Hybridizers Anna & David Cadd

Healdsburg, California, USA

In 1994, a small iris garden in Healdsburg, dating back to 1954, went into the commercial venue. David and Anna Cadd started to sell the irises from their location on 329 North St. This is the place where David's grandparents, Helen and Arthur Beeman and their son, Faye, established the small commercial iris garden, named first Beehive Iris Garden, and then Beeman's Iris Garden. Long after they all were gone, David was still growing his favourite plants, between the roses and vegetable garden. After marriage to Anna, a Polish "transplant" with an MD in Biology and PhD in Plant Ecology in 1990, (David is "just a dirt farmer" as he likes to say), they greatly expanded their iris collection to about 3000 named varieties and started to hybridize. Their first introductions thru The American Iris Society were recorded in 2000. The main focus in their collection is Tall Bearded irises, but they also grow Border Bearded, Intermediate, Standard Dwarfs and Arilbreds, and from Beardless group the Pacific Coast Natives hybrids, Louisianas, Siberians and one of the largest collections of Spuria Irises in Northern California. They are members of the American Iris Society and its various Sections, the Russian and Middle-European Iris Societies and the British Iris Society. They are also Garden and Show Judges and are one of the International Editors for the AIS Bulletin. They enjoy inviting guests to the Show garden around home and on the production field on West Matheson during the iris blooming season to see the wide open eyes of disbelief and to answer a lot of questions. But their greatest pleasure is the hybridizing work. In 2000-2009 they introduced 93 varieties. They have won Silver Medals for the highest number of blue ribbons 11 years in row during Santa Rosa Iris Society Show! Anna also loves to make the flower arrangements, including the irises into them.

They received, among others: From AIS - 8 Awards of Merit, 30 Honorable Mention Awards, William Mohr Medal and John C. Wister Medal. They also received 8 trophies from International Competition in Florence, Italy; 2 medals from Competition in Moscow, Russia; 2 Trophies from Middle-European Iris Society in Poland, Slovakia and Czech Republic; Trophy from Tecomah Competition in France and 2 Medals in Competition in Munich, Germany.

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See below:

• Gardens
• Registrations and Introductions
• Awards
• Iris Publications
• Biographical Notes
• Hybridizing Notes

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Gardens

Cadd's Beehive Iris Garden, Healdsburg, CA

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Registrations and Introductions

Arilbred: 'Hakuna Matata'.

Border Bearded: 'Armadillo Kid', 'Bermuda Triangle', 'Cool Sensation', 'Crystal Nugget', 'Foxy Doll', 'Just My Luck', 'Laced Handkerchief', 'Little Blue Vibs', 'May Happiness', 'Mini Rainbow', 'Pastel Geisha', 'Red Thumbprints', 'Whispering Fairy', 'Wind Singer', 'Wine Escapade'.

Intermediate Bearded: 'Foxy Magic',

Spuria: Abalone Pearl', 'Air Affair', 'Always A Mystery'. 'Angelic Snowflake', 'Boldly Elegant', 'Breezy Day', 'California Gold Rush', 'Carousel Of Delight', 'Chocolate Dreams', 'Cosmic Impact', 'Dandelion Smile', Gift From Paradise', Golden Ducat', 'Kiss Of Caramel', 'Lemon Chiffon Pie', 'Lemon Suntea', 'Mister David', 'Moonlight Shy', 'Nebula Wind', 'Other Side of Pluto','Out Of Dreams', 'Saint Patrick's Gold', 'Short Circuit', 'Silence In Heaven', 'Singing Light', 'Soul Therapy', 'Sparkling Cider', 'Speeding Star', 'Star Rider', 'Star Spell', 'Under The Rainbow',

Standard Dwarf Bearded: 'Fairy Berry',

Tall Bearded 'Amethyst Suncatcher', 'Arctic Unicorn', 'Ballerina's Pirouette', 'Bee Lover', 'Bermuda Triangle', 'Beyond Paradise', 'Black Mercury', 'Blonde Madonna', 'Blue Ghost', 'Change of Millennium', 'Congo Sunset', 'Copper Bubble Bath', 'Crown Connection', 'Dancing In Ruffles', 'Deep Dive', 'Devil David', 'Elegant Girl', 'Fairy's Prom Dress', 'Frosted Fantasy', 'Gothic Cathedral', 'Hope Is Everything', 'Innocent Devil', 'Italian Ice', 'Lady In Purple', 'Late Sunshine', 'Loganberry Wine', 'Love Is Pink', 'Lunar Shadow', 'Meadow Song', 'Midnight Mink', 'Mystic Dragon', 'Orange Joker', 'Pagan's Maiden', 'Poetry In Bloom', 'Polish Princess', 'Political Zoo', 'Prairie Bison', 'Princess of Paradise', 'Purple Madness', 'Purple People Eater', 'Rain Of Angels', 'Raspberry Jewelry', 'Rhapsody In Peach', 'Smart Blonde', 'Square Dance Skirt', 'Stardust Dragon', 'Sun Beige', 'Sun Cirque', 'Sweet Linda', 'Take Me Away', 'Ukulele Girl', 'Violet Ballerina', 'Wild Azure Jewel'.

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Awards

Anna and David Cadd's AIS Medal Awarded Irises

Below you will find a picture gallery with links to Anna and David Cadd irises that have won AIS Medals.

They are presented in chronolgical order.

2018:

'Lemon Chiffon Pie', Spuria, SPU Eric Nies Medal 2018 Award of Merit 2014 Honorable Mention 2010

2014:

'Golden Ducat', Spuria, SPU Eric Nies Medal 2014 Award of Merit 2011 Honorable Mention 2008

2011:

'Speeding Star', Spuria, SPU Eric Nies Medal 2011 Award of Merit 2008 Honorable Mention 2006

2009:

'Italian Ice', Tall Bearded Wister Medal 2009 Award of Merit 2005 Honorable Mention 2003 Nelson Award 2012 Favorite Guest 2004

2007:

'Hakuna Matata', Arilbred, AB (OGB-) William Mohr Medal 2007 Award of Merit 2004 Honorable Mention 2002

Printable inclusive list of Anna and David Cadd's AIS Awarded and Recognized Irises with links to each iris as of the 2025 Award Year.

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Iris Publications

under construction

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Biographical Notes

under construction

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Hybridizing Notes

under construction

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