There will come a time when you either have to thin or divide them or they will quit blooming. Unless you buy a few acres and spread them around, you will be forced to remove some.

Truth!

And then you can send some to me, because you know we have the same taste, Derylin

tveguy3 said: There will come a time when you either have to thin or divide them or they will quit blooming. Unless you buy a few acres and spread them around, you will be forced to remove some.

I've learned to never say never,but I have been growing iris seriously since 1988.Took a break ,and then started again in 2010.So a long history of never culling,and dividing much either.My iris are planted close together,so many have not formed huge clumps.
I Don't see me digging up sod for new beds and planting new iris on the scale I have the last few years much longer.It is taking a lot out of this 77 year old body!
I have told my 600 or so iris they have forever homes-they all

My irises are generally older, and the rhizomes smaller, so for the most part irises that are culled, DO get culled.

If I feel guilty about anything, it's all the small fry rhizomes, the ones that are so small you wouldn't give them away let alone sell them, BUT you know that if given some time (in years) and TLC they would perform for you. Those, I feel somewhat sad and guilty about, but I'm learning that if I try to save too many rhizomes (by shoving them all into one pot, never mind multiple pots), then I get a lot of foliage but little bloom.

So, the really small fry have to go.

Polymerous said:
If I feel guilty about anything, it's all the small fry rhizomes, the ones that are so small you wouldn't give them away let alone sell them, BUT you know that if given some time (in years) and TLC they would perform for you.

I feel a twinge about those little guys, too.

Didn't exactly get a box, but I went to my iris society's auction/picnic on Sunday. This is also the day they distribute the door prizes we've won over the past year. I thought I was pretty restrained, considering!

Picked up my door prize 'New Mexico Sky' (Dash 2022)

'New Mexico Sky' https://wiki.irises.org/TbKthr...

My other prize was 'Caterpillar Blues' (Black 2022). No picture available, unfortunately. Very pale blue/white with blue beard.

An iris society friend gave me 'Serenade to Music' (Williamson 2022)
https://wiki.irises.org/TbPthr...

I bid on 'Pay It Forward' (Johnson 2020), which was on my Mid-America list for $18, and I got it for $12. There were about six of us bidding for three rhizomes.

Nice haul, Andrea!

I got 2 boxes:
2nd Schreiner's order:
1.Celebratory
2.Lone Wolf
3.All About Spring-had/have?
4.BottleRocket-had
5.Center Line-had
6.I'm Back-had/have?
I ordered' It's Remarkable',a recent Ghio intro pink, but it was deemed too small to send.(It was the real reason for this order)
Bonus
You Grow Girl
Easter Candy

Mariposa Iris box
1.Louisiana Hot Wings-intro
2.Cranberry Country Fair-intro
2 other gifts

1 small box from Iris Sisters still to come.

No boxes yet, but should get my Mid-America order soon. Last night at the club meeting I got two irises as door prizes, Superhero Kiss and Raspberry Ridge BB.

Tom, I got my Mid-America box yesterday. Yours should come soon.

Yes, I got an e-mail that said they both have been sent. There's no tracking number like in the past though, so I don't know when it will come.

Well ,another confession from the iris addict:
I just couldn't wait 3 weeks or so until the Mid-America sale.
So I just ordered 4 new introductions from Mid-America.
1.Just between Us-Tom J.
2.Secret Cord-Tom J.
3.Princess Pretty Pink-Paul Black
4.Cover of Night-Paul Black

There is no more room in the new bed for these or 3 from Stout I forgot about and 5 from Iris Sisters.
So now I must dig and extend the bed more ,and of course then plant these incoming plus any bonus iris.
I need to be locked up away from my phone and the ability to order on line

You best just start making another bed, cause the sale is going get you, might just be ready for it.

Just Between Us and Secret Chord are among my orders too.

I gave Princess Pretty Pink the eye, but didn't cave. Maybe if it's in the sale.

Tom,
I think I have already ordered half of Mid-America's new introductions.
However, I must start digging-you are probably right ,Tom.
The sale,please not the SALE!
There are NOT any other intro iris I really want.
This is what I am telling myself - FOR NOW!

We also share in our orders -This Is Crazy, Lovely Livvy and Here Comes Trouble(bonus Iris)
I asked for Bring in the Clowns in this most recent order as a bonus iris.

When he sends the notice back that they have received the order, I see he has listed the bonuses too. Do they usually turn out to be what they are? In the past it hasn't always been that way, just wondering what he's doing this year.

I see Elfin Shadows, Ginger Treat, Sun Sprite among your donat ions. I hope that they were growing well for you. I did not know that you had those.

I got an unintended box.
Despite my heroic efforts with nematodes for borer control I had 4 plants that were attacked. I caught them still in the leaves, but I basically had to tear the leaves apart. Two of them had only been planted last year and may not survive. They are both wonderful iris, and a member here has kindly offered a replacement. The other, Land Down Under - which I adore and doesn't seem to be sold many places - was one of them.



I was able to get it from South Jersey Iris, where I got it before (I highly recommend them)

No iris travels alone, so I also got


and


They sent me a bonus, something that seems popular with members here. It is actually my first Burseen. Not what I would have chosen but maybe I'll like it when I see it

Tom-Yes, about the bonus iris.I have gotten any I specifically ask for,and the ones he list as bonus after you order are the ones I always received.
This has been my experience only.

Good to know that, now I can make the markers for them. They should be coming soon. I have never listed my bonus wishes for any order unless it's suggested. I did list a couple that died over winter, and I see that they are being included in the order. It's so nice when a vendor replaces those that die.

Lyn, I think nematodes can help with the borers, but they will never get them all. Land Down Under is really nice.

This ungodly hot spell we've been in is supposed to let up some this week, so maybe I can get to digging the boxes that I have promised people.