■(TB) 'Great Lakes'

1938, Cousins

'Great Lakes' (L. W. Cousins, R. 1938). TB-Midseason bloom. Color Class B1L. ('Dominion' x unknown) x 'Conquistador' x unknown). Cooley 1938. Honorable Mention 1939; Award of Merit 1940; American Dykes Medal 1942.

A notation indicates it has a fragrance similar to magnolias.

See below:

• * References

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References:

From Cooley's Gardens catalog for 1938: In our ten years experience of introducing iris novelties, we have never placed an iris in commerce without having seen it. We are making the first exception in this case, for reports from Canada indicate that here, at last, is the perfect blue. "It has all the attributes of a good iris . . . tall (42 inches) and well branched. Color is a light blue, about the same depth of tone as Shining Waters but nearer true blue. Standards are closed, no veining at the haft, and the shape of the flower is excellent. We have been hybridizing iris ever since Vilmorin introduced Ambassadeur and Ballerine, and of many thousands raised this is the first one considered for introduction." So says Lyman Cousins, London, Ontario, the hybridizer. Each $10.00."
From a Wayside Gardens catalog from 1949 : "Winner of the Dykes Medal in 1942, this is about the finest light pure blue. Of splendid mein with a pronounced flare, stiff, crispy petal texture, it is strikingly fine. Fine stems of good height, well branched, Rugged and hardy, we highly recommend it."
1951 Iris Catalog from Tell's Iris Gardens: " 'Great Lakes' (Cousins '38) M. (Dominion seedling X Conquistador seedling) Quality blue that has been widely used as a parent and with great success."
"Great Lakes is not an American iris it might be mentioned here. Its branching is remarkable, especially in these days when everything seems to be sacrificed to colour and when one is frequently called upon to admire flowers of a new colour placed singly at alternate intervals on a somewhat bare stem. But as seen in England Great Lakes is not as pure a "blue" as some of the older varieties and the texture is not as smooth and satiny as one would like, or as one expected from the "write-ups." This is not merely a personal opinion; I heard it expressed by several well known Iris growers this summer when the iris seemed to be really well established and showing its quality better than it has done in previous years." Gwendolyn Anley, (England), “American Irises in English Gardens,” The Bulletin of the American Iris Society, No. 107, “Iris Ramblings” (October 1947): 8.

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Culture

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Interested in Tall Bearded Iris? Please visit the: Tall Bearded Iris Society website.

Interested in Historic Irises ? Please visit the: Historic Iris Society website.

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-- KentPfeiffer - 2010-05-