Bird's Eye View

The Medians of May 16, 2017

'Lemon Pop' is bloomer prolific and fast speaking.  Here ay a has an interloper in the clump.  Probably Rare Edition, a fellow Sass Medal Winner that wandered over to chat.

'Lemon Pop'  Lauer 1989 IB - Sass Medal

St. Francis has been waiting for his annual serving of peach pie.

'Peach Pie' T.Johnson 2011mSDB

'Avanelle' W.Jones 1976 IB

 Rare Treat (in the background above) is much more violet than the blue in this photo. The late afternoon light makes that more pronounced.
 

'Rare Edition' Gatty 1986 IB - SassMedal 1986 

A Bad Round Up

I've been waiting for this red MDF to bloom.  One of the first Black SDBs to be introduced by Schreiner's in 2014 this first short unfurling showed its potential.

'Fire' Black 2014 SDB

Alas in an effort to save some weeding time I used Round Up.  Don't tell Kyle.  Apparently some got on the leaves of this cultivar.  I only recognize this because the same happened in friend's garden. Believe it or not this picture shows two blooms from the same clump.

More SDBs and the earliest IB!

A number of SDBs bloom with more than the expected set of petals.  This is often occurs in the first bloom.  I have seen as many 6 pairs of standards and falls. This cultivar consistently bloom with 4 of each.

'A Little Good News' T.Johnson 2014 SDB

This cream edged pumpkin orange was released posthumously from the seedlings of Bennett Jones.

'Bennett's Star' B.Jones 2013 SDB

Several shades of blue violet SDBs with light beards are blooming. 'Cliché' and 'Pulsator' are among them

'Cliché' Black 2002 SDB

'Pulsator' T.Johnson 2011 SDB

'Eye of Sauron' produced this tightly packed fireworks display. When I planted them I had forgotten the area was planted with daffodils.  'Sauron' had to fight his way for light and bloomed more like an MDB, but I love this little nosegay.

'Eye Of Sauron' Black 2009 SDB

'Jillaroo' is lovely in form and coloring.

'Jillaroo' Ensminger 1983 SDB

'Joyous High' T. Johnson 2016 SDB

'Line Drive' Sutton 2006 IB

'Pippi Longstockings' Innerst 1985 SDB

'Sapphire Gem' Schmelzer 1975 SDB Cook-Douglas Medal 1983

Labeled 'Soft Air'...

Unknown White IB rebloomer

Mid May SDBs

Here are more SDBs that are blooming at Diamond Rise in the past few days.  Two of them are brand new intros (last year) from Thomas Johnson.   Like to see them in person?  Feel free to stop over!

3873 Rush Mendon Rd. Mendon NY 14506  neil.houghton@me.com

'Unwritten' T.Johnson 2016 SDB

'Joyous High'  T.Johnson 2016 SDB

'Purple Paws' shows what a prolific established clump of SDBs can look like.

'Purple Paws'  Black 2013 SDB

Michael Paul is a classic beauty.

'Michael Paul' Jones 1979 SDB

'Jennyanydots' Black 2011 SDB

'Stitch Witch'  Willott 1975 SDB

'Frankenberry'  Stout 2016 SDB

'Forever Blue' Chapman 1996 SDB

'Force Field' M.Smith 2009 SDB

'Eye of Sauron' Black 2009 SDB

'Chanted' Blyth 1990 SDB 

'Cheery Blush[ Black 2014 SDB

'Canadian Kisses" Black 2006 SDB

More SDBs

A bit different than the catalog picture in my garden, I love 'Cheery Blush.'  Climate and soil conditions can effect the actual presentation in your garden.

'Cheery Blush' Black 2014 SDB

 Bearded irise do not like mulch on their rhizomes.  You can still add mulch, just leave a little space around the bearded iris.  Japanese and Siberians are fine with mulch.

'Outspoken' in situ

 A couple more new blooms:

'Parade Star'  T.Johnson 2016 SDB

'Purple Paws' Black 2013 SDB

The Medians are Blooming.

Here are 3 of my early bloomers:

First an tiny Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) from Paul Black, 'Spot of Tea.'  It was in my garden for a few years but getting more shade than I thought.  Now it's happy! This Caparne-Welch Medal winner is a delight at about 5".

'Spot of Tea' Black, 1988 MDB

Joyful Love is Thomas Johnson 2014 introduction.  In my garden for 2 seasons, it has about 6 stalks. This is blooming at 14".

'Joyful Love' Johnson, 2014 SDB

 New to my garden this season, 'Lovesick Blues' from a Mid-America rhizome with 4 beautiful stalks in it's first year this is a winner! It's blooms are about 8" tall and its veined plicata pattern and great form is making this irisisan very happy!

'Lovesick Blues' Lauer 2007 SDB

'Stich Witch' snuck by me... it had one bloom which I missed!