Malheur

Clarence Mahan in his book, “Classic Irises”, refers to hybridizers as artists. “They created beauty by breeding irises.” We’ve enjoyed doing so in a lavish manner with our Malheur. One could term it enhanced sumptuousness. Compared to the starpower of these rich colors, forerunners in this color class are brushed aside. Notice how perfectly the standards appear. The form is ideal. And how the tasteful white/yellow color sizzles with the addition of the gilt edging. Yellow’s complementary color is violet and here we have it in several gradations on the compact falls, bounded by a thin mauve rim. Malheur, with its subtle fragrance, stands at a moderate 33 inches, boasting 7 to 8 buds per bloom stalk. Malheur County in Southeast Oregon, is a land of high desert with far horizons. Sunsets and sunrises are as conspicuous as the fiery beards on our Malheur, smoldering atop white starbursts.