I hated this one to start with, but it sure has grown on me.

Thornbird, slowly becoming one of my favorites.

Thornbird is absolutely dynamite. I lusted after it for years -- somehow it eluded me. Several years ago, I finally got a rhizome -- planted it and waited for the bloom. Year One -- no bloom. Year two -- no bloom -- moved it to a different spot. Year three -- no bloom. I was beginning to wonder if I had a sterile rhizome!!

This year! Finally!! I got to see it in person!!



Love it!!

Isn't it interesting how some of these look so ordinary initially, and become a favorite to us? ~Jan

It is! I didn't find it ordinary, I thought it was just flat ugly!!! The more it has bloomed the more I like it. It has gotten bigger blooms with more intense color this week and I fell in love.

If this is your first bloom year on Thornbird -- wait til next year -- it'll likely be even better. I have found that Irises, in general, have smaller and less elaborate blooms the first year than they do in subsequent years. They like to *settle in*.

They do take a while to adjust & TBs take longer than the medians.

I have had it for two years but this is the first year it has bloomed. If next year is better then I can hardly wait!