Saturday, May 25, 2019

Highlights of the SDBs and My Garden

The Standard Dwarf Bearded (SDB) iris is the perfect choice for just about any gardener.  Its size, 8"-15", fits any garden. While the productivity does vary, most SDBs increase rapidly and form a spectacular display of color.  Ten to fifteen days of bloom is the goal of the best of this class.  They are easy to care for, and require only good drainage, lots of sun and some modest soil enrichment.  Fertilize all bearded iris with low nitrogen and high phosphate.  Ideally 5-10-10 does the trick.

So without further ado, here are this years best!

First place for growth is 'Kewlopolis' by Hugh Stout.  This was planted as a single rhizome 2 years ago.  But wait!  I've already divided it.  Not everyone's choice of predominant  color palate, I love it.  Browns and gold with lighter haft markings on the fall ir sports a lavender beard.  Very kewl!



'Kewlopolis' SDB Hugh Stout


New introductions are often very complex in markings and color combinations,  This "self" by Paul Black may not be a full self because the beards are a contrasting color, but the rest is a perfect shade of soft pink. The deep violet beards that are narrow.  Great form and substance. Paul's ' Puddy Tat' is in the lower right.

'Gate to Paradise' SDB P.Black

Here's a Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) from Paul Black.  Most of the MDBs have already bloomed.  This is one of the last and has some wonderful markings.  Because there was a garden judging session in my garden Wednesday and another tomorrow, none of the spent blossoms have been trimmed.  Judges want to look at bud count.

'Cute As A Button' MDB P.Black

During the judge's training session we were told to pick our favorite flower currently blooming without regard to growth or other factors. This was my choice. Thomas Johnson's Golden Ring has a wonderful form, the tangerine beard and the perfect golden ring at the edge of the falls.

'Golden Ring' SDB T.Johnson


My backyard.  My house is on the top of a raised area that falls off to the Mendon Youth Baseball fields to the South.  Hence the name Diamond Rise. This is the highest part of the backyard.  That's my beautiful KODA!  (When he curls his tail, he's peeing.)  Most of the SDBs and MDBs are at the left edge.






Lot's more to bloom!  Stop over. E-mail me at neil.houghton@me.com or call 585-301-8256.





Monday, May 13, 2019

The Next Wave Begins: Early SDBs

The next group of bearded iris are blooming.  The earliest of the Standard Dwarf Bearded (SDB) irises have begun.  I urge you to stop by over the next few weeks.  You'll see a less well known, but very satisfying group called "medians."  Taller than the micro MDB (under 8") but shorted than Tall Bearded (TB) irises, they are are less than 27.5 inches.  If you have a smaller garden, have an area exposed to high winds, or can't be bothered to stake the 40"+ stalks, these are for you.  Here are some of the earliest in my garden.

You'll have to look hard to see some dots of color,
but it's worth the wander!

Take a stroll around and look carefully.  These little gems are perfect for almost any garden.  Some friends stopped by and asked me if the all irises were purple and white.  There's no doubt that those are the predominate colors, however there are colors from almost any part of the rainbow.  In fact Iris was the goddess of the rainbow.  The little fuzzy looking beards often supply a contrasting color as in 'Canadian Kisses' from hybridizer Paul Black below.

Bedford Lilac SDB

Canadian Kisses SDB

Ice and Indigo SDB

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

They're Here: Tiny Iris and Tulips

In the Venn diagram of the bloom season this is the intersection of bearded iris and bulbs.  The daffodils are waning and the smallest of bearded iris are blooming.  Miniature Tall Bearded (MDB) iris easily overlooked.  As short as 4" these, once established, provide a lovely carpet of color.

Here are the first MDBs and some of their tulip pals.

Navy Flirt MDB


Wee Viking MDB





Midas Mite MDB

Alpine Lake MDB

Friday, May 3, 2019

Nematodes, Weeding and Feeding

These tulips survived a hard frost.  Dropping in the morning on Monday, by mid-day they revived and opened completely by Wednesday.


Yesterday, May 3, I carefully placed each of these 50 millions nematodes around the irises,  Okay, I used a sprayer.  These microscopic organisms hopefully will feast on the irises borers before they attack the rhizomes. 


Helping me weed and feed the iris, preparing for a bloom season which should begin soon, is the WBD, Koda.