My wide crosses have been a hot topic ever since I mentioned them publicly.

Since most hybridizers do not take into consideration that environmental factors may affect the seedlings produced or that anything other than balanced/sterile hybrids are possible, my methods of making the crosses has come under scrutiny.

The following method for insuring non-contamination of crosses was inspired during the painting of a portrait of a bearded iris. I noticed how small and compact an area was involved in the joining of petals to the seat of the bloom.

After a bit of hands-on experimentation, the following method was developed and has proven useful not only in making crosses uncontaminated by outside pollen, but it assures me that I have accurate numbers when I count seed produced from each cross.

Pod and pollen parents are prepared in the same manner.

Preparing a bud for pollination

(1) Quite often a bud will be mature enough to use before it clears the bud sheath.

(2) To facilitate removing the petals, clear the bud sheaths out of the way either by bending them or trimming them off completely. Cut just far enough into the base of each of the groups of petals, centereing on the very lowest part of the falls, to disconnect falls, standards, and stamens without damaging the perianth tube. Slightly drawing the base of the petals outward as each unit is cut, loosens their hold on the stylearms.

(3) Grasping the bud by the tip and giving a firm tug upward removes the still tightly wrapped petals and stamens and allows the stylearms to unfold.

Because there are no petals, bees will not recognize this as a bloom in need of pollination. Wrapping or bagging this abbreviated bloom will only serve to put excess stress on the stylearms and damage them.