Angelkeep possesses a black thumb when it comes to a perfect iris garden. The fault cannot be passed off to the plants. It’s the planter, the caretaker. The gardener is to blame for tall bearded iris failure at Angelkeep.
This year brought an Angelkeep iris facelift — meaning weeding, lifting of rhizomes, and replanting. Gifted plants with a treasured history as having come from a garden known around the world, Longfield Iris Farm, were planted in a new bed with ample sunshine. Prayers followed for success. Praise was remembered for those that set the world aglow with iris blooms across the globe.
The iris-man, E. B. Williamson, yet has his biography available at the News-Banner office.
Lent A. Williamson, a nearly indestructible tall bearded iris of Angelkeep, named by E. B. after his father, failed to bloom here in 2023. Much needed weeding may have been the cause. Failing to periodically lift and separate rhizomes can also cause a drought of bloom.
Before 2024’s bloom season ends, Angelkeep recommends everyone within a reasonable distance of the Bluffton Wabash River Park make their way to view up close the astonishing blooms of hybrid iris created in Wells County. Back in the days of hybridizers E. B., his daughter Mary Williamson, and mail carrier Paul Cook, gardeners from six continents felt it was not too far to travel to see the iris wonderland of Bluffton. Honest, it’s in the book.
Angelkeep attempts the continuation of iris from all three of those hybridizers that laid claim to the best iris bloom in a particular year of any in the entire world. Mary created “Wabash.” It won the 1940 world’s top honor, Dykes Medal. Join Angelkeep in seeing it in Wabash River Park. Angelkeep’s former plants of this variety seems to have died out. No fault of Mary. It’s an Angelkeep black thumb failure.
That tall bearded iris named Lent A. Williamson continues at Angelkeep and likely at many homes throughout the area. It was dubbed granddaddy of all iris, the “Great Progenitor.” It was first introduced in 1918 only four blocks from the Wells County Courthouse. Gardeners came from Europe, South America, Asia, and even Kingsland, Indiana, to see and buy the flowers. It’s in the book.
Did I mention Harvest of Health, retailing out of the former Villa North Longfield residence of Lent A. Williamson and son E. B., have the iris and Bluffton history book available?
Poneto’s Paul Cook, later building his own iris farm just north of Bluffton, partnered with Williamson’s of Longfield Iris Farm in 1920. Cook won the Dykes Medal three times. These medals and more can be observed in a special case at the Wells County Historical Museum on West Market Street, across the street from where the iris hybridization history began. It was the destination of iris lovers from six of the world’s seven continents. You may correctly assume the museum grows iris beds.
Irises are represented on the two largest Bluffton murals for a good reason. A third mural honors E. B. for becoming world famous for dragonflies. One carries a Wabash name. E. B.’s dragonfly history fills some of the book.
May is the month for iris bloom. Who can top what has been done by Wells County’s father-and-daughter team, plus friend Paul Cook? The team of Roger and Lynda Miller, that’s who. They work as a married team. Introductions are now registered under Lynda’s name only. They began their own iris farm on the northeast corner of the Kingsland crossing at Ind.1 and U.S. 224. Roger worked for Cook and obtained iris rhizomes from Longfield Iris Farm. If you want perfection, start with the best of the best.
How successful were the Millers? Just two years ago Lynda won the biggie — the top award, the Dykes — for her hybrid “Football Hero.” She’s also won four Williamson-White Awards plus the Cook-Douglas Medal. Those awards were named after the great world-renown, but local, iris hybridizers. Sadly, the Miller achievements were unknown when the E. B. Williamson book was printed.
Did you know First Bank of Berne helped fund the book’s printing so all proceeds could go to benefit Loving Shepherd Ministries? Bluffton branch has copies available.
Angelkeep offers a gardener’s bow to the iris growers who went before and who put Wells County on the global iris stage.
Mr. Daugherty is a Wells County resident who, along with his wife Gwen, enjoy their backyard and have named it “Angelkeep.”
