Seed Harvest ~ Beginning of the cross ~ Part 1 of 3.

Hybrid Cross NZ031-08




On December 8th 2008 I began the serious effort in crossing some of the Japanese iris. In one of this crosses I used "Iapetus" which is a 6 petal or double form and decided to use this plant as my pod parent plant.

This flower, would once fertilized, be used to grow and carry the developing seed pod till maturity ready for harvest.

I wanted to try to create something stunningly different from the norm so I choose "Wind Drift" a 3 petal or single form with clean white petals and light to heavy vivid pink violet marbled streaks in the standards. I could imagine a flower that would standout and smile at me in the garden.

I guess when you begin, being a little green behind the ears, that the first lot of flower crosses are a great start which I can only but learn from here in.

I have numbered this cross NZ031-08. So as time progress this will be the reference point of my dairy account of these two varieties with their progress from germination to flowering in 18 months time. Let the adventure begin.

So what could I expect from this cross and what could be the end results. I will discuss this in part 3 of 3 of Seed Harvest ~ Homozygous and Heterozygous flowers.

1: IAPETUS "Pod Parent".


"Iapetus" a 6 petal flower was introduced by Sterling Innerst in 1987. This seedling 1540-2 was a cross of ("Narihira" x "Valiant Prince") X "Frostbound". This seedling was originally named "Horae" and changed to Iapetus for registration and introduction.

This Japanese iris was awarded an Honorable Mention (HM) 1990, Award of Merit (AM) 1994









2: WIND DRIFT "Pollen Parent".

"Wind Drift" a 3 petal flower was introduced by H Stahley and created by A. Vogt in 1983.

3: Pod maturing ready to harvest.


Just beginning to split and crack open. This cross was made in early December it is now about 80 days of development of the seed pod. Once pod has swollen and is just beginning to crack it is time to think about harvesting the pod.

If it still needs a little more maturity time then cover with a nylon stocking or use the end of the panty hose to stop seed falling while catching the seeds if it continues to split further.


Seed pod started to colour up from green to a light yellowish green to a brownish red.

4: Big cracks forming.

Mature seed pod at risk from opening to far and spilling the seed into the plant below or to allow rain to enter and could allow mold to spoil or damage or destroy seed by rotting or to germinate prematurely. Watch for insect damage as well.

Japanese Iris, Iris ensata " Light at Dawn"

Mid Season / Late Japanese Iris.

Iris ensata
" Light at Dawn "

Another stunning Japanese iris from the garden of Walter Marx.




This is a 6 petal creation which stands out in a proud bunch. It grows well in the Otara Birch Gardens making it's own statement when flowering in my garden display.This iris produces shorter stems of large beautiful flowers in mid to late season.

The 6 petal white flowers have a neat narrow border of blue. The outer areas stippled in blue / violet. Nice clean white styles with a touch of wood violet at the tips of the petals.


The flowers look very beautiful in a garden display with its striking presentation which smiles and radiates in the soft evening light.

I enjoy picking this variety to put in a solid vase to admire on my lounge table.

This plant grows really well for me with lots of beautiful clean foliage with stems held proudly above the upright arching foliage. It produces an abundance of flowering stems on a well formed stunning clump in late December.


It grows to a height of 79 cms (32 ins) and flowers mid to late season in New Zealand, while flowering in the late season else where in the world.





Another beautiful variety created by Walter Marx. This selected seedling 56-153, being registered and introduced in 1957.





Available in New Zealand and around the world.

Windless Wednesday

My Autumn Driveway.

"Ho!

for the leaves that eddy down,
Crumpled yellow and withered brown,

Hither and yonder and up the street
And trampled under the passing feet;


Swirling, billowing, drifting by,
With a whisper soft and a rustling sigh,

Starting aloft to windy ways,
Telling the coming of bonfire days."
- Grace Strickler Dawson, Bonfire Days

Iris ensata "Confetti Shower"

Early / Mid Season Japanese Iris.

Iris ensata
" Confetti Shower"






Another stunning soft but subtle Japanese iris that grows well in the Otara Birch Gardens making it's own statement when flowering in my garden display.




This iris produces tall stems of huge beautiful flowers in early to mid season. This 6 petal rose violet purple flowers which looks very beautiful in a garden display.

The striking rose - ground, violet, blue stippled petals, purple veins extending into the purple banded halo. Brilliant dark purple style arms complimenting the presentation of this beautiful flower.

The flower smiles and radiates in the soft evening light.

The plant grows really well for me with lots of beautiful clean foliage with stems held proudly above the upright arching foliage. It produces an abundance of flowering stems on a well formed stunning clump in early December.

Another beautiful variety created by Walter A. Payne. This seedling was crossed from selected seedling Payne seedling 30 X Payne seedling 82, being registered and introduced in 1950.



In 1964 this iris was awarded with a Bronze Medal from the International Horticultural Exhibition, USA.

It grows to a height of 122 cms (48 ins) and flowers mid season in New Zealand, while flowering in the early to mid season else where in the world.

Available in New Zealand and around the world.



Please click on the photo's to enlarge.

Windless Wednesday

The Final Curtain.



What a beautiful time of year to wander through my garden and contemplate the passing of time.

To see how the sharpness of Autumn cold....

has highlighted the leaves from green....

to scarlet and gold....






Soon time to rest....

to conserve....

to gather energy....

as the winter months unfold.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold."
- A Children's Song of the 1880's

Japanese Iris 'CRYSTAL HALO'

Early / Mid Season Japanese Iris.

Iris ensata
" Crystal Halo"

Growing at Otara Birch gardens a fantastic angel of deep violet petals surrounded with a bight white halo in mid season lasting two to three weeks in its flowering makes it's own statement.

This iris produces tall stems of huge beautiful flowers measuring 5 - 6" across in early to mid season. This 6 petal purple has a white band on the flowers which stands out being very spectacular in a garden display when planted on mass.

The striking purple centres with a bright 1" halo set around the edge of the huge petals, purple veins extending into the white halo. Brilliant dark purple style arms complimenting the presentation of this beautiful huge flower.This flower smiles and radiates in the early evening light from some distance catching the eye with its bold presentation.

The plant grows really well for me with lots of beautiful clean foliage and tall ram rod stems held proudly above the upright arching foliage. It produces an abundance of flowering stems on a well formed stunning clump in early December. Excellent pod parent for use in any hybridizing program.

Another great variety created by Walter Marx from the many hundreds that he considered to release.


This seedling 49-43 was produced from crossing two Higo seedlings, being registered in 1958 and introduced by him in his 'Walter Marx Gardens' in 1959.

It grows to a height of 97 cms (38 ins) and flowers mid season in New Zealand, while flowering in the mid to late season else where in the world.

Available in New Zealand and around the world.

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Windless Wednesday

Autumn in my driveway.

May is a time when the garden starts to drop the final curtain on its performance for the year as the Autumn colours slowly appear through the blanket of green.

The scrunch of dry leaves under foot.
Scrunch... Scrunch... Scrunch.
What a colourful time to be seen.