I am still going to get some sort of part-time job of some sort to help pay my way, but ah well, only so much you can do.

I'm likely going to go at my GED this year. I'm late already to do so in age, but I'll get there with hard work. After which, I'll most likely take classes for our community college, which sadly removed its horticulture class. I want to find somewhere fairly close that I can take a horticulture class and go towards a degree in something of that nature. It will be awhile, but I am beginning to get more and more motivated to do so.

There's a lot to learn about irises and plants in general, and I want to learn as much as I can.

I have been told about his classes, but even though I am in Virginia with the Spoons, I am still quite a large distance away from them. Especially if the course were to be a day-by-day sort of thing being there with the Spoons. It seems interesting enough to me, though!

If you have not been following my thread "Monty's Blue Ridge Iris Gardens" then you may not know we have over 100 chickens. Black Sex Link, and Silkies included. We do not have a Cochin, surprisingly.

We have only two chickens laying at the moment, as most of the rest are still a bit young (though, there are a couple hens that SHOULD be laying already), but soon, we are going to be overrun with eggs.

Good luck with your chickens and your irises! I would hate to lose a stalk or two because of chickens.

Ivan_N_Tx said:But after reading Tom's post about the viruses affecting irises, I read that the only way to save an infected plant is through tissue culture of the apical meristem or central growing point of the plant. Orchids are cloned that way to multiply them virus-free, but mainly because they are so slow growing.

Just thought I'd add that this is also done for Liliums. For Orchids there is no guarantee of getting a virus-free plant; in fact, plenty of clonal runs by less reputable growers simply multiply virused plants en-masse. Certain viruses in particular are difficult to eliminate through tissue culture.

Interesting Josh. What I heard was the apical meristem is virus-free so the problem may come if they get sloppy and take other surrounding tissue, But like I said I've never done it and haven't kept up with the literature lately. It was the ideal way to clean up a plant when I was in school.

I think it depends on the virus, Ivan. I know CymMV can be removed through careful mericloning. I'll have to look into OFV (one of the newer plagues). A lot of virus propagation through mericlones is simply due to poor practice, unfortunately.

Thanks Monty,

Chickens actually are really helpful in the garden the rest of the year. Here the grasshoppers and caterpillars start coming in during the hottest months and chickens will chow down on these as well as slugs, snails, even small snakes! And that's a dread that I've recently thought about, having so many irises that you couldn't see a snake if it came around. We have both Copperheads and Rattlesnakes in the area and I actually got bit in my garden about 30 years ago by a 9" Copperhead. And if you want to know how it feels to roast your foot over an open fire, then that's the way to do it. I couldn't wear a shoe for about a week since my foot was twice the size, too! But hopefully between the cats and chickens they will be a bit of an early warning system if one gets in.

I took a few pictures of my metal stakes and labels to give you and anyone interested an idea of what I'm doing for labelling. Of course I do mapping as well since stuff happens.

The stakes are 1/16" welding rods and the labels are made with a DYMO RHINO M1011 aluminum label maker. They are flexible but should add a little extra strength to flower stalks, too.

Thank you Ivan for all the insight.

Hippie ~ That is a very good labeling/staking system.

Thanks Monty and Evelyn. Irises are finally showing color here so pictures will be coming soon!

for labeling and for future pictures, ivan.

the labeling looks very professional.

I agree with Daphne. Very nice job on the labels, Ivan. Plus I'll be looking forward to your pictures as well.

Both of those are excellent ideas Ivan

Thanks Anne, Barbara, & Daphne, I wouldn't have come up with it without needing the aluminum tags for my orchids. I got so tired of losing their names from plastic labels. The labeller is a bit pricey, but someone could also cut strips from an aluminum can and punch a hole for only a little bit of labor. They are also easy to engrave with a pen or pencil. Even the rolls of aluminum tape can be bought and just snipped and hand engraved to save time and $200 for the labeller.

Thank you Monty for the acorn!

dirtdorphins said:oh my!

Here's another favorite of mine

Painted Doll, Boen '57/'64

I'm late to this thread, but Painted Doll is amazing, Dirt! I am in love. I saw someone mention they recently purchased it somewhere, but I can't find it for the life of me. The search continues.

I see that Superstition has it in their catalogue.

Thank you! it is amazing
Superstition Iris Gardens
They have a bunch of good stuff to tag along with it too and send very high quality rhizomes
https://www.facebook.com/super...
I don't 'do' facebook--but that's where you can peruse what they have and find contact info to order

Tom and Dirt,

Dirt, I can't seem to get that link to work. I don't have a facebook account (and don't want one). How does one get in touch with them without being able to use facebook?

You can e-mail them at [email protected]

Here's a couple more from Superstition, that I quite like and they grow well

and

I'm so glad you shred Vishnu with me last year, I hope it blooms this year. It went through the winter just fine.

These came with my house when I bought it over 40 years ago. I thought they were "Honorabile" based on info I found on the Heirloom Iris website which also stated "Some experts claim that, due to a mix-up 150 years ago, its real name is 'San Souci' , but we're unconvinced." Upon further research, they might be Flammenschwert. Regardless, they occupy a good deal of real estate in my neighborhood due to their prolificacy and my pleas for others to take them off my hands.