Our High today is 15 Degrees and our low will dip into the negative temp's tonight with more snow on the way, I know some Love winter and Snow but I can't wait for spring to get here and to be able to play in the dirt again I think one of the most exciting times for us here is anticipation of Spring and watching the buds swell on the tree's and to see the outside slowly turn green and things start to grow again. It is my favorite time of the year and something that can't come quick enough with that in mind I thought I would share some of my pics from early spring in my gardens and update my new favorite Iris from 2013 bloom season.

Well Brad, our high was 10, but otherwise it's the same in Illinois as it is in Iowa! With any luck, spring will come early! Winter sure did! We are off for the sunny( I Hope!) south on Thursday, and while I really hate to leave this "pretty" snow behind( Pretty cold, pretty wet, and pretty hard to get around in!), I will force myself to enjoy the Gulf Coast weather until it's time to come home and watch the iris grow! Thanks for the pics....Arlyn

Brad -- I could look at your pictures all day long. Just beautiful.

Arlyn -- you're going to have to enjoy that Gulf weather for the rest of us who are stuck where we are for a variety of reasons.

Arlyn the Gulf sounds awesome right about now hopefully one day my Wife and I can skip the winter month's and come back in the Spring would Love to hang out by the Ocean all winter and soak up some sun

Mary Ann Thanks !!

I tried to get everyone that stopped by last year to pick a favorite and very few could give me just one they couldn't narrow it down most people had a few that they Loved but it is hard to pick just one. I am having the same problem trying to decide which ones to show so I'll start by sharing a group that was unique here and that really caught my eye in the garden and grew well for me here this year. My Favorites from 2013

Electric Candy ( This one was Outstanding big flowers and a rainbow of Colors I couldn't even begin to describe.)



Enjoyment ( I Loved the ruffles on it and a great grower here wish I had this plant in all different colors )



Hollywood Star ( By far my favorite pink nothing else like it Star Appeal is close in color but this one is special)



Cardinal Rule ( This one caught me by surprise it came as a bonus and opened overnight I remember seeing it glow across the garden and thought wow what a beautiful red color, It wins favorite red for 2013 )



Golden Gaga ( Another one that came as a bonus and surprised me not sure how you describe the color definitely unique and different and really stood out)



Forbidden Fruit ( I have had this one for years now and it seems to just get better, It has a very unique pink orange tint to it that makes it stand out in the garden and I am trying to add some ruffles to it and keep the color in the coming years )



Ride The Waves ( This one was very popular this year with friends and visitors there are many blue/purples but none that I have grown or seen that have ruffles like this I didn't count the blooms but it seemed to last a long time)



Wicked Good ( I loved it since the 1st time I saw it blooming in Oregon everything about it is good)



Blue Rising ( Another awesome plant and Heavy bloomer it lasted a long time )



Just Witchery ( The most ruffles I have ever seen it is stunning a beautiful color and highly Recommended I have lots of seeds from it and can't wait to see what the kids look like that comes from it)



Loving You ( This was another bonus that caught my attention from way across the garden I have had many like this over the years but this one stood out and is my favorite of this color pattern it had huge flowers and it was one of the last to bloom here and a great pedigree I think it has lot's of breeding potential.)




More To Come

Brad, your gardens are absolutely beautiful, love seeing the photo's, you have some gorgeous ones there but I think my favorite is Ride the Waves, I am going to have to get that one this year, it's just stunning.

Way to start the new year Brad! We have 18 degree below temps predicted for next weekend here, seeing all the pretty blooms give me courage to face them I am really looking forward to the bloom season as well, I can't wait to see all of your seedlings next spring. I'm sure there will be some nice ones among them. I agree, Electric Candy sure has an interesting blend of color. Keep the pictures coming!

Vi Thanks You will not be disappointed in that one I got it direct from Australia but if I remember right I think I saw it in Joe Ghio's catalog last year. Here is another picture of it after it has relaxed a little hopefully I can help you find a couple more to add to your order with it.



Tom I think anything under 20 is just miserable to be outside in ..I know this is normal for the midwest this time of the year but I remember just 2 years ago it was almost 70 on Jan. 1st and I actually planted a tree on New Year's Day which was a real treat and now this year it's back to cabin fever, I think I need to join Arlyn and head south for awhile. Those seedlings are definitely getting a taste of extremes this year 100 plus in July and 6 months later -10 for the low tonight, I guess if they can grow and survive those extremes one would think they will do well just about everywhere so we will see. I am sure there are some that won't make it but we should have a lot to look at in the spring and that will be the best part hopefully finding something different out there everyday.I am also looking forward to getting this years seeds started in Feb. it was fun watching them grow in the greenhouse last year. Hoping I have some similar luck with the new batch.

This next group of pictures was some of my earlier bloomers which I am partial too, the 1st bloom of the year and the last one are always some of the best for me. I have had very few ever re bloom here most get froze in early October so when the season is done it is another year before I will see them again. I did buy some SDB's this year to try to get the party started a little earlier they will be fun hoping they start with the Tulips and bloom with my spring trees.

Spectator ( This was my 1st bloom of the season it makes for a impressive clump lot's of flowers)



Safari Sunrise ( Really liked this one as well it was beautiful and another one that had a big color impact early)



Noble Gesture ( This is another one where there are a lot of similar colors out there possibly 100's of dark purple/Black flowers but in my opinion it is by far the best of any of them, it has been a great grower here with large plants and everyone Loves the flowers on it if I had to pick 1 dark one for my garden this is it.)



Brouhaha ( A early bloomer and a favorite of mine in a clump this one is awesome there are lot's with bands but nothing this bright )



Secret Recipe ( This one is really neat a smaller plant but has grown well here and has bright Purple Based Foliage a bonus in early spring)



Copper Clouds ( In a color class all by itself I don't know how to describe the color it is very unique and we really enjoy this one)



Absolute Treasure ( A very unique light blue color grows well and stunning in a clump)



Cold Fusion ( I am excited about this one.. different is good hope it produces a wide range of colors and patterns)



Head Over Heels ( one of my newer one's from Australia of all the light pinks released in the past couple years it is my favorite lot's of ruffles and bloomed for a long time)



Brilliant Disguise ( I have had this for over 5 years now and this year it was Outstanding the color contrast of Orange standards and Dark Burgundy Black falls was stunning it is recommended)

Just gorgeous, Brad -- all of 'em!!

One good part of this cold weather, is that you have time to share all of these great pictures! Brouhaha sure is one that has to go onto my wish list. Cold fusion sure is unique isn't it. I have not had luck using it as a parent though, but it sounds like you got it to work. I'll have to try again this year.

Brad the pictures are beautiful! Brilliant Disguise is gorgeous. I like the ones that have very contrasting light and dark colors. I planted a small rhizome of Absolute Treasure last fall. Normally I would have just put it in a bed of unmarked iris since it was such a little start. It is such a lovely pale blue that I decided to put it in a regular bed with a metal marker and wait for it to grow.....I don't expect bloom this year but maybe next. It is fun to plant iris each year knowing that some will bloom the next season and some the year after that. There is always a lot to get excited about every spring!

Cold Fusion is the one that I've added to my *list* -- what a beauty!!

Brouhaha is on my list for sure. I sure like Cold Fusion as well, but I haven't been able to get it to cross with anything, Sounds like you did, and I'll sure be interested in seeing it's babies!

OK, guess I'm having a Senior Moment!

Brouhaha in my garden....................................






1st runner-up to Best Specimen at 2013 UIS show

That one is a looker Paul!

Christmas tree branches were spread over the trench with the seed boxes before our present snow started.

Brouhaha is gorgeous.

Paul -- it's good to hear from you -- you've been absent, and I've been worrying about you. Everything OK out there?

Mary Ann.....I'm just fine. Thanks for the concern. I didn't make any iris crosses last summer so won't have any seedlings. I'm looking forward to seeing Brad's and Tom's. I am planting some Hosta seed for a winter activity.

Glad you're OK. Hosta's are nice...............

Granny Thanks I'll try to find you a few more good ones with contrasting colors a couple years ago I got a order and some of the bulbs were so small they were the size of a dime and I thought there is no way they are going to bloom but spring came and more bloomed than not, I was shocked so you may get to see it bloom in the spring .

Paul Those are great pictures I'm glad it did well in the show it really is a neat color combo.

May Ann Thanks !! I am making a note to put an alarm on Cold Fusion as well

Tom it is definitely unique I found some seedlings in Oregon @ Schreiners that were close to that pattern but you are right there is nothing else like it. The Sutton's have had some beautiful plants the past few years I will be looking forward to seeing there new Intro's this year, I kept trying to get it to set Pod's and was not succesful but it does have pollen so I got one cross to take that way will work with it more this year. I Love the pattern on the falls would be neat to add it to some pinks or a white with a bright different colored beard lot's of potential there. Here is the seedling it looks like to me they are growing it out but they won't intro it until they have 10000 bulbs or more so it will be a while I think but it's nice one as well big plants.

Granny these first 4 were really nice this year for contrasting colors and they are all good growers here if your looking for some more to add to the garden try these.

Honourable Lord & Strut


Greatest Show On Earth & Reckless Abandon


Adventurous ( This was awesome and had lot's of flowers it is another one that I can't wait to see what it produces)


Fixation ( I loved this one the fall's are some of the brightest Orange's I have ever seen my picture does not do it justice it glows !! )



Platinum Passion ( This is a stunning Iris a silver/ Blue Color lot's of ruffles and it bloomed really late here and I like that spreads my season out)



Au Contraire ( A very different color and I like everything about it I crossed it with a lot of red's this year)



Mad World ( Nice Color I liked the purple spot in the Fall's)



Sugar Bomb ( Amazing how much White shows up in the garden, I added quite a few new White one's in 2012 and this stood out from the rest the ruffles were awesome and it is Tall )



Tuscan Summer ( My favorite Plicata this year of all of them if I had to pick 1 this is it)



Scandinavian Gal ( This was a bonus and what makes it special and different is the blue in the falls)



House Afire ( This one has been out a long time and I don't think it has gotten the credit it deserves a really Beautiful Red )



Picture Book ( This was the favorite pink of the garden club this year everyone Loved this clump of it, I am hoping to add some lines in the falls and different colored beard to it and keep the pink color so many possibilities with it. The form and growth are excellent)