L. Merton Gage

L. Merton Gage (E. Greig Lapham, 1942) is a tall bearded iris introduced in 1942, blooming midseason. This variety, recognized with an Honorable Mention in its year of introduction, features a refined R4L color class. Bred from Springmaid and a seedling cross of Rameses x Eros, L. Merton Gage offers elegant form and reliable garden performance. Available at Amethyst Creek Farm. Attributes: Guardian Garden, Historic Awards: Honorable Mention Guardian Garden (GG) This cultivar is a Guardian Garden Iris. Guardian Garden irises are endangered cultivars preserved through long-term stewardship rather than routine sale. Many of these varieties have been lost to time through attrition, discontinued propagation, or the disappearance of original growers, leaving only a few known living examples in cultivation. When a Guardian Garden variety is offered, it reflects that a sustainable stock level has finally been reached within our collection; availability remains intentionally limited to protect the cultivar’s future. We encourage collectors who value historic preservation to support the continued safeguarding of rare and endangered irises by joining the Historic Iris Preservation Society.