Hybridizer Robert Hollingworth

Awarded Foster Memorial Plaque 2011

Williamston. Michigan, USA

`BOB HOLLINGWORTH – An Iris Biography

Bob was born and grew up in Yorkshire in the north of England. In 1962, he and his wife, Judy, left the UK on an adventure to California where he earned a Ph.D. in toxicology at the University of California. In 1966 they moved to Purdue University where Bob was a professor until 1987. Then to Michigan State University where he is now a Professor Emeritus and largely retired. Bob got the iris hybridizing bug in the early 1970s through Judy’s passion for gardening and the irises she grew in Indiana. After a few years working with TBs he decided that he needed to focus on a less crowded area and has worked primarily with Siberians since then.

He named his first Siberian, a diploid, for Forrest McCord who encouraged him in his early interest in Siberians, and it was introduced by Borbeleta Gardens in 1984. Since then he has introduced about 90 varieties – a mixture of diploid and tetraploid types. Of these, eleven have won the Morgan-Wood Medal which is the highest AIS award specific to Siberians. In 1986, Bob and Judy decided to open Windwood Gardens and operated this for 15 years. Now their irises are introduced through Ensata Gardens.

His tetraploid introduction, Strawberry Fair won the Franklin-Cook Cup at the AIS Convention in Portland, Oregon in 1994 and he was fortunate enough to repeat that win with Swans in Flight at the 2015 convention there. Swans In Flight went on to win the Dykes Medal in 2016 – a first for a beardless iris. In 1997 Bob received the Hybridizer’s Medal from AIS and the Distinguished Service Award in 2019. In 2012 he was the recipient of the Sir Michael Foster Plaque from the British Iris Society. Bob is a past President of the Society for Siberian Irises and is currently the President of the AIS Foundation. For the last ten years he has served as the editor of The Siberian Iris, the publication of SSI.

Mr. Hollingworth has registered over 60 Siberian irises including ten that have become Morgan-Wood Medal winners ( 'Lady Vanessa', 1992; 'Jewelled Crown', 1993; 'Sultan's Ruby', 1994; 'Coronation Anthem', 1997; 'Over In Gloryland', 2000; 'Strawberry Fair', 2001; 'Blueberry Fair', 2004; 'Ruffles and Flourishes', 2009; 'Swans In Flight', 2013; and 'Judy, Judy, Judy', 2017). 'Swans In Flight' went on to win the Dykes Medal in 2016. 'Who's On First' went on to win the Randolph-Perry Medal 2016. Robert Hollingworth was honored by the American Iris Society with the Hybridizer Award in 1997.

Siberian: 'Am I Amethyst', 'Ay Caramba', 'Band of Angels', 'Blueberry Fair', 'Blushing Violet', 'Bright and Beautiful', 'Chasing Fireflies', 'Colorflash', 'Contrast In Styles', 'Copper Country', 'Coronation Anthem', 'Count The Ways', 'Currier', 'Dancing Mood', 'Deep In My Heart', 'Doreen Cambray', 'Double Play', 'Emily Anne', 'Encore Performance', 'Flutter By Butterfly', 'Forrest McCord', 'Frilly Vanilly', 'Galadriel', 'Gem Quality', 'Glowing Reviews', 'Golden Hearted', 'Graceful Ghost', 'Hail to the Chief', 'Happy Ever After', 'Heliotrope Bouquet', 'Hello Yellow', 'High Standards', 'Hot Hot Hot', 'How Audacious', 'If Swans Were Blue', 'Indy', 'Jennasee', 'Jewelled Crown', 'Judy, Judy, Judy', 'Lady Vanessa', 'Laugh Out Loud', 'Lavender Fair', 'Lemon Blush', 'Lemon Mousse', 'Light of Heart', 'Make Mine A Double', Maura', 'Moonlight Fair', 'Moorland Mists', 'Neptune's Gold', 'Nothing But the Blues', 'Over In Gloryland', 'Pas-De-Deux', 'Petalicious', 'Petite Purple', 'Pixie Preview', 'Pure Flattery', 'Ragtime Dance', 'Ruby Riches', 'Ruffles and Flourishes', 'Sapphire Starburst', 'See Ya Latter', 'Shall We Dance', 'Simon Says', Simple Gifts', 'Simply Brilliant', 'Six Love', 'Smiley Face', 'So Delicious', 'Soft Winds', 'Somebody Loves Me', 'Something Shocking', 'Spinning Song', 'Strawberry Fair', 'Sultan's Ruby', 'Sunburst Blue', 'Sun Sprinkles', 'Swans In Flight', 'Sweet Surrender', 'That's My Baby', 'Too Much Fun', 'Tutu Blue', 'Veins of Gold', 'Very Victorian', 'Waimate Sunshine', 'Windwood Serenade', 'Windwood Spring', 'Wizardry',

Species Hybrids: 'Let's Get Going', 'Who's On First', 'What's On Second',

-- BobPries - 2012-02-10