Garden beauty up for bid at iris auction

Norma Desmond didn't look ready for her close-up Sunday.

In fact, she looked more like something out of an H.P. Lovecraft novel -- a misshapen brown lump with tentaclelike roots protruding from the bottom, indistinguishable from the pile of other misshapen brown lumps scattered across a table at the University of Missouri Extension Center.

The 15 gardeners gathered for the SEMO Iris Society's annual auction knew, however, that with a little care, the plant named for the tragic heroine of the film "Sunset Boulevard" would be ready for a starring role in a Southeast Missouri garden by May.

Norma Desmond isn't the only iris with an unusual name. Other varieties on sale Sunday afternoon included Rasputin, Cookie Monster, Snitch, Superhero, Sharp Dressed Man, Beetlejuice and Fergit Dah Mustard, among others.

"There's close to 90,000 registered names. When a hybridizer registers a name, you can't repeat it," said Dave Niswonger, a charter member of the society and longtime iris grower.

Bargains could be found at the SEMO Iris Society’s iris auction Sunday in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

As a hybridizer -- someone who develops new iris varieties -- Niswonger is always on the lookout for possible names for new varieties, he said.

He finds inspiration everywhere: song lyrics, sermons, even fond childhood memories.

Patton Snowfall, an iris with white blossoms, came from his memories of his grandfather's hometown, he said, while Looking Glass Eyes drew its name from the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," and Kingly Dignity came from a biblical phrase that caught his ear during a church service.

The process of developing a new variety can take several years, beginning with seeds that grow spiky leaves in their first season but require another year to produce blossoms, Niswonger said.

Once the plants bloom, those with desirable traits must be identified and then replanted. By the second generation, the plants usually are ready to be registered with the American Iris Society, he said.

Bob Skaggs takes a bid during the iris auction Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Established iris varieties usually are propagated from rhizomes, or roots. New varieties typically cost $50 to $75 per rhizome the first year they are registered, Niswonger said, with prices falling over time.

On Sunday, auction participants bought rhizomes worth $50 or $60 apiece for as little as $15.

Ellen Morse drove from Perryville, Mo., to take advantage of the bargains.

Morse, who said she has collected more than 1,200 varieties since she began growing irises more than 20 years ago, estimated she spent about $130 on rhizomes Sunday.

Morse said she never got into the time-consuming process of hybridizing.

"I've never messed with it. I just do it for the enjoyment," she said.

Charles Pickett, president of the SEMO Iris Society, began growing irises after ordering some as a gift for his grandmother.

"When they bloomed, I thought, 'Doggone, I like those!'" Pickett said.

Half a century and more than 2,000 varieties later, he continues to grow the colorful, exotic-looking flowers.

"It's like an addiction. The nice thing is it's always evolving and changing," Pickett said.

Native to the Middle East, irises tend to be drought-tolerant and easy to grow, he said.

Now is an ideal time to plant irises, Pickett said, because they have time to develop good root systems before winter.

Anyone interested in joining the SEMO Iris Society may call Pickett at 573-576-0842 or simply show up for a meeting. The organization's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at the University of Missouri Extension Center, 684 W. Jackson Trail in Jackson.

Annual membership is $5, Pickett said.

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