The history of our gardens
Eartheart Gardens is a family-owned nursery located on Harpswell Neck, a small fishing community on the coast of Maine. The nursery was founded in 1993 by Sharon Whitney to offer the Siberian and Japanese iris originations of Dr. Currier McEwen, a world-renowned hybridizer of Japanese and Siberian irises. Dr. McEwen had many remarkable horticultural achievements, he is best known for his development of the first yellow color fast Siberian iris, Butter and Sugar. He developed over 200 new plant cultivars each with distinctive qualities: approximately 100 Siberian Irises, 50 Japanese Irises, and 50 daylilies.
We will continue to introduce McEwen seedlings until all of his originations are available to the public.Over the years Eartheart Gardens expanded to include Japanese and Siberian Iris selections developed by breeders other than Dr. McEwen. In 1996 we began to offer Japanese irises developed by Mr. Kamo and Toyokazu Ichie of Kamo Nurseries in Shizuoka, Japan. |
In 2003 we introduced irises for two of our hybridizing friends: the late John White from Auburn, Maine and Lee Walker from Ten Mile, Oregon. John bred both Siberian and Japanese irises; Lee hybridizes Japanese irises. In 2005 we listed Chandler Fulton’s handsome Siberian Gossamer Breeze and in 2007 his Raspberry Rainbow. These gentlemen took inspiration from Currier. We are delighted to carry their irises.
Dr. George Rodionenko of St. Petersburg, Russia and Dr. McEwen worked independently for years to develop modern looking ensatas with the ability to grow and bloom reliably in the cold winters of St. Petersburg and other areas in the far North. In 1996 they formalized their collaboration and joined with others calling their endeavor the Deep Freeze Project. One of Dr. Rodionenko’s hybrids, Altay, is listed on our website.
Spring of 2012 Sharon Whitney introduced a species ensata with a surprising cream-colored signal, ‘Nina Alexeeva.’ It has been added to the breeding pool of the Deep Freeze Project hybrids growing in the beds. While we await blossoms, our hybridizing work continues.
Dr. George Rodionenko of St. Petersburg, Russia and Dr. McEwen worked independently for years to develop modern looking ensatas with the ability to grow and bloom reliably in the cold winters of St. Petersburg and other areas in the far North. In 1996 they formalized their collaboration and joined with others calling their endeavor the Deep Freeze Project. One of Dr. Rodionenko’s hybrids, Altay, is listed on our website.
Spring of 2012 Sharon Whitney introduced a species ensata with a surprising cream-colored signal, ‘Nina Alexeeva.’ It has been added to the breeding pool of the Deep Freeze Project hybrids growing in the beds. While we await blossoms, our hybridizing work continues.