Somewhere in the vast desert area of the Far East, Omar rules supreme. I feel he is a revered Sheik in his domain. He has certainly caught the imagination of American hybridizers who strive to create the unusual in iris.

The Aril iris have caught the fancy of a limited number of gardeners and they will never be the same again. It is really a form of addiction, but has no lasting effect on the environment.

Fanciers of the Aril iris collect catalogs of hybridizers and commercial gardens, searching for cultivars that will satisfy their desire for the plants of the Far East, and especially those of the Tentmaker, who has so profoundly influenced American hybridizers.

I wonder, was Omar a descendent of the Arabian Knights, or maybe a great-grandson of Ali Baba and the Thirty Thieves? We now know his occupation. He is Omar the Tentmaker. We know he has a sister, Omar's Sister. He is most likely a successful tentmaker. He has the Jewel of Omar. Here we can assume the Jewel of Omar is one of his many wives. If this Jewel is the chosen one of the harem, she would likely have the largest room under the tent. We know there is a Dome of Omar. Is this the canopy over the tent, or possibly the absence of hair on the royal dome? I am sure his many wives spend hours sewing colorful turbans to cover the Dome of Omar.

His tent likely glows in the desert, as Omar's Torch lights the darkness of night in the desert.

In the years to come, I am sure future hybridizers will give us more information on this Sheik with the magnetic personality. I await the time we can add Omar's Camel, Omar's Goat and Omar's Turban to our collection of Aril iris.

Note: The iris in italic letters are named cultivars now on the market.