Grower News

JOHN BISSET/STUFFSouth Canterbury Iris Group treasurer Lynda Crossen loves the colour of the flowers she grows. The elegant iris flower which in Greek mythology is the name of the goddess of the rainbow will be the centre of attention at the New Zealand Iris Convention in Timaru this weekend. The South Canterbury Iris Group is hosting the event which kicks off with the launch of Why Irises? by Waimate author Gwenda Harris on Friday evening at Seven Oaks in Timaru. There are estimated to be close to 300 species of the flower which are found naturally in Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, Asia and North America. JOHN BISSET/STUFFTimaru iris grower Lynda Crossen is looking forward to the upcoming New Zealand Iris Society convention. Harris said she has written many articles on irises in the NZ Iris Society bulletin among others and was encouraged to put all of them in a book which is what she has done. She is a particular fan of species irises though she first fell in love with bearded irises 50 years after seeing an advert for them in a Gisborned newspaper where she was visiting. READ MORE: * All colours of the rainbow to be displayed at Palmerston North iris show * Societies bunch together for lily show and garden expo * A flower worthy of its own show South Canterbury Iris Group treasurer and grower Lynda Crossen said there were 25 members in the group and the others attending were from around the country. “It’s good to get together and discuss irises and their many forms and learn from each other. There’s camaraderie.” She has been growing the flower for 30 years as she loved the colour they produced which ranged from pink to yellow to blue, there were no true reds. South Canterbury’s climate was conducive to growing them as frosts killed any bugs and the bearded variety enjoyed the heat of summer and the cold of winter. The Siberian variety, which are still true to type and are not cross bred, were dormant in winter so also thrived. “In Auckland […]

Source: www.stuff.co.nz