Evan, they are affected by climate. Colder areas make the colors brighter.

After mulling this over a bit, I question whether Aitkens is using the correct photo. There should be a difference in the color of the wire edge of the standards (should be red violet) and the color on the falls ( should be spectrum violet). My photo shows it; Chad's photo shows it (he hybridized it). Aitken's photo shows the same red violet for the wire edge around the standards and on the falls.

Aitken's photo also shows a bit more "busyness" in the standards area. Maybe petaloids or something in between?? It is hard to tell from the photo on that point. Freckled Peacock should show three clearly separate standards and stylearms.

My Freckled Peacock was sourced from Aitkens.

PollyK said:Evan, they are affected by climate. Colder areas make the colors brighter.

That's good to know, thanks Polly.

Connie, the "busyness in the standards area" is obvious...now that you point it out. I also didn't notice the gentian blue in the style crests until reading the registry description.

Teresa, I agree with Lucy about regular garden soil being O.K. I haven't even gotten to the point where I have to divide clumps yet (newbie) but the advice I've received here is working. Regular water, fertilizing, good acidic soil and adequate sun. I did pick up some bug from a nursery purchased JI, never again, which attacks the blooms. Polly identified it and I'll continue dealing with it this spring.

I received the new Ensata catalog yesterday. I love ENCHANTED INLAND!

That one is really nice .

http://www.ensata.com/HTML/New...

Hi new person here,
I get bags of composted manure and dig a hole large enough for a whole bag to be emptied in it. Then plant the JI right in the middle of it. Works great and it is easy.......I just love, love,love them.

Crystal Halo


Greywoods Gentle Refrain


Tropical Storm


Lion King


Persian Rug

Those are some pretty spectacular Irises, Lorettalea! Welcome to the list. Where are you from?

Welcome Loretta.Hope you stay.Your JI's are fantastic.
Do you grow other plants?

Welcome, Lorettalea! Nice looking plants! That's the method I use for some things I plant in the "old Railroad" area of our yard( all sand and rocks!), but I've never tried JI's here. I think it's just too dry here for JI's or LA's.....Arlyn

JI's do like a bit of damp even tho I have some in clay and partday shade.I'm sure mine would do better if they had better
Anytus
soil.
Night Angel

Japanese Sandman I think

Hi, Loretta glad to have you drop in. Your JI are beautiful! I would encourage everyone to try them. I have heavy clay soil also and it can even crack during our hot dry summers so I amend, amend!

The bags of composted manure are great to use.

Teresa: glad to hear you have JI's in clay.Amend is the key for everything here.
Cept nasturtiums,which reminds me I need to order some.

Hi LoretttaLea! So nice to have another beardless iris lover here. They are my favorites. So,


Kimono Silk

All these pictures are so beautiful. I bought 3 on a 50% off rack last fall, Lion King,Cascade Spice and, Caprician Butterfly. I have never grown this type before but it should be good here in the Pacific North Wet Wet Wet.Then I ordered a few from Dee. I don't have the list handy. We shall see If I can grow anything like all these beauties. Enjoy all your pictures. I looked and the local Iris Society has a sale on bearded and non-bearded Iris in Aug and one in Sept. It's just in bellevue so I might just go.

Kimono Silk is amazing. Such a perfect looking bloom too.

Thank you!

I am glad they will take some shade. My sister has a great hosta garden with several Japanese features. I think Kimono Silk would fit right in with the theme. Come to think of it JI should in general.

Nice to meet you all! I am in West Tennessee between Memphis & Jackson. When we bought our house in 2004 the site of my garden was an old gravel driveway. It was so hard I had to use a long iron wrecking bar to chisel out a place to plant anything. That is how I came to use my big hole with composted manure idea. Over the years I added more holes / manure & the holes merged together to be an actual garden. I was kind of surprised the JI's did so well because the gravel made the soil alkaline. I have read to never use lime on JI because it will kill them.

I like almost all plants but for some reason the ones that people say are easy to grow are the ones I kill. lol I like daylilies & have been on a daylily buying frenzy lately (hopefully Spring will get here before I go broke) lol I posted a few more iris, they really are almost the perfect flower.

Nishikora


Greywood's Musical Dreams


Oriental Fantasy


Rosyola????


Reign of Glory


Well that's enough for now.

I'm not too far away from you Loretta -- I'm in western Kentucky, just southeast of Paducah! Bluegrassmom is in our geographic region too!!

hi neighbors lol

I used a wrecking bar to make a hole, oh the things that gardeners do! Beautiful results!