New to irises, not new to gardening. I am southeast of Denver in Zone 5B. My beds face south and west, and one gets sun all morning.

What names would you recommend for easy, reliable, instant gratification color next spring? I have the beds ready, and have ooohed and ahhhed over websites and online catalogs. I prefer cool colors and whites, but won't be picky if there is an iris that is a "must have" to start out.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Paula

Welcom keysfins.

I can't answer the question, but I think there is some members in the area. There is an iris farm in Denver and I'm sure they can give you an idea of what would do good there.

creativeclover said:Welcom keysfins.

I can't answer the question, but I think there is some members in the area. There is an iris farm in Denver and I'm sure they can give you an idea of what would do good there.

Thanks! I believe it is Iris4U? Have not been, and I believe he is done shipping. But I look forward to recommendations. Otherwise I will wing it and hope for the best!

I recommend getting a catalog from Schreiners or looking into their website. They have a great variety of irises for the beginner with good photos. If you continue to like growing irises, you can find the individual hybridizers such as Keppel, Johnson, etc online for newer and more sophisticated varieties.

This is late in the year for orders. Besides Schreiners I do know that Iris Sisters is still open for a few more days. Robin carries gorgeous Blyth and Keppel iris and is very generous with bonus iris. Not a bad thing when you are starting out! Stout's may still be open too. Hugh Stout carries a really wide variety of iris.

Lestv said:This is late in the year for orders. Besides Schreiners I do know that Iris Sisters is still open for a few more days. Robin carries gorgeous Blyth and Keppel iris and is very generous with bonus iris. Not a bad thing when you are starting out! Stout's may still be open too. Hugh Stout carries a really wide variety of iris.

I just placed an order with Schreiners.

Have no idea where I will plant, as far as who will be next to which. But as long as I get them in and labeled, I can rearrange next year or later, if needed. There were some really lovely ones, but I will try to start with a modest budget. To start!

Starting with a modest budget is always a good thing - testing the waters, as it were.

Unfortunately, it doesn't stay that way.

Welcome to the madness.

Look at Longs Garden which is in your area.

I would suggest contacting Superstition Iris Gardens and asking for suggestions for your conditions. The plants they shipped to me on my first order ever (this year) were superb. They really seem to care about their plants and their customers.

https://m.facebook.com/superst...

[email protected]

There are lots of positive reviews in the green pages:

Superstition Iris Gardens

Polymerous said:Starting with a modest budget is always a good thing - testing the waters, as it were.

Unfortunately, it doesn't stay that way.

Welcome to the madness.

Thanks! And yes, so much for that modest budget!

Paula

csandt said:I would suggest contacting Superstition Iris Gardens and asking for suggestions for your conditions. The plants they shipped to meon my first order ever (this year) were superb. They really seem to care about their plants and their customers.

[email protected]

There are lots of positive reviews in the green pages:
/

Great info, thank you!

(Had to remove the links because the board does not allow newbies to post links.)

Paula

Contact and maybe even join your local Iris society. Most have sales (Ours is having one tomorrow), door prizes, member exchanges... A great way to learn what grows best in your area, and meet other Iris nuts.. er, I mean enthusiasts
https://www.irises.org/About_A...

I'd also take a look at what Iris4U is offering on his website.. If they're doing well for him, they'd probably do well for you.

I like supporting the smaller growers. I'll second Superstition, and Iris Sisters... and add Keppel, Sutton, the Shady Spot, Napa Country, Mid-America and probably a few others I can't think of right now..

I think Iris4U is done for the season. There are at least 3 other small growers in CO, Long's Garden in Boulder is one of them, can't recall the other 2 but will post back here when/if I find them. Had plans to visit all this spring but that got derailed—I did make it to Long's in Boulder on an Elmohr Iris Society outing, very impressive. It's been there for 3 generations, the town has basically grown all around them!
The 2 iris societies I know of in the area are High Plains (not very active) and Elmohr (sometimes TOO active!). High Plains has an annual sale in mid July at Tagawa Gardens, don't know what town that falls into but it's on Parker Road between Arapahoe and E 470. EIS has theirs the last weekend of July every year but it's down in the Springs. Both have pages on Facebook, that's how I found EIS and their sale last year.

I missed the July iris society sale at Tagawa, but I will check out the iris groups mentioned.

I am TOO familiar with Tagawa, it is not far from me. I also go to Nick's in Aurora. I like supporting the smaller family businesses. So I will also check out the iris vendors mentioned. Good idea about looking at Iris4U to see what suits this area.

I will post when I get my boxes, I am making my lists to figure out what will go where.

And yes, peonies. I want 2-3 in another part of the garden. I have a good idea of the classics, just need to see how they do in my spots.

Liz, got your message, thank you. Some great ideas!

Superstition stopped accepting orders after August 4.

Sorry you missed them, Andrea. I got my order in (my check in their hands) just under their wire last year. This year, I knew I had better order early.

What would you have ordered Andrea?

@Keysfins ..
This is a wonderful group of awesome Iris lovers

Poly and Sherry,

I actually got my order into Superstition just in time. My sad face was on behalf of the newbie,
Paula, because Superstition is my favorite vendor and I didn't think she would be able to get an order into them on time.

My order was small. I actually don't need any more irises, but I was feeling sorry for myself because of my crown rot problems. I ordered:

Black Magic Woman



Ming Lord



They both have Romantic Evening as their pollen parent, but I am into
Romantic Evening this year.

Visual Intrigue



Because I am in search of the perfect neglecta.

Mulberry Magic



Just because. I saw it at Superstition last year and thought it was pretty.

Nice looking irises, Andrea.