In reading the book, the Well Tended Perennial Garden, I've come to appreciate my abundance of Siberian Iris, and the seed pods that follow much more than when I was digging out an overgrown, matted neglected bed of them. Since I've divided them (using a pick-ax at times) and distributed them in various places in the yard and given them to neighbors, they are renewed, healthy and a beautiful form in the garden.

They are also MUCH less troubled by pests than other Iris forms, a nifty bonus.
I even plant them in large containers as "spikes" and they do just fine.

I have that same book , one of my favorites
I know what you mean about trying to divide some perennials , I have a heavy meat cleaver and hand saw that come in handy.

I like the idea of using them as spikes will have to try that.

I spent 20 years gardening in Michigan
I see you are interested in community gardens , tell me more

I'm on the board at Project Grow Ann Arbor, the 2nd oldest community garden org in the country. My Winter Sowing virtual class is listed on their website under classes. Good organization.

https://projectgrowgardens.org...

gardengus said:

I spent 20 years gardening in Michigan
I see you are interested in community gardens , tell me more

Beautiful
I spent many hours at the farmers market and even more at the Matthaei botanical gardens in the late 70's and 80's
I feel things have changed a lot , may need to put going back on my bucket list.