With the Japanese irises done blooming, the iris season is over for me. Unless Immortality or Clarence decides to bloom in the fall, it's 2020 before my lovelies are seen again. I'd like to share a summary of the season here.

It was an exceptionally cold and wet spring. Again. On May 7, first to bloom were Iris cristata (unnamed), MDB Trimmed Velvet, and SDB Open Your Eyes. On June 29, last to bloom were JI Blushing Snowmaiden and JI Lake Effect. In total, the iris season comprised 69 days or a little over two months for me.

Shortest blooming were MDB Hey There and JI Lake Effect, a total of 5 days each. These were weak first year plants with only a couple of buds. Still... gone in a flash.

Longest blooming was JI Dewa Banri, for a total of 26 days. First year plant! Just one day less was TB Orinoco Flow, dependable as always.

Now for the purely subjective. My favorite irises were RC Dardanus, TB Going Big Time, and JI Raspberry Glow. So gorgeous, each like a jewel. The fragrance on Going Big Time was heavenly.

My least favorite? The TBs in general. Very little action on these. Not their fault, I know, but only a few bloomed. Absolute Treasure, which I always look forward to so much, did absolutely nothing. They're looking lush and beautiful now, so hopefully next year the weather will be better and they'll put on a show.

A few favorite pics from this year:


DEWA BANRI glowing in the evening.


GERALD DARBY striking a pose.


RASPBERRY GLOW with Purple Rooster bee balm, a favorite.

Thank you for indulging me!

Tienito ~ for sharing with us!

Hi Tienito. I'd love to get get "back into" Japanese Iris, eventually, once again. Especially after you've shared some, such wonderful photos of yours in bloom... What sources are you purchasing from lately, since the other supplier, went out of business ?

I mainly knew about Mt Pleasant & Ensata, while I have seen them listed , by some others, among their perennial listings, by such vendors, such as McClure & Zimmermann, Jung's Seed, & several others, but often as just "mixed bag", though some may mention, of "named cultivars"... which may be less costly, although isn't quite the same, as when you want a "specific" variety.
Do you have any suggestions, for recommended sources ?

I bought some Siberian and Japanese irises from Cascadia Iris Gardens last year. The plants were shipped in the spring, which gave them a whole season to grow in. I got plants from another well-known nursery that didn't do nearly as well. With my limited experience, I would definitely recommend CIG. They have an amazing selection of JIs too.

Thank you Tienito. I used to grow them & did so, from seeds, too, even. I'd enjoy 'crossing' my own & just to see what I'd be able to create. I even like looking at old Japanese wood block, prints of them, as even some old varieties, were so stunningly beautiful.. Try to look for images online.

The "sticky post', in the Ipomoea' Forum, at the top of the first page, has at the bottom of first post (?) a Japanese translation link, to learn the names, if you'd want to know them. But some, like Kanji, is a Chinese translation, of Japanese , into "English' which they don't care much for !
But, it is an unusual language & 'no' may mean of, by, from, etc... & often, you don't want a "literal translation" as they use other similar things, to describe something...in the cultivar name. Usually, as an an adjective, for a noun, also in the name, that "reminds them", of the feature/s of, or about the flower blossom, its self.