‘Benton Bluejohn’
(Sir Cedric Morris 1950, TB)
‘Benton Cordelia’
(Sir Cedric Morris 1953, TB)
‘Benton Olive’
(Sir Cedric Morris, TB)
‘Benton Nigel’
(Sir Cedric Morris 1957, TB)
Spreading the word
Cook delights audiences with her fascinating stories
on discovering the lost Benton irises when she gives
educational talks at exhibitions of his paintings at the
Garden Museum in Lambeth Palace Road, London, and
Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury.
The articles she has written for many journals and
her interviews with local and national newspaper have
enabled her to track down more of the missing cultivars
through contact with people who have spotted them in
their gardens. She has also worked with other National
Collection holders to do educational displays.
‘Benton Judith’
(Sir Cedric Morris 1958, TB)
’Strathmore‘
(Sir Cedric Morris 1948, TB)
In 2016 Cook joined forces with Anne Milner, who
collects irises introduced by Arthur J. Bliss, to set up
a photographic display of British irises at the RHS
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The display
created a lot of interest in the history and variety of
irises. She is now working with the Suffolk group Plant
Heritage to search for some of the remaining and
rapidly disappearing, pre-1960 British irises before
they are lost for good.
d
Fall 2018 AIS Bulletin 23