| Main page | |
| Officers and membership | |
|
Officers and contacts |
|
Membership |
| Iris for Minnesota Gardeners | |
| Bearded | |
| Beardless | |
| Rebloomers in our area | |
| Members' favorites | |
| Commercial members | |
| Events | |
|
Calendar |
|
Convention news |
| Shows | |
| Dig & Sale | |
| Speaking Engagements | |
| Display gardens | |
|
Public |
|
Private |
| Speakers | |
| AIS Judges | |
| Links | |
| Newsletters | |
| Obituaries | |
Francis Rogers
Click here to see Francis & Ruth's Iris Introductions
FRANCIS ROGERS
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Francis and Ruth Roger’ first experience with growing irises came almost 60 years ago. Soon after their marriage they purchased 2 acres of land from a neighbor, built their own home (Francis was a mason) and planted vegetable and flower gardens. One of the flowers they planted was iris rhizomes they had received as a wedding gift. That was the start of a life-long passion for irises.
As they discovered the variety in form and color of some of the more modern irises, their interest grew and they joined the Wisconsin Iris Society in the 1970’s. There they met Art Blodgett, a hybridizer who lived nearby. Art showed Francis how to hybridize and he was instantly hooked for life. Creativity and a love of beauty have always been a strong force in his professional life and hobbies. Creating and nurturing new irises was a perfect fit.
Francis had always preferred Tall Bearded varieties. Of the over 500 named varieties that he grows, 400 are tall or border bearded. Ninety-eight percent of his crosses are with Tall Bearded irises. Since his first two introductions in 1983 (SASHAY TIME and TURK’S CROWN), he has introduced 68 new varieties. Although he no longer grows many of his early introductions, one of his earliest (SUMMER WHITE, 1986) is still one of the most popular irises in his garden.
Over the years he has worked on several different goals. In the 90’s he concentrated on yellow/brown/dark red blends (CHIPPEWA BRAVE, BOMBAY GOLD, HALO EVERYBODY) and a line of late blooming, stiffly flared and ruffled blue irises (KATHY’S JOY, WYNNE ROGERS, DONNA LOUIS, LATE SURPRISE).
Four of his most recent introductions received HM’s: CHIPPEWA BRAVE (a brown and white plicata), CAJUN COOKING (grayed orange standards and grayed purple falls), CITRON FROMMAGE (white standards with yellow radiating up from falls and falls yellow with white areas surrounding yellow beards) and MAUNA LOA FIRE (orange brown standards and falls with yellow ground and red striping).
More recently he has been working on flounces, trying for a pure white iris with a large purple flounce. Being 82 years old has made planting hundreds of seedlings a little harder each year, so the number of crosses has decreased but he plans to keep crossing as long as he can.
Weather in Wisconsin can be very challenging to iris growers. It is a land of extremes, this year being a perfect example. The Milwaukee area had a record warm spell of 56 straight days of daytime high temperatures above 30 degrees. The streak was broken with a daytime high of 15 below zero!!! Freezing and thawing without snow cover for protection, dry autumns and early frost are all weather hazards that shorten the growing season. Such extremes limit increases and are tough on rhizomes, causing rot during wet springs.
There can be cold weather in the spring with daytime highs in the 50’s, changing overnight to hot, humid days and nights in the 80’s making all the irises bloom at once in a shortened two week season. Some years there is a warm March making it necessary to take the straw off early but followed by an April snowstorm. It seems every spring brings at least one major thunderstorm with high winds and driving rain or hail right before the iris show. The only thing you can count on is no tow years will be the same!
Francis has always found it interesting to hear how his irises do in other climates. He introduced KATIE GIRL mainly because of its beautiful color. It struggled to grow in Wisconsin with few increases and less blooms than he liked. He was thinking of giving up on it when he heard from a California grower, raving about the bloom size and good growth and looking for more rhizomes. Another iris, an IB names KATIE’S CHOICE, is a rebloomer in warmer climates although it has never rebloomed for him in Wisconsin.
Francis likes many different colors with the bright orange and white with GOOD VIBRATIONS being a particular favorite. He especially likes the luminata pattern (HIGH MASTER and TELEPATHY) and some of the new broken color varieties. A list of his top twenty favorite irises would include: FANCY DRESS, CAJUN COOKING, CROWNED HEADS, DUSKY CHALLENGER, GOOD VIBRATIONS, HALO EVERYBODY, HAPPENSTANCE, HIGH MASTER, HONKY TONK BLUES, LIP SERVICE, ROMANTIC EVENING, SANTA, SPLASHACATA, TOM JOHNSON, MESMERIZER, HELLO DARKNESS, QUEEN’S CIRCLE, LOUISA’S SONG, MASTERY and TELEPATHY.
A very special thanks to Joyce Wilcox, daughter of Francis and Ruth Rogers, for her vast contributions in compiling this article. Reprinted by permission Tall Talk, fall 2006, page 23.
Iris Introductions
ANGEL GIRL TB-1999
BIG DAY TB-2007
BOMBAY GOLD TB-1999
BORN TO PLEASE TB-2006 (Ruth)
BRIGHT NEW DAY TB-2003
CAJUN COOKING TB-2000
CHIM CHAM TB-2003
CHIPPAWA BRAVE TB-1989
CHOIR ROBE TB-1999
CHOIR TIME TB-1990
CITRON FROMMAGE TB-1994
CREPE PAPER DOLL TB-1999
CUSTARD IN CREAM TB-1984
DANCING FAWN TB-1993
DEVA ROYAL TB-2006
DIRNDL TB-1984
DONNA LOUISE TB-1999
DREAMVILLE TB-2006
EDGEWATER TB-1986
ELLIE LOU TB-1988
ERMINE CROWN TB-2006
GIRL IN WHITE TB-2007
GLACIAL CRYSTALS TB-1999
GOLD NUTMEG TB-1984
GOLDEN IDOL TB-1989
HALO AGAIN TB-2005
HALO EVERBODY TB-1998
HOLIDAY AFFAIR TB-2005
HAMLET’S ROB TB-2004 (Ruth)
HONEY APRICOT BB-1994
ISLAND SONG TB-1991
JIMMEY’S SMILE TB-1996
JOYCE DIANE TB-1992
JOYOUS NOISE TB-2003
KATHY’S JOY TB-1998
KATIE GIRL TB-1986
KATIE’S CHOICE IB-1998
LATE DISCOVERY TB-2007
LATE SURPRISE TB-2001
LIGHT MYSTIC TB-2006
LUCKY STRIPES TB-1995
MASAI WARRIOR TB-1999
MAUNA LOA FIRE TB-2001
MEADOWBROOK-
- BEAUTY TB-1996
MEADOWLARK-
-SERNADE TB-1993
MINDY PINK TB-2007
NEW SPIRIT BB-2004
NIGHT HALO IB-2003
PEACE SIGNALS TB-1999
PENNY BRIGHT TB-1989
POINT THE WAY IB-2006
PRAIRIE BLUFF TB-1992
PURPLE PINWHEEL SDB-2001
RICOCHET TB-2007
RUTH LOUISE TB-1996
SASHAY TIME TB-1983
SAILING THE BLUE TB-2000
SASSY GIRL TB-1995
SASSY MISS TB-1994
SASSY PINK TB-2005
SAVANNAH SUE TB-1988 (RUTH)
SEA EMPRESS TB-1988
SPANISH BOLERO TB-1997
SUMMER TB-1983 (K.)
SUMMER CATCH TB-2004
SUMMER WHITE TB-1986
SUNDAY LACE TB-1985
SUNNY SAIL TB-1993
SWEET JESS TB-1990
SWEETPEACH TB-2003
TURKS CROWN TB-1983
UPPER CLASS TB-1988
WINDS OF DESIRE TBSA-2007
WEDDING ORCHID TB-2004
WYNNE ROGERS TB-1999
YOUNG PRINCE BB-2003
YOUR DESIRE TB-1988
* Francis & Ruth Rogers , Meadowbrook
Gardens, W269 N686 Meadowbrook Rd.
Waukesha, WI. 53188 262-542-2379