The First Iris

Reticulata presents itself first and is so small that passers-by assume it is a crocus.

Speaking of crocus, perhaps you know that the most precious spice, saffron, is the pistil of of this flower.  It is not the common crocus however, but crocus sativa.  These are fall bloomers.  I did grow some one year, but they did not return the following season.

The First 2 Days of The 2015 Season

View South over bed A-1

The snow is mostly gone but some spots in shade are still frozen solid.  The sun cooperated enough to make it bearable enough to get started working for the 2015 season yesterday.  I had to start cleaning up some areas that I didn't get to in the fall.  This map needs some updating but it shows the beds in my backyard.  Bed F is in the front and not visible here.  Beds A-0, D-0, D-1S&N, Bed D-2, and D-3 have been added in the back.

Starting with Bed F, I cleared leaves and discovered the iris reticulata have buds.  These earliest of all species in my area are a bulb not a rhizome.

Bed F cleaning

Iris Reticulata buds - Height 3"

Retulata with Gloves for comparison

On the 2nd day I finished with bed F and moved to bed A-3 which last year was connected to B-3.  The leaves had been cleaned so I just needed to tidy up some clumps of iris.  The massive ring of an unknown Siberian will be divided after the bloom season.

Beds A-3 and B-2 conjoined.

Unknown Siberian in A-3 in need of dividing

Every year some of the new rhizomes don't make it.  This one was particularly heart-breaking. It was in the GRIS club order from Keith Keppel.  'Hello Beautiful' was a brand new introduction from Barry Blyth. It is registered in 2013 because Blyth is an Australian grower.  Their season is 6 months different from ours.  With a list price of $75 I was looking forward to what could possibly be worth that.  I'll never known.  The rough winter caused frost heave sent it out of the ground and during a thaw rot set in.  It's a goner.  Many others are in fine shape.  Stuff happens.

New Iris Intros and Your AIS Local

It's that time of year.  Waiting for catalogs to arrive is being replaced by the online reveals of new iris introductions. Own of my favorite growers (Mid-America) is rolling out their 2015 intros via Facebook.  Click on the photo os the intro below to go the Facebook page

'Join In' SDB Black 2015

Recently I started reconstructing my photos following a hard drive crash. While my interest in iris is old, my serious attempts to grow them started about 10 years ago.  Like a kid in the candy shop, I planted many rhizomes.  Then I planted many more. I became obsessive and took on Smaug-like qualities.

Thanks to my friends at the Greater Rochester Iris Society (GRIS), my tastes are beginning to mature.  I read more carefully about growth habit and realize that with some limited space I need to make choices.

The MDB above is lovely, but not particularly unique.  The photo of the clump interests me more. If 'Join In' performs like this in upstate New York, it would make a great addition to any garden.  That's a big "if" and the only way to find out is to try it, or find someone who grows it in similar climate and soil.  That's the fun of growing and sharing successes and failures.  An American Iris Society (AIS) local chapter can facilitate this and be fun as well.

Neil Houghton

I'm Back! Winter arrives soon.

My last blog post was in June. Wonder why?  Oh that's right... so much else going.  Too much to list, but as winter settles in (first frost predicted for Halloween) it's time to review the season, post some unknowns again and some favorites.  First this little fellow who is the first bearded bloomer every season.  At 8" it's SDB or MDB.  An orphaned resident of my garden for about 6 years, I can't imagine it was hybridized less than 10 years ago.  I love it even without a name... but if it looks familiar, please let me know!

Featured Iris: Flash of Light

If any iris screams, "Thomas Johnson!" this is it.  Deep blue falls with the 'Flash of Light' from the center are crowned by bright yellow beards.  The radiating lines are striking and the white standards are kissed with a powder blue cast.

Blooming at 33" around June 7 in my garden two years after planting a rhizome from Mid-American, 'Flash of Light' is not subtle.

From Mid-America's website:

(T.Johnson '08) From the centers of dark blue falls comes a blazing flash of white light. Ruffled white standards have just a hint of blue around them. Dark violet-blue falls shade inward to dazzling white sunbursts illuminated by bright gold yellow beards. Super show branching and double budded sockets in a color & pattern normally shy of buds. Makes very showy clumps. Vigorous healthy growth. Late 36” (91cm) Sdlg. TX49B: Snowed In X Queen’s Circle 

 

Dangerous Mood, Dangerous Buying Choices

'Dangerous Mood' is an impressive bi-tone.  The dark, almost black falls support a light blue cloud of standards.  Several year ago I picked up packaged rhizomes (2) at Home Depot.  You can never count on what you'll get from these shriveled rhizomes.  To be fair you can never be absolutely sure what you'll get from many growers.  So when they finally bloomed I ended up with an amoena.  Which one?  Maybe you can help! Here they are together, 'Dangerous Mood' on the right:

I have both because I ordered 'Dangerous Mood' directly from Schreiner's last year.  Below is a clear picture of the bloom.  In my garden its peak bloom this year was June 7 through 11.

The official info:

'Dangerous Mood' (Schreiner, R. 2004). Seedling JJ 109-1. TB, 36" (91 cm), Early thru mid bloom season. Standards and style arms light blue (RHS 97C), falls black (202A); beards dark purple, hairs tipped yellow. 'Dark Passion' X EE 141-2: ('Northwest Progress' x 'Hello Darkness'). Schreiner 2004.

Not Another One of Those! 'Ink Patterns'

There seems to be a plethora of white irises banded in blue/purple.  When my friend, David, said, "I love 'Ink Patterns' I thought, not another one of those.

I planted a rhizome from Mid-America in 2012 and this year it bloomed for the first time. With all the variations on this theme including Dykes winners, 'Jesse's Song' and 'Stepping Out' this holds its own.

'Ink Patterns' photographed toward the red in this shot.

The plicata is heavily stitched and almost blue.  The heavy substance, lovely flower form and bloom production make it a garden stand-out.  It blooms on a solid stalk and with a little grooming I can imagine it showing well.

I also like the fact that the edging on the standards match those on he falls.

Mid America says of this 2007 introduction by Thomas Johnson:

Exuberantly ruffled white flowers have indelible inky blue stitched plicata bands around falls. Standards have wide washed and stitched plicata bands with dotting inside them and lines up midribs. Styles are wonderfully contrasted, inky, dark indigo. A clump of INK PATTERNS in the garden is unforgettable. It is sure to catch the judge's eye at shows.
36" (91 cm) Sdlg. TW81B: American Classic X Royal Estate

Here it is with 'Good Life' a 2010 Paul Black introduction.  The magenta-violet and blue-violet of these two work very well together. 'Good Life' was also planted in 2012 and bloomed this year for the first time.

 Good Life is not just another one of those, either!