The Art of Hybridizing

I have a great amount of respect for those who hybridize.  Being able to hybridize a flower takes skill, a love for the flower that is being hybridized, and perhaps most importantly - patience. Often when I go out to the gardens during bloom season, I admire the flower and fail to think of who took the time to develop it.

We have several different varieties in the gardens and several different hybridizers represented.  Some of those varieties/hybridizers were awarded the highest honors from the American Iris Society (ex. Celebration Song/Schreiner), Thornbird/Byers, and Wabash/Williamson.

As I began to collect irises, I noticed that whether by name, or attribute, each hybridizer has their own way of creating.  One of my favorite hybridizers from the past is Tom Craig.  His variety, Escondido, is in our gardens.  I'm including a link to his bio below.  Also, I'm including a list of hybridizers provided by the American Iris Society.  Click on some of the names and see if you have a favorite hybridizer. :)

https://wiki.irises.org/Main/Bio/HybridizerCraigTom
https://wiki.irises.org/Main/Bio/InfoHybridizers