scarlet is a red which I don't think is present. Pink just had to be isolated when they went about it the correct way.

Jo Ann that is a great picture of Samurai Warrior beautiful color, I also like Fortunate Son the Blue beards really make it stand out.

I think they are getting closer to the goal of a Red one but it is still quite a ways off, there are some that are definitely very dark red in the falls and if I remember right Pauls Theory was if it could be that color red in a large spot on the falls it could be extended over the entire Petal of the flower. I think it will take some more time but they will get it, I have seen 2 from Mid America that were very red, they were just spots but I think it is progress towards a solid dark red flower and there are some new patterns coming out in seedlings that caught my eye with some red in them combining Whites, and stripes on the falls, they are improving every year. I think Dee is correct if someone can come up with a bright red flower they could just about ask whatever they wanted for it.

Gaudy Is Good


Seedling close up



Picture of a Red Rose for Comparison Imagine that color on a Iris Wow

Maybe Irises just aren't supposed to be the color of roses.........................

Is that red amoena (bottom picture on the left) a seedling from Mid-America, Brad? I really like that one and the one with the white veining on it's falls.

We saw this seedling at Mid-America in 2011. The falls are about as red as red gets:

Kent Wow that is definitely Red, I did not see that one in there fields this year and I was specifcally looking for Red seedlings maybe it was a early bloomer? Surely they would have kept it that color is beautiful. The Red Amoena was from Joe's garden this spring I Loved it of all the seedlings I looked at this spring there was nothing like it, and the other with white veining was from Mid America I think it was a newer one this year.

Mary Ann I think It is a little far fetched to imagine coming up with that color of an Iris, but the Fun part for me is trying to imagine what 2 plants would get you a little closer to that color if you crossed them together.It would be awesome to walk out in spring time and find a bright red Iris in your garden you grew from seed. I think we will really see some gorgeous new colors in the years to come that could lead the way to something special. I remember reading somewhere about them thinking 50yrs ago we would never get a really true hot pink Iris, and I found this one growing at Superstitions in April it was called Ovation the tag said intro'd in 1969 and the color was one of the brightest Pinks I have seen even compared to some of the newer ones today can you imagine the look on the persons face when they came out and found that in the seedling Patch 50 plus years ago I think all it takes is one break through seedling and who knows maybe we will have it. My guess is the Plicata's will be the next big break through in colors.

Yep, early bloomer. I guess the bloom season was really late in 2011 so when we were there the Intermediates were about at peak bloom, some dwarfs were still in bloom, and a few of the TBs had just started.

Lovely, pics thanks for posting them.

The next garden I want to share is Kieth Keppel's garden it was a real treat for me to be able to walk his Iris Beds and look at what he has been working on, and the chance to see some of my favorites up close and personal in clumps. I missed a lot of his earlier varieties that I wanted to see blooming in a clump (Volcanic Glow & Noble Gesture) but caught the majority of his new intro's for the year and a great deal of the Blyth Irises from Australia were blooming and my Wish list just kept growing and growing. I think what amazed me the most was quanity of seedlings so many good ones to go through and somehow he takes care of all it by himself and creates some amazing plants. If you have never bought any from him I would put him at the top of the list, the plants are well grown and he is very generous with bonus. Here are some full garden pics.

These were my ones that I really liked from his garden that went to top of my ever growing wish list. I think my favorite was Friendly Advice it seemed to be a really good growing plant and the color was a very pretty light pink which I don't have nearly enough of in my garden, this one will go well in between some of the darker purples that I have lots of. I was also surprised by Chenile the catalog picture did not do it justice but up close it was gorgeous, had a very unique color and the big orange beards made it a must have.


Chenile& Brazilian Art


Strawberry Shake & Friendly Advice


Oreo & Volcanic Glow


Revision & Roaring Twenties


Jazz Era & Russian Violet

I'm euphoric looking at these luscious blooms and JP's. Thanks so much!

Trouble is, Oreo didn't do well here. I liked your photo of Revision.

Teresa & Susie Thank You both for the compliments I had a really good time on the trip.

Lucy I didn't realize when I was there, that Oreo has been out for a while it was brand new to me, I think it was the darkest Plicata I have ever seen that's why I liked it so much and it was just stunning in a clump I have to try it.

I only have 6 of the 10, I'll have to fix that, lol.

In Oreo Keith is trying for a black & white plicata.

Tom -- which of the ten do you have? Four of those are on my wish list.......................

Mary Ann, I planted Chenile, Strawberry Shake, Revision, and Russian Violet this last summer, and I've had Brazilian Art and Jazz Era for a while. I divided Brazilian art last year, and I think I sent you some of that one in our trade. Jazz Era hasn't been a fast grower where I have it, and I may have to move it. Revision is, according to Keith, an improvement on Brilliant Idea.

You did indeed Tom. I couldn't find my list of Irises that I got from you, so I had to trek out to the bed and read labels! And there she was -- *Brazilian Art* -- oooooh I can't wait til Spring!

*Russian Violet* was one that I tried to get through the PNW sale -- but wasn't fast enough. *Jazz Era* is on my list for next year. *Revision* is too close to two others that I have, so I'll pass on that. I love the colors on *Volcanic Glow* but not sure that I like the form on the flower.............. All the rest of them are amazing!!!

Tom That's a great group of Iris you have for next year I will be looking forward to the pictures from your garden. I have Brilliant Idea and I think it was one of the best growers I could not find much of a difference in the flower between it and Revision it must of been in the plant somewhere.

Mary Ann Volcanic Glow is a early bloomer I only caught a couple of pictures of it and they were when it was on the way out, so they are not the best but it seemed like it had good form,lot's of Buds, and a beautiful new color pattern that really glowed, Here are the other pictures I have of it.The only thing that concerned me was it was a smaller plant and I have struggled with those in the past they do great until they feel the -20 Iowa winters and then but I am going to try it anyway.

The other great part about visiting Kieth's garden was to be able to see alot of the newer Blyth Intro's from Australia that I wanted in the catalog blooming. I think he has done some amazing work with new color patterns and trying to create something a little different and I appreciate that, to be able to see both Kieth's and his up close was a treat. These were some of my top picks I started off looking for some of the earlier blooming ones because they were at the top of my want list but missed most of them (Another Woman) & (Ancient Secrets) were two that I wanted but they were done blooming, but I found quite a few that I passed over looking through the catalog but up close were great.

I think if I had to pick just one to buy it would be Jealous Guy, I saw it blooming at all 3 gardens and it stood out at each of them, the plants looked big and healty everywhere, and the flower was a totally unique color that talked to me. It got 1st place in my book.


The next one that went to the top of my wish list was called Electric Candy it was another great looking plant and beautiful colored flower, I have lots of plans for this one.



Candy Colours & Thundery


Beauty School & Kissable You


Cameo Minx & Amber Essence


Chased But Chaste & Flutterina


Cafe D Amour& Gothic Lord


Colourable & Legally Orange

Just awsome.Keep the images coming.