Lloyd Austin Irises

[Garden_of_Mu]

Lloyd Austin, proprietor of Rainbow Hybridizing Gardens, in Placerville, California, was a major figure in the history of modern bearded irises. He was most acclaimed for his perfection of, and popularizing of, the 'Space Age' form of bearded irises, but his catalog's offerings covered the breadth of the iridiceae family. His catalogs from the 50's and 60's were a riot of color and graphic detail, but always the focus on hybridizing with the varieties offered. Mr. Austin believed everyone should be trying their hand at hybridizing and creating irises that appealed to them.

Read more about him here:
http://www.hips-roots.com/articles/notable-austin.html

[otnorot]

Thank you!thank you!thank you!This man was more or less my hero so it was great reading about him. At one time I did have unicorn in my garden and many of his Mohrs but none survive today. Bill

[Garden_of_Mu]

I have three of his varieties, but would love to collect more. I know a couple of folks in CA that collect them. One friend there has inherited his grandmother's extensive collection of Austin irises. I like Austin, but Dr. Kleinsorge is my favorite hybridizer and the main focus of my collection.

Glad you liked the pics. Here's another one I took at Brooks Gardens in Oregon - Horned Tantalizer. It made a very bright clump.

[AnjaP]

Your pictures are gorgeous.

[DaLoveRat]

Great shots, I looking forward to seeing my only Austin iris which I received this past year bloom in 08,
"Claret Mahogany".