The Iris are Coming, The Iris are Coming!

Yes they are.  The iris are coming just as I prepare to leave for Oregon.

'Pumpkin Center' (Bennett Jones, R. 1988)

This SDB is lovely spring yellow, with pale pumpkin.

 

 

'Jennyanydots' (Paul Black, 2011)

One lone bloom on a fine growth on this SDB stands proudly.

'Stitch Witch' (A. & D. Willott, R. 1975).

Another SDB has the classic white with violet plicata.

Is this 'Marsh Imp'?

This unknown early bloomer looks a great deal like 'Marsh Imp', an MDB. The height is correct as well.  The pure white MDB 'Snowy River' is also starting to bloom.

A bed of Forget-Me-Nots keeps a shady spot light and airy,

'Panda Paws' (unknown)

 

A beautiful tulip with the colors of USC.  Go Trojans!

Back from Albany 5-14-13

The first bloom of IB 'Lemon Pop,' 1996 Sass Medal winner show the effects of 33º. It's only been open for 2 days and has that translucent look of an older bloom.  But there are more buds!

And here's 'Star of India,' 'Jennyanydots' and 'Panda Paws.'  The first when compared with an earlier photo show how color can look quite different.  This is primarily because after bloom a rich pigment almost immediately starts to degrade.

Before the Almost Frost 5-12-13

 

On Sunday morning, before I had to drive to Albany, I took to the garden to dig plant and record the state of things.  A frost was threatening for that night and the next.  Happily we bottom out at 33º and all is well.

This is a panoramic shot of most of my iris beds:

Note the in the front center SDB 'Jennyandots' had just opened and nearby were others that were about to bloom (Bed D-3) and directly behind that one of what I believe to be 'Immortality,' an early white TB  is open.

'Jennyanydots' is toward the top limits of of standard dwarf bearded in height (15"). This bloom and more budding is from a new rhizome form Mid-America planted last year.  This 2011 introduction by Paul Black is delightful.

Another Mid-America SDB is is Thomas Johnson's 'Star of India.'  The aptly named 2011 introduction is substantially shorter, less than 10".