Marilyn, I was thinking of rehoming my Haunted Heart, too, due to its odd color and not terribly impressive performance after two years, but this year, its third, it has put up a lot of stalks and has been blooming since May 1. I planted Clothos Web next to it, which isn't totally satisfactory because, while the dark purple color is ok, the veining on CW echoes the veining on HH. I'm just going to plant Paul Black next to HH this summer and see how that works out. PB goes with just about anything.

Side note: I brought a stalk of HH with unopened buds into the house and when they opened, the lavender veining in the falls was a much, much darker lavender than the flowers that opened outside.

Thanks for your comments, Andrea. 'Paul Black', huh? That, or one of the dark purples ('Adriatic Noble', 'Black Lipstick') blooming at the same time, maybe.

I finally got a response back from the vendor that sold me my not 'Feminine Wiles'. They don't know what it is (and they are removing that iris from their listing, since they agreed with me that it wasn't 'Feminine Wiles'). So I guess it will stay a NOID forever, sigh. (INOID3, to be precise... I've got enough NOIDs now that I have to number them! ) Nice enough iris, though. Only the standards are "pink", sort of, but I may as well add it to the thread.

Poly, Your NOID is pretty, anyway.

Ooh, I like your idea of Adriatic Noble or Black Lipstick. I'm getting Adriatic Noble as a door prize and I might score a Black Lipstick at the iris auction. Thanks!

My 'Black Lipstick' has a number of small increases, which was why I asked about dividing these things on another thread. If you want to risk it, I can give you one, but it probably won't be until Sort Night.

That's a kind offer, Marilyn, but I don't want you to cut your clump.

AndreaD said: I might score a Black Lipstick at the iris auction. Thanks!

Andrea ~ What iris auction?

I think she's referring to the one at our club picnic, held every July. People bring in divisions of older irises which can be had for about $1 each, but newer things go on auction.

I might be raiding your auctions for Black Lipstick and a few others. You've been warned....

My Black Lipstick is hanging on by a thread.

I hope it pulls through for you Tom.

They all are beautiful.

Okay, on the question of iris with pink standards and lilac falls. I have 'Poem of Ecstasy', which is quite beautiful and vigorous but which is really peach and lilac rather than the pink and lilac iris that one sees in Schreiner's catalog for example. I would like to have an iris that is truly pink and lilac rather than peach and lilac. Does such an iris exist? Have any of you grown such a paragon of iris beauty?

Mary,

Look up 'Pond Lily', 'Bon Appetit', and 'Sweet Musette' in the database. They are all pink and lavender. I grow all three. 'Pond Lily' was a Wister Medal winner in 2001. It is a reliable bloomer, increases well, and is a great iris. It has a child, 'Bon Appetit', with similar coloring, but taller and with heavier substance. It was given an Award of Merit in 2011. Their colors are not as intense as Poem of Ecstasy, but they are truly pink and lavender.

'Sweet Musette' has the more intense colors of Poem of Ecstasy; you might like it better. It is older than the other two, but also an Award of Merit winner. All three grow well. You have some great choices!

Thanks Andrea.