I am not certain but believe this is Butterflies in flight just opening

spoing its open


Blue NOID
almost open

Spoing


Found the blue NOID its Second Wave

Beautiful, Jo Ann. I just love Japanese irises. I have some spoinging and boinging taking place out there too. Need to get busy with the camera!

I saw this at a local nursery. The blossom is obviously past prime but I still found it exciting. The common wisdom is that we can't grow Japanese here. Maybe I'll get a plant and give it a try. Any advice???

Sure, plant a little deep in some heavy soil, add composted manure if you can, a lot. Mulch well, probably 4 inches or so. Water as much as you can. JIs like Miracle Gro.

May I ask how much you paid for it? Lion King is on of the few JIs that have gone on the commercial market being sold true to name, at least right now. I'm sure that will have changed in a few years. But the one you have is the true Lion King.

Polly...I didn't buy it but will get one [or two] tomorrow and will let you know the cost. Can they take full sun? Do they like acid soil? Should I plant it in a larger pot which I would bury and water frequently? Should I add peat moss to the potting mix, feed with Mir-acid? I have a lot to learn but have a good resource....you guys/gals......

They can take full sun, but a little shade might be better in your area. Yes to the peat moss, and Miracid. Here I water once a week, usually, and alternate Miracid and Miracle gro. I would plant it. I wouldn't leave it in the pot.

I think Evan has a Lion King opening soon. In my opinion it's one of the loveliest JIs, and has great stature.

A little history on Lion King. Ensata Gardens hybridized it, and has sold it to Walters Gardens, the leading wholesaler in the country. So it will be on the market. Walters Gardens is also currently trialling one of my favorite siberians, Seneca Midnight Blues to buy from and sell for Dana Borglum. So for the present, any Lion King on the marker should be true to name as Walters doesn't make mistakes. But once it gets floating around and propagated by everyone and their distant relative, it will be mixed up in commerce like the Dutch ones are.

I keep all my tags and out of curiosity looked and have the purple tags for Hosta and Heuchera and other plants. The tags do not say Walters Gardens but do say perennial resources. Have also seen them with TBs like Beverly Sills and Louisiana's like Black Gamecock.

Perennial Resources is Walters Gardens.

Jo Ann what a fantastic parade. Loving it! Were you watching during any of the spoing event(s)? I was watching when a Silverband did. Spoing is the perfect word.

Paul, I'll get a pic of LK tomorrow. It is very upright and vigorous here with the tallest bud at 48". Last September Polly posted a reminder to fertilize for bloom production. I've never seen so many blooms on the sibs and the JI look to be following suite. Thanks Polly and I forgot to mention the divisions you sent me last year snapped in the unwrapping so I have LK in 2 locations!

You seem to have so much success with Hosta Paul, I don't see why JI would be any trouble at all. Aren't Hosta thirsty as well? Polly, I'm wondering if moisture crystals dug into the soil from 6" below the crown and deeper, with organically rich soil above would help?

Glad it worked, Evan.

Evan, I have this personal theory on the water crystals. I use them religiously, the ones with the Mycorrhizae fungi in it. But, my theory is, the water crystals work great until the ground starts drying up. Then the crystals release liquid, but then do they draw what's left of the moisture back into the crystals? Unless you're going to water on a regular basis, I'm wondering if they will draw the moisture out. What are your thoughts on that?

Hosta are thirsty but spend at least a portion of the mid-day in the shade. I water them every 3-4 days. I may use use some of the moisture crystals and make a basin around the JI so I can water it deeply more often. The problem is choosing a spot that receives afternoon shade. The plants that are available have bloomed and are established in the pots so I'll just have to wait with anticipation next year.

Polly What you say makes sense. I've never even thought of that. I'd have to do some homework. Hopefully the plants ability to draw water in overcomes the crystals ability to retain it. I know we aren't anywhere near as arid here as you are Paul but no wonder your Hosta look so perfect.

Evan, after your homework, please report back.

Yes Ma'am. PS I used the 3-3-3 like you recommended, so far.

Wonderful. Mine look good this year, even though we have not had our normal rainfall.

I think Utah is the second driest state in the nation but many of the cities are located at the foot of some of the mountains and if we get decent winter snow that is where our water comes from. We have what we call a secondary water system that is not clean enough to drink but is fine for the garden. I think it is about $25 a month and isn't metered. We can water every other day...I'm Tues, Thurs, and Sat I do the front and side yards one day and the back yard another. If we have several dry winters in a row we may be in trouble. I don't know how I kept up my garen when I worked full time.

Paul if you can handle this you can grow JI anywhere almost. A kiddie pool sunk in the ground and filled with water, they love this..can not keep in there in winter.

D

I named this Butterflies in Flight but its wrong.
Anyone know? Is it Flashing Koi?
I think I ordered that years ago.

This is butterflies in Flight.I think

Moonlight Waves
Purchased from a local nursery. Registered in 1910 so maybe (probably?) a NOID. ~30" tall. Nice bright clump.
Oriental eyes
~38-40" tall. Anybody know what the funnels with fingers are called? What are they for? The first blooms all have one or more petal tips damaged. Could this be due to an insect?

Edit: Oriental Eyes is actually Crystal Halo.

Enfant Prodige (biversata). 2nd bloom.3 total, 1 branch, on lone stalk. Can't wait til next year.