Rhages

Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens

ORIGINATOR: Franklin Mead and John M. E. Riedel

INTRODUCED: 1934

CLASS: Tall Bearded

HEIGHT: 33"

BLOOM SEASON: Midseason Late

DESCRIPTION: S. white lightly brushed light hortense violet; S. white, deep violet dotting and splattering, deep violet veining at hafts; gold beards tipped reddish purple.

PARENTAGE: Not listed

AWARDS: None

PBF: Unknown

INTERESTING INFO:
From the 1934 Longfield Iris Farm Catalog: A lovely large violet plicata. A shapely flower of beautiful and distinct color. S. white tinged Light Hortense Violet; F. white dotted Deep Violet. Slightly fragrant. Height 33 inches.

While Mrs. Mead is credited as being the originator, it was her late husband, Franklin Mead that hyrbridized Rhages. With Franklin Mead's untimely passing in 1933, Mrs. Mead sought the help of architect and engineer John Riedel, Franklin Mead's co-worker and amatuer hybridizer on introducing Franklin Mead's latest crosses.