Sad Passing

I am Sad to report that Tony Willott Has passed. It is a great loss to the American Iris Society and all of us who so loved the little ones he produced.
These include
Black Suede

Buckeye Baby

Kiddieland

Lady In Red

Petite Shadow

Pussy Toes

Snowy River

Avmorn .. such a sad loss .. the Irises will certainly keep his memory alive for a long time.

~Marilynne~

Western Circles

with more than 350 introductions of miniature dwarfs and mediums he will sorely be missed
Anita

Ah, but what a legacy he has left us with!

Deepest sympathies to his friends and family.

We have lost another great Irisian as well as a warm, knowledgable, friendly gentle man

D

Special people ,are all the hybridizers of the world ,
they leave the world and the gardens a better place.

I hope the pictures posted of Willott iris plants encourage gardeners to try them in an early bed. While tall bearded iris are spectacular, the little ones bloom earlier & people don't have to wait to later in the year to enjoy iris plants. Agreed that they don't grow in all parts of the country. Tony was a director of the Dwarf Iris Society and worked very hard to promote them. The best iris growers can do for his memory is to carry on with his plants.

How sad! The iris greats are gettin up there. At least they have left so many wonderful iris for everyone to enjoy for many years to come.

I am wondering, with the passing on and retiring of so many greats, are we creating and supporting the next generations? It's always nice to think about the gardens they will grow in the heavenly kingdom!

Tony Willott will be greatly missed by those of us who met him through AIS. I am delighted that I have some SDBs bred by him and his wife, Dorothy in my garden. I pray for strength for his wonderful wife and for the Iris world which will miss him sorely.

What a wonderful legacy he has left us all.