1. Place a higher priority on bloom form, branching, and vigor, than new colors. In other words, you will likely prefer to buy an older color with perfect form than one of the newer colors that often gapes open at the top, or in which the standards remain stiffly vertical, or even tip out at the top. Or one that is out of balance: either bottom heavy or top heavy. Or in which the blooms are crowded on the stem. For me, form is paramount.How many of you agree?
2. Tend to prefer clear colors over greyed or muddied colors.
I guess what my aim here is to find people of like mind with whom I have a greater chance of making successful occasional iris trades.
I understand the need of our award system to recognize and reward the development of new colors. But at the same time, I think perhaps the judging system is not giving enough points for the various aspects of form. When I look at the top winners I say to myself, "Gee, what pretty colors, but I'd not buy them due to them gaping open at the top. And then I just have to hope that someone will then hybridize with them to try to improve the form.
I also liked Tom's (can't recall his surname) recent letter in the iris bulletin, suggesting a revision of the way irises are judged. I thought his letter made a lot of sense. Basically it would help to compensate for disadvantages in distribution, allowing smaller nurseries and lesser known hybridizers to have a chance at awards. I hope everyone read his letter.
