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.

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

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

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.

Back in Business

It's April 27 and it is snowing in Mendon. NY, south of Rochester.  35ºF and snowing.  So the garden work will be limited to some shed straightening up and other indoor projects.  It seemed a good time to resurrect my gardening blog.

Facebook has become my way of corresponding with friends, family and anyone else who chooses to follow me. But, in the current climate, it has become filled with political points of view.  I make no apologies for that. Thoughtful reactions to what is being happening are more important than ever.  Responses to religious zealots is crucial.  However, I know that with some people the only things I have in common is the love of irises and news about what I am up to in the local Greater Rochester Iris Society and the national American Iris Society.  That will be the focus here.  I hope that I can build a following here for that purpose. Entries here will be linked on Facebook and the long neglected GRIS page.

Many, many new friends have come my way via GRIS and AIS.  I hope to engage them here.

My next few posts will come rapidly in an attempt to "catch-up" with 2019.  You might also take a look back in time to learn about ny garden.

Below is the first iris of spring.  This bulbous iris, is about the size of a crocus and often mistaken for one from a distance.

Visitors are always welcome!  please feel free to contact me at neil.houghton@me.com, images@irises.org or call or text 585-301-8256.

i. reticulata

bloomed April 3, 2019

First Flyover at Diamond Rise

It's that time again!  A new season of gardening has begun.  Here's the first fly-over video from my drone.



On Thursday, April 26,  I started a new attack on the evil, iris borer.  In the past this would have been a application of Bayer Rose and Flower 2 in 1.  It contains fertilizer, but more importantly Merit, one of the few chemicals that are effective against this very specialized pest.  Actually it used to have Merit.  This year Bayer has replaced it with a new insecticide. I had some left over so I played it down earlier however I am not sure of the effectiveness of the new compound.

When I was in New Orleans I was told there is a way to attack the borer without chemicals: NEMATODES.  These are microscope creatures apparently.  I order 50 million of them from BioLogic on Amazon.  They were deliver in a resealable pouch about 5" x 7".  They came with an icepack and went into the refrigerator immediately.

One teaspoon in a gallon of water and I used my Ryobi garden sprayer to apply them.  I went through 6 gallons and still have about 25 million left. That's based on observation, not counting.

The instructions say if "the problem" is serious you can double the dosage... so tomorrow I'll give the little guys who have settled in some new friends.

Spot Of Tea

There are only a few MTBs (Miniature Tall Bearded Iris) in my garden.   This one from Paul Black in 1988, won the the Caparne-Welch Medal, the top award for MTB, in 1995.  The flower his is just 6" high. The fleck of dusting on he falls are a part of flower. Seeing this bloom is like finding rare treasure easily overlooked.

Lines!

I am fascinated by iris with distinct lines.  A few years ago I visited Mid-America near Salem Oregon and Thomas Johnson said that lines were one of his goals.  Here's one that's new to my garden from Larry Lauer.  "Lovesick Blues" has beautiful violet falls on a white ground.  It put on a fine show for 8 days peaking May 7 this year.

This bloom is the first year after planting.  It must be noted that a first year bloom and good increase is no guarantee that it will establish itself well.  The original rhizome was grown professionally and is packed with energy.  It's my job to pamper it for the following years.

'Lovesick Blues' (Lauer 2007 SDB)

Two SDBs Blooming in Their First Season

This wonderful SDB plicata has established itself nicely in its first year.  Introduced last summer by Thomas Johnson it likes upstate NY so far.  The flower is small but dramatic with a lush orange beard. This bloomed on May 9 in Mendon.

Parade Star (Thomas Johnson 2016 SDB)

Last year was my first order from Hugh Stout.  The quality of the order was impressive.  GRIS has placed our club order for our public sale July 22 and 23 at Pro-Moore Farms in Henrietta.  Here's 'Frankenberry,' Stout's 2016 introduction looks good and bloomed in its first year.  The dark cherry red is veined in black. The beards are purple with bronze tips.

'Frankenberry' (Hugh Stout 2016 SDB)

Purple Paws 2017

I'm a relative newby among irisians.  Please know that my lexicon is limited, but I won't let that stop me from sharing what I see and using the vocabulary that I have.

As the last tall bearded begins to fade it's time to review the year in iris bloom. This is one of the earlier bloomers to impress this year.

Paul Blacks 2014 introduction is 'Purple Paws.' It's lovely as single bloom.  Creamy yellow standards are peppered with a medium purple plicata.  The falls are whiter, edging in yellow. The purple lays on the shoulders and speckles to the edge.  laying on this a white beard is tipped with dark purple. 

'Purple Paws' (Paul Black, 2014 SDB)

The season's performance was excellent.  Planted in 2014, the clump has established itself well. The show began May 6 and continued for two weeks.  Less than a foot high the clump has a diameter of about 2 feet.  It's getting about time to divide...

Meanwhile, Back in Mendon

After a week in Des Moines, a week getting ready for a party and the GRIS iris show, the aforementioned party, show AND Wonder Woman I am finally pulling it together to start catching up with photos of all the beautiful iris I have seen this year.

I'll start off with the most recent pics from Diamond Rise.  These are late bloomers and there are still a few that have not bloomed yet.

First my favorite, 'Action Packed.'  Every flower is unique, but this tempts me to modify that unmodifiable adjective.  There's nothing I have see that is a jammed packed with features than this creation by the Willy Wonka of hybridizers, Paul Black.  Look deep inside this stunning display of wine veined standards and velvety red-black falls. You will be rewarded with style arms that could inspire a chapeau for Dolly Levi.  It makes that year-long wait worth it.

'Action Packed' Black 2011 TB

Here's a pink that is not subtle. This is the first year in my garden. I hope it sticks around.

'Destination Fabulous' Schreiner 2015 TB

How could and MTB take the Dykes Medal?  Here's how!

'Dividing Line'  Bunnell 2015 MTB American Dykes Medal 2014

 Shades of royal violet purple provide a monochromatic stage for the dramatic ruffling to take center stage.

'Feast Of Kings' Black 2012 TB

Thomas Johnson's Wister Medal winning 'stitched' plicata grows on me every year it blooms.  And bloom it does! And grows vigorously.  Certainly I will divide this beauty this year.

'Ink Patterns' T.Johnson 2007 TB Wister Medal 2013

 Another Sister winner that has finally decided it likes my garden.  Great bloom this year. I am convinced that golden beard ties the bi-color together and makes a great iris exceptional.

'Kathy Chilton' Kerr 2006 TB Wister Medal 2012

 Not for everyone, I love Thornbird.  This Dykes medal winner grows very well for me.

'Thornbird' Byers 1987 TB American Dykes Medal 1997

Yield is. as it's name implies. an arresting school bus (Kodak?) yellow. The delicate brown rays under the beard can be missed, but add the perfect touch to break up this yellow self.

'Yield' Black 2012 TB

Two by Lynda at #AIS2017

These two beauties from Lynda Miller captured my attention at the AIS Convention 2017 in Des Moines.

'Blushing Grapes' looks a bit different than on the TWiki.  It's a bit darker than this photo show. I describes as having falls banded in purple. I would say plicata. The ground of a creamy warm parchment set it apart.  Its full ruffled standards make it opulent.

'Blushing Grapes' L.Miller 2016 TB

'Serving Wench' might be a politically incorrect name from a male hybridizer these days, but Lynda Miller pulls it off.  This bi-color is a stand out. A medium pink bodice with a deep purple skirt make this wench clean up nicely!

'Serving Wench' L. Miller 2015 TB

Some of the Folks I Met In Des Moines

Here I am with Chad Harris. Chad's hybridizes at Mount Pleasant Iris From in Washougal, WA in the Columbia River gorge.  Although not blooming at the convention (their season is later), Chad's iris ensata (know more commonly as Japanese iris or JI) and his species cross (SPEC-X) called "psuedata' are amazing.

His presentation on the "Water Lovers of Asia" was engaging and informative. I have barely started to try to grow these and I learned so much! He'll be in Rochester at the Region 2 meeting, October 21 offering this same talk as well as Judges training.  Give me a shout at neil.houghton@me.com and I'll get you on the list for more info.

'Neil and Chad Harris

 David Cupps talked me into coming and I am glad he did. His friend Andi is from Los Angeles and post great photos to Iris Lovers on Facebook.

David Cupps and And Rivarola

 My idol, Paul Black, just happens to also be a really great guy!

Paul Black and me

Paul Black and David Cupps

AIS Convention 2017

There's just too much to wade through in the photo album!  We visited the Collins garden today and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens to see hundreds of guest iris.  We are past peak bloom here, but there were many mid-late blooming TBs putting on a show.

At Collins 'Bluebird Of Happiness' was putting on a wonderful show and getting well-deserved attention.  

At the Botanical Gardens eager to see what's blooming flocked on the Banks of the Des Moines River.

New To Me Paul Black IB

The title rhymes!

Man's Best Friend is from Paul Black in 2008, but it didn't make it into my garden until 2016.  I sure hope it sticks around. Even my husband who general doesn't care for color mixes like this said. "That is stunning."

'Man's Best Friend' Black 2008 IB

'Man's Best Friend' Black 2008 IB