Garden Iris and Hybridizing Insights
Bob Skaggs focused his presentation on the many Iris he grows in his garden and his hybridizing efforts over the last 12 years. Bob showed many of the Iris that will be on display in his garden at the 2015 Iris Region 18 convention, and the Iris's he has used in his hybridizing efforts to produce the Iris cultivars he has already introduced.
Bob gave a wonderful presentation that focused on the trends he has observed with Iris and what he is hoping to produce with his future introductions.
Members of the Greater St Louis Daffodil Society were overjoyed that Bob took time from his busy schedule to talk with us at our February meeting.
Biography for Bob Skaggs,
February 2014 Speaker
Bob & Judy Skaggs grows over 600 varieties of daffodils, but Bob’s true passion is Iris. Bob has been hybridizing iris for 12 years. In their garden they presently grow 1,300 named iris varieties, and plant over 3,000 iris seedlings each year from their own hybridizing efforts. Bob has currently introduced 3 Iris cultivars, ‘Marilyn’s Skirt’, ‘Golden Snitches’ and ‘Judy’s Smile’.
Bob has generously donated his new iris introductions to our annual Daffodil Bulb Exchange auction, and they have been highly sought after by our membership. Bob & Judy’s garden will be on the 2015 Iris Region 18 Convention tour and Bob is presently growing over 100 guest plants for that event from hybridizers throughout the states. Judy grows approximately 1,000 named daylilies and also hybridizes daylilies.
Members of the Greater St Louis Daffodil Society are thrilled that Bob has found time for a presentation about the Iris in his garden, and share some of his hybridizing insights.