A new thread, not just mine, but for the diverse members here on the forum that live in California. Of course, all are welcome to join in and comment.

It's a little early, but some of you have a few blooms already. Can we see them? Mine are still in "dream mode", as I live in the cooler foothills of the Sierra at about 3500'. I am hoping that we do not get snow this April, as we have had in the last several years, as usually it is after a nice spring warmup, then a freeze after the snow.

It had an effect on the irises last year, having had their leaves stuck in place, not knowing what to do. Of course, they stayed that way until I cut them off. It only happened on some irises, and not all of them. Also there was pineappling! The iris leaves became thick and dark green with corrugation, which I had never seen before. Most of you will not have that problem, as usually your temperatures don't swing that violently, well, I hope not anyway.

Alright now, on with the show!

Andrea, Barbara, Carl, Daphne, Jan, Marilyn, Richard, Richard2, Sherry, Sue, Rob...? Who did I leave out?

These two dwarfs are blooming now





My big disappointment was when Charismatic put up a stalk over a month ago, and that bloom froze...then another bloom,then another- all found it too cold and rainy to bloom.

Jan ~ Does Charismatic usually bloom this early for you? It is such a pretty one. Do you think it will bloom again?

evelyninthegarden said:Jan ~ Does Charismatic usually bloom this early for you? It is such a pretty one. Do you think it will bloom again?

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Charismatic')
• Uploaded by janwax

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Charismatic')
• Uploaded by ARUBA1334

Evelyn, I can't remember exactly when it bloomed last year - but it wasn't this early. I hope it sends up another bloomstalk.

With the weather being so wet and rainy, with just a few sunny days in between, it may be a while before blooms appear, and if they do, they may not be at their best. That's OK!

It is early spring, when the weather is cool and changeable, sometimes all in the same day.

Less than perfect pictures are welcome! I wish I had one to show you!

Milk in my Coffee bloomed yesterday. I did get a bad picture yesterday. A few minutes I went out and the pot was on its side with a flatten bloom.: here's the best picture I was able to get today.

Barbara ~ That is beautiful!

I just got that one last year, so I won't be expecting much from it the first year.

Thank you Evelyn. I wish the wind didn't knock it over.

I would have never known...just beautiful!

Evelyn, thank you, but I can see the damage.

Jan: Love that finish on Plum Wine.

Barbara: Beautiful colors on Milk in my Coffee. I have been thinking about getting it. What are your thoughts about it.

Elsa, this is the first bloom I've seen on it. There are so many colors in it, it is unique. If it does well this summer I can send you a rhizome.

I saw the name of the topic and thought at first that we are talking about an iris with a similar name)
Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'California Dreamin')


sorry for offtopic

I have two so far, a PCI and a purple unknown that was here when we moved in.

Evelyn, I hope you will have a good nice bloom season with perfect weather. Maybe the late start for your irises is a good thing. It might help minimize frost related problems.

Pretty blooms Jan, Barbara, Serjio and Sue.

Jan, sorry that Charismatic froze for you. . I guess this is the prize that sometimes must be paid for having a prolonged bloom season. Here with a much later and usually more concentrated bloom season, I have so far been fortunate to be spared of that problem.

Jan: Is that NOID an Intermediate? Could it be Elanor Roosevelt? I had historian NOIDs growing in the house I live in too! That brought back memories of my moms Irises. Ground zero for the virus breakout for me

Barbara: Thank you!!! I would love a piece of Milk in my Coffee. But I never split an Iris until it has grown a few years so please don't compromise it. Next year would be fine too

GreenIris said:Jan: Is that NOID an Intermediate? Could it be Elanor Roosevelt? I had historian NOIDs growing in the house I live in too! That brought back memories of my moms Irises. Ground zero for the virus breakout for me

@GreenIris, I was the one that posted the Noid purple iris and you may have just solved it for me! I will put Intermediate Bearded Iris (Iris 'Eleanor Roosevelt') as a tentative ID.

Serjio- now I have a California Dreamin' ear worm.!

I meant to ask you - how is your soil where you garden? Your irises are exceptionally beautiful. Do you fertilize?

Calif_Sue
The purple appears to be CRIMSON KING (I. kochii) a reblooming weed in Calif., especially coastal Calif. The Pacifica, appears to be Roaring Camp.

@GuiseppeJ, I don't have rebloom on that purple one and the PCI is Pacific Coast Iris (Iris 'Patrick's Halloween')