against the red- that color combo is intriguing me this winter.

The bead is 'white-tipped yellow'. the means that they yellow doesn't go to the base of the beards, so it looks different depending on the angle of the photo. As to reverse amoenas, the only one I know is one of Paul Blacks & he said it has some blue markings on the falls. Those are not present in our garden.

@Cuzz4short I was browsing Superstition Iris on Facebook and it suggested Sutton's Iris Gardens. You should take a look at "Night's Edge"(2016 TB) and "Imperial Edge".

Oh I've seen the both. There's about 2 or 3 more gold edges I like from them too. I've aquirred enough to hopefully make a superior version. Those both from Sutton's are keepers. I wanted them, but will go for them next year maybe...depending on how many seed pods I can make

i was just looking at the Napa website. I would love to cross Teasing Tiger x Haunted Heart or Haunted Heart x Teasing Tiger.