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Heirloom Iris 'Romeo'

17 years ago

Moving to Carbondale, IL August 1st and will have lots of garden space after 25 years of east coast apartment living. I want to plant some of the perennials I remember from around my boyhood home in Conneaut, Ohio. I especially remember a sprightly light yellow iris with bluish purple falls that looks a lot like "Romeo." It's 1912 introduction date makes that a very possible mach - I remember it beside our house when I was about 5 in 1946. Comparing a photograph with a memory is difficult but I seem to remember blooms has less red in the falls, than the photo I have. The yellow is right on. Does anyone know of any iris similar to Romeo that would have been around in thr latr 20's and 30's when my mother or grand mother might have planted them? A clump of those babies would certainly bring back home. Any help much appreciated.

Alan Benson (conneautlad)

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Comments (3)

conneautlad
Original Author
17 years ago
I'm responding to my own query - the culprit that my mother loved so much was Loreley dated 1909, Mom's birth year, though I'm sure she never knew of the connection. Disciver it at Seneca Hills Perennials. Just goes to show that if you work at it, you probably can answer your own question.
Alan
rblegend
17 years ago
Alan;
Check out Argyle Acres, they have alot of historic Iris. Loreley is a very common historic iris indeed! Several people have recently posted picture of LORELEY.
ROMEO is very pretty, also check out 'PEACOCKS EYE" as it may ring a bell as well!
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zintal
17 years ago
Check out Superstition Gardens on Webshots for Rick Tasco grows both and helps out Historic Iris Preservation Society members. In fact the HIPS Sale is going on now until June 30th so you might want to look up the HIPS website. The members get first crack at the iris on sale but I do see both iris listed on the sales list. Worth asking about it on their site.

I bought Lorely in feb. from Iris City Gardens who also is closely associated with the HIPS. So is Argyle Acres. The addresses phone numbers and web links are listed on the HIPS site. On line ordering can be done with Argyle, Iris City not with Superstition.

Hope that helps on trying to locate these iris. Good luck.

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