Toronto Region Iris Society Annual Rhizome Auction

August 16, 2009

The Auction was held at the Toronto Botanical Gardens, and as you can tell, it was a gorgeous day. The Geranium Show was being held in the main floral hall.

The Iris Auction was taking place in the smaller upper rooms.

Early on, anxious iris buyers were taking stalk of the varieties for sale.

The Auction started first. Many of the Irises had huge rhizomes because they had been shipped in from British Columbia. Their longer growing season produces top size growths.

Here, Kate Brewitt, is showing me how huge the imported irises are. They were all selections of either award winners or cultivars that were currently under evaluation and rumoured to be the next big thing.

The prices were reasonable. The higher bids usually dropped off in the teens. I didn't purchase any bearded irises, because I have so many already, but I did spy something unusual. Iris spuria cultivars were also on auction and I purchased 'Adriatic Blue' for $10.

When the auction and the draw prizes were over, the sales began. People ran to scoop up the couple of hundred irises on the sales tables. I was tempted but restrained myself. Besides, I wasn't going to wrestle over irises like a bargain hunter at a boxing day “Blow-out Madness” event, though it was fun to watch!

I highly recommend that any gardener in the Toronto area attend next year's event.

For more information visit www.torontoirissociety.com.

Mark Disero

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