Your Iris are really beautiful Mary Ann, I love the clump shots and of course especially my clump. I love the dark color on that Plum Poodle, my favorite right behind Eagles Flight.

I guess I will have to make a midnight run to Ky, only problem is I don't think my truck is big enough.

LOL Vi!! Thanks.

Never thought about someone sneaking in at night! Hmmmm -- I wonder if Tom's weed-eating chickens can be trained for guard duty?

Plum Poodle was new for me last year, so won't be ready to divide for awhile. Remind me in a year or two!

I knew you'd love the clump of Eagle's Flight!!

Greg -- still waiting for you to clarify your lists? Think I got confused when you said you already have some of them -- wasn't sure if you were listing the ones that you already have -- or not.

Mary Ann, I hate to be the barer of bad news, but chickens are in bed by sun down, and get up at sun up. Besides, they are all tired out from weeding all day and eating iris borers. You will need to train some nocturnal animal to guard at night. Maybe a ninja guard cat? My Pit bulls sleep all day and guard my irises all night.


Yup, we got caught on the chair again!

Well rats. I already have four cats -- but by no stretch could they be called *ninja guard cats*. Mostly they eat, sleep in the barn and one of them catches the occasional bird (boo/hiss). So that's out. And I won't leave a dog out at night -- so even well-trained Pitties wouldn't work. I guess I'll have to rig up an alarm system. Maybe Brad and I could devise something -- flashing lights, blaring horns, etc. Need to get it all worked out before Vi makes her midnight run............

Something tells me that those two spend a LOT of time on that chair...............

Mary Ann, I'll see about catching one of these Alabama Gators for you! That would make a good "Iris Guard "! maybe just the sign "Don't Feed The Alligators", would deter the iris- nappers ?...Arlyn

I just had another thought concerning the 'gator ! It may get too cold there in the winter, outside, so you might have to let him "winter-over' in your bath tub! Let me know, and I can drop one off on my way by next month !..Arlyn

Well, don't get Brad too well equipped with allert equipment, remember we're going to do a midnight run on his place. Wait, I have a great idea, we can just play ring around the irises, we can just move our garden one place to the right or left each fall, and then we will get to enjoy each others irises, and have a whole new garden each spring. Oh, maybe thats what we already do when we trade them ha?? Oh well, you can tell it's cold and windy out, and I'm bored silly inside. Monday night it's supposed to be 20 below again. Will this winter ever end?

Why is it when you are house bound because of the cold weather you can see every little thing that needs doing in your garden? I am inside experimenting with crock pot recipes and putting wood on the fire. I see outdoors so many little things that would not occur to me to do if the weather were user friendly.

A bit of the snow has melted so I can see some branches which came down in a high wind. Nowhere near the irises which have the main beds in the former pony paddock.

I finally got a good WI Fi signal so I can catch up on all that I have missed.. Mary Ann what a treat to find this you have some great plants and took awesome pictures. I have enjoyed going through them can't wait to see some more from you this spring.

Hi Brad! Glad you got a signal -- you have been missed.

Thanks for the compliments. I will certainly be taking more pictures this Spring. All of the Irises that I got last year had to be planted in a temporary bed on the north side of the garage -- it's not an ideal location -- so I'm not sure how many will bloom. But I'll get photos of the ones that do, and I'll be sure to share them. I have so many new beauties to look forward to -- I can't wait either!!!