Notable Irisarians: The Irises of G. Percy Brown
by Rebecca Hamel, MA
Many of you may remember when Broad Street was the home of Dr. George Brown’s Elm Hill School.The first institution of its kind in the U.S., it served the needs of the mentally disabled. It was known worldwide, and flourished in Barre [Mass.] for 99 years. The advent of federally run institutions hastened the demise of caring; nurturing “homes” like Elm Hill School and it closed in 1946. The school was run by 3 generations of physicians: Dr. George Brown, Dr. George A. Brown and Dr. George Percy Brown.
What is perhaps less commonly known is that the youngest, Dr. George Percy Brown was noted for more than his work on behalf of the mentally disabled. He was fondly known in irisarian gardening circles as “Doc Percy”.
 Autumn Twilight Photo by Bonnie Dazell, courtesy Sans Souci Nursery |
Dr. G. Percy Brown was an iris hybridizer. Coming home after graduating from college, was riding through the back roads of Barre when he came upon a field of irises in bloom. As reported by Mary Kelley in a 1972 Barre Gazette article, “He often said later the sight of that field of blossoming irises, with pastures beyond, and Mount Wachusett rising blue on the horizon was what inspired him to take up iris gardening. The garden was on Sunrise Avenue at the summer home of Miss Grace Sturtevant of Wellesly Hills. She was one of the founders of the American Iris Society. ”
In what was known as the “Everblooming Iris Garden” in Barre he began hybridizing to perfect irises which would do well in New England as well as rebloom during the season. He began his efforts in 1929, and joined the American Iris Society in 1930.
Six of his more than 70 hybridizations originated in Barre. One of the better known was “Autumn Twilight”, which can still be purchased online. Doc Percy used “Autumn Twilight” as many as 21 times in the process of hybridizing new irises. He first introduced it in 1945 through his in-garden sales at his Barre garden. Brown also had iris fields at his Westport, Mass., home. The weather there was warmer and the growing season longer then in Barre. He began selling irises through mail-order catalogues in the 1950’s.
 July Sunshine Photo by Bonnie Dazell courtesy Sans Souci Nursery |
I became interested in Dr. George Percy Brown while I was researching a talk I gave for the Barre Historical Society on Elm Hill School. I am an avid gardener and history buff who loves irises. I was taken with the fact that so many Irises used currently in hybridization came from Dr. Brown. These being “Autumn Twilight”, “Autumn Sensation”, “Autumn Snowdrift”, “Autumn Elf”, “October Shadows”, and “Green Dragon”. This was a list from an article written by Clarence Mahan. I then had an idea to make an iris bed in my garden dedicated to the irises of Dr. Brown. I went online and was able to find 15 of his irises. I was very excited to think that his irises would come back to Barre.
One elusive iris I am particularly interested in is the “Barre Beauty”. Dr. Brown developed this iris in 1953. It is described as being an “intermediate bearded, early and reblooming iris with blue selfs. I thought perhaps if I wrote an article about Dr. Brown, someone would recognize this iris and drop me a line at [email protected].
Al Clark taught me Barre has many unique historical persons and events. I believe Dr. G. Percy Brown is one of such person. Dr. Brown was awarded “The Hybridizers Medal” from the American Iris Association in 1971 for his outstanding plant breeding accomplishments. More than 25 years after his passing he continues to be mentioned in articles related to reblooming irises and his work with them. As recently as 1997 he was mentioned in an article, which listed 28 ideal “stud” irises for hybridization. Of the 28 mentioned, he developed 6 of them. Very impressive.
It is my hope that I have stirred up interest in Doc Percy’s irises and some folks out there will take up the cause and plant his rebloomers in their gardens to keep his history alive.
| August Indian, 1956 August Waves, 1939 Autumn Afternoon, 1954 Autumn Bronze, 1955 Autumn Elf, 1935 Autumn Jane, 1961 Autumn Orangelight, 1961 Autumn Sensation, 1961 Autumn Snowdrift, 1954 Autumn Tints, 1962 Autumn Twilight, 1971 Autumn Velvet, 1962 Barre Beauty, 1951 Chartreuse Chalice, 1959 Fairy Wings, 1952 Fall Beach Plum, 1965 Fall Blue Contrast, 1967 Fall Blue Sky, 1969 Fall Bluebird, 1961 Fall Cheerfulness Fall Dragon, 1964 Fall Fairy, 1952. Fall Gaylite, 1967 Fall Glory, 1966 Fall Greenway, 1963 Fall Lunalite, 1964 Fall Melolight, 1959 Fall Novelty, 1967 |
Fall Perfection, 1962 Fall Prinrose, 1953 Fall Serenade, 1959 Fall White Spot, 1965 Fall Yellow Excellence, 1969 Fall Yellow Giant, 1964 Fall Yellow Supreme, 1967 Fall Yellow Wings, 1963 Fall Velvet, 1950 Fall Violet, 1953 Green Dragon, 1954 Harvest Blue, 1950 July Sunshine, 1965 October Beauty, 1958 October Clouds, 1957 October Shadows, 1950 October Sunshine, 1955 Sea Orchid, 1957 September Bouquet, 1966 September Buttercup, 1961 September Butterfly, 1966 September Charm, 1958 September Chereau, 1965 September Contrast, 1956 September Cream, 1958 September Gleam, 1959 September Gold, 1965 September Pastel, 1957 |
September Sailor, 1959 September Seas, 1958 September Serenade, 1962 September Sparkler, 1943 September Sunshine, 1957 Summer Angeline, 1964 Summer Blue Bell, 1965 Summer Blue Dress, 1965 Summer Bluetints, 1963 Summer Butterfly, 1964 Summer Butterscotch, 1967 Summer Cavanette, 1962 Summer Darkness, 1967 Summer Date, 1960 Summer Fantasy, 1964 Summer Goldilocks, 1962 Summer Green Shadows, 1964 Summer Inspiration, 1961 Summer Janeway, 1967 Summer Lavanette, 1963 Summer Paleface, 1965 Summer Red, 1962 Summer Sprite, 1960 Summer Surprise, 1955 Summer Tabletine, 1962 Summer Whitewings, 1960 Tinted Porcelain, 1952 Wesamequin, 1950 |