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Col. Gustave L. Seligmann took up hybridizing relatively late in life, but we worked
together for several years taking advantage of our very different garden
conditions to make otherwise impossible crosses. This section presents some he
introduced himself, as well as a few selected seedlings I introduced after his
death.
ALRIGHT ALREADY (Seligmann-McAllister, 1995) OGB
This fully fertile halfbred from Bionic Burst X Prince Thou Art was from one of the last crosses made by the late Col. Gustav Seligmann.
The spectacle of a bright orange beard sitting atop a navy blue signal on a royal blue ground stops garden visitors in their tracks. It's a strong grower that quickly forms a spectacular clump. I prefer more intricate patterns, myself, but this attracted the attention of garden visitors, even from its spot in the breeder's bed, so after fielding innumerable questions about why I hadn't introduced it, I decided to accede to popular demand. The name says it all. More flaring form than usual for halfbreds, but so far it seems to be much better at passing its color and overall iridescent sheen on to its offspring than its form. Originally distributed under number (84-7C-3) in the Gene Pool, it has proven to be one of my very best parents for bright blues. BLUSETTE (Seligmann-McAllister, 1992) OGB
This sib to Alight Already is a fully fertile halfbred from Bionic Burst X Prince Thou Art. Butterfly blue self with bright orange-yellow beard. Proven fertile halfbred (although I've given most of its seeds away). It's an extremely strong grower that tends to stay green through the summer like the quarterbreds instead of going dormant with the conventional halfbreds, so I've started using it in attempts to pass on that trait. Its soft color is so rare in arilbreds that it seemed "Blue" must be used in the name, but there are so many "blue-something-or-other" varieties already out there that this proved to be almost impossible. Its form is more flaring than typical of halfbreds, so somehow the word-association process led to "Blue Musette", which I quickly condensed to "Blusette". Casa Vicente (Seligmann, 1985) OGB
From a cross of pinkish-violets, this was the only adobe-pink seedling in a long row of lookalike sibs. Its eye-catching form and striking stippled signal made it a real standout and its selection an easy choice. A fully fertile halfbred, Heartstealer X Song of Esther, this has proven to be an excellent parent for a variety of colors and patterns. For show aficionados, its ASI code is OGB. Edith Seligmann (Seligmann, 1985)
Its lustrous violet standards and ashes of roses falls are unusually sunfast, fading just enough as the flower ages to make its signal even more prominent. A fully fertile halfbred, from Bedouin Woman X Mary of Magdala, which has proven to be an excellent parent for a variety of colors.
For show aficionados, its ASI code is OGB. GOLD MARGARITA (Seligmann-McAllister, 1992) OGB
Martha Mia X Moon Dust. Blue-white standards; creamy golden-yellow falls. An excellent parent for pastels, especially those with delicate patterns. Try this with other pastel halfbreds, like Leah Ralls, or fertile near-arils, like Wiloh's White Magic. In his 80s, Gus was getting to be a bit hard of hearing. One evening we were checking out a new restaurant frequented by the college crowd and the noise level was so loud that Gus didn't hear the waitress when she came over to take our orders – so I simply told her "two Gold Margaritas". When Gus (ever the officer and gentleman) heard that, he naturally repeated it as a formal order. The waitress, apparently more accustomed to dealing with less formal customers, promptly brought us a total of four margaritas. Yes, we had a designated driver with us, but the debate that evening became whether "Two Margaritas" or "Four Margaritas" would be a better name for an iris. When the time came to actually apply the name, how Gotcha (Seligmann, 1985)
Metallic plum standards, magenta falls have a brown metallic overlay. On the upper part of the falls, the pigment separates to give the effect of dotting and veining in white, rust, and deep purple. Purple-black beard.
A fully fertile halfbred from Martha Mia X Moon Dust. For show aficionados, this is an OGB. GUS' STYLISH LADY (Seligmann-McAllister, 1992) OGB
Kalifa Gulnare X (Kalifa Abra x Halfbred seedling). Creamy white standards; butter-yellow falls; small rust signal; yellow beard. A fully fertile halfbred, with a nice enough flower, but introduced primarily for its hybridizing potential. With the right partner, produces excellent near-whites with delicate markings and rounded form. "Stylish Lady" was Gus' garden name for this one. It has creamy white standards, butter-yellow falls, a small rust signal and yellow beard – and bright yellow style arms that inspired the name. KEEP 'EM GUESSING (Seligmann-McAllister, 1991)
Smoky red-violet near-self, with orange wash spreading down over inner half of falls. Olive-brown beard and near-black signal. A fully fertile halfbred, from (Martha Mia x Expert Advice) X Rose of Sharon (probably).
For show aficionados, its ASI code is OGB. KEEP 'EM GUESSING (Seligmann-McAllister, 1991)
Smoky red-violet near-self, with orange wash spreading down over inner half of falls. Olive-brown beard and near-black signal. A fully fertile halfbred, from (Martha Mia x Expert Advice) X Rose of Sharon (probably).
For show aficionados, its ASI code is OGB. Sonoran Dove (Seligmann, 1985)
A reddish-violet bitone so heavily overlaid with smoke that the effect is near the greyed violet of the little Sonoran Doves that populate our part of the southwestern desert. It really named itself. A fully fertile halfbred, from Martha Mia X Moon Dust, it often transmits its smoky haze to its offspring. A fully fertile halfbred that I recommend to beginners. For show aficionados, its ASI code is OGB.
ALRIGHT ALREADY (Seligmann-McAllister, 1995) OGB
This fully fertile halfbred from Bionic Burst X Prince Thou Art was from one of the last crosses made by the late Col. Gustav Seligmann.
The spectacle of a bright orange beard sitting atop a navy blue signal on a royal blue ground stops garden visitors in their tracks. It's a strong grower that quickly forms a spectacular clump. I prefer more intricate patterns, myself, but this attracted the attention of garden visitors, even from its spot in the breeder's bed, so after fielding innumerable questions about why I hadn't introduced it, I decided to accede to popular demand. The name says it all. More flaring form than usual for halfbreds, but so far it seems to be much better at passing its color and overall iridescent sheen on to its offspring than its form. Originally distributed under number (84-7C-3) in the Gene Pool, it has proven to be one of my very best parents for bright blues.
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