Excellent seedlings Kent !! This will be my 1st year for SDB's and I am excited to see how they do and just how early they flower here.

I'd imagine SDB's will do very well for you, Brad. In general, they are a lot tougher and more reliable than TB's in this continental climate we both "enjoy". They usually bloom about two weeks ahead of most TB's here.

Last year was the exception. Last spring was absolutely brutal, though. It was warm enough in March that everything started growing, then it snowed at least once a week all the way through April and even snowed the first week of May. It got hot pretty quickly after that so all of my irises ended up blooming together over a relatively short period. The one upside was that I was able to do some SDB to TB crosses. Since I've never figured out how to store pollen properly, I'd hadn't been successful with that before.

It's always windy here in the spring, but it usually starts to let up by late April. Not last year, the wind blew so hard one day in May that it tore a one year old clump of 'Blueberry Parfait' right out of the ground! One nice thing about SDB's, they are almost impervious to wind. Late frosts usually don't bother them much, either.

SDBs are our favorites. TBs extend the season. Opposite view from Keith Keppel.

Kent, I saw where you are sprouting your seeds indoors, rather than the "outdoors in a coffee can" method so the spiking temps can work their magic. Could you outline your method for me? I have limited success sprouting outside because one varmint or another keeps sifting through my soil to gather the seeds for dinner!

We have our outside pots in the trench covered with screening & old Christmas tree branches.

I use a fairly standard method to stratify iris seeds. Basically, after harvesting the seed pods, I dry them for a few days and then put them in coin envelopes for safe keeping. Some time in early October, I take the seeds out of the envelopes and dump them on a paper towel (just your standard 12in x 6in sheet) and fold it up so that it's 2 - 3 inches square and there is at least 3 layers of paper on the top and bottom sides of the seeds. Then I run a little water over the paper to get it damp, put it in a small ziplock bag, and toss the ziplock bags in the salad crisper in the refrigerator (I also stuff the small ziplock bags in gallon sized bags to keep them together, my wife isn't thrilled with iris seeds being in the refrigerator, but she tolerates them as long as they are contained). About mid-January, I take them out, plant them in the pots, move the pots to the basement, and wait to see what happens.

Paul described a very similar approach in much greater detail either here, or in the Cubits iris forums.

This year, I had a little bit of a scare. Right before Thanksgiving, I happened to look at the bags and could see spots of bread mold the paper towels. I took the seeds out, rinsed them all off, replaced the paper towels, and put them back in the crisper. (good thing Becky didn't see that!). I was worried the mold might have damaged the seeds, but they seem to be germinating at about the usual rate.

I wish we could just plant the seeds outside in the fall like they do out west, but it just isn't practical here. Due to our long winters, long summers, and short springs, planting them outside pretty much guarantees an extra year of waiting for the maiden bloom.

I used Magnificent Masterpiece as a parent quite bit a couple of years ago, mostly getting purple selfs that were OK, but generally inferior to their parent.





I do like the pattern on the falls of this one:



and the color and form of this one:



Also used Queen's Circle to try for some nice amoena or Emma Cook patterns. Interestingly, I didn't like any of the seedlings except these two selfs:





I've seen that shade of purple in irises before, but not very often.


If I could combine the color of this seedling,



with the form of its sibling,



and maybe the lace from this other sibling,



I might have had something pretty nice. As it is, I'll probably pitch all three of them this spring. I did make some crosses on the first one to try to brighten its color and improve its form. I really like its beards and hope they come through on at least some of its children.

I like numbers 1 and 3 -- and LOVE #4!!!!

Kent Thanks for the info on the SDB's was hoping they came up around tulip time but with our spring weather the past couple years when that is anymore. I struggle with high winds most years even last year which was almost perfect bloom season we had a couple days of strong storms with straight line winds that would of reaked havoc on them if I just left them, I gave up and staked everything as soon as I heard the forecast. My thinking was I would rather look at bamboo stakes then all my stalks laying on the ground. I'm sure some would of been fine but I didn't want to chance it. Completely different environment on the west coast they get lot's of rain but I don't think they have to battle the wind very often like we do or the bugs.

Out of this group of seedlings number 4 is my favorite Love the ruffles on it and the white one is really nice as well. Out of the yellows the 1st one has a great color to it if you can add some ruffles and lace it will really be a nice one, I don't think there are enough good yellows out there I hope we see more in the years to come.

I like #4 and the last two yellows best. Thanks for sharing.

I. pumila & MDBs are around 'tulip time'. A couple of John's MDBs. Steppe is a pumila.
'Rosa Brooks'


'Steppe'

Looking at them again this morning -- I like the middle yellow seedling just the way it is. The color is pleasing and the form is great. It's a lovely Iris!

Thanks for the seed starting info. And the photos! Lovely seedlings!

I agree with Mary Ann, it's a really good one.

So Kent -- don't "pitch" the middle yellow one. If that's your plan, divide the rhizomes up and send half of them to me and half of them to Debra. You could toss in a rhizome or two of that lovely blue one as well -- I know that Debra will take as good care of it as I will!!

I'd imagine yellow selfs pop up fairly regularly in seedling beds, they do in mine anyway. Had one bloom out of a different cross last year that I actually liked quite a bit better:



Don't know if it shows in the picture or not, but it has a little bit of a pink undertone that makes for a very "happy" flower. I smiled every timed I walked by it last spring. Probably won't be enough to save it from the compost pile , but it did get me to make a cross with it. Maybe it will live on through its children.

A couple of its siblings were kind of interesting.





The peach pink had awful branching, but I think it was a result of weather so gave it a second chance. Not sure what to make of the white. I don't mind some color on white irises, but prefer something more like this (different cross).

The yellow is nice -- but I prefer the other one. Personal opinion -- all things remaining equal.

I like both of your whites -- I think the one with yellow hafts and orange beard is very striking.

I'm not wild about the peach -- not sure why................

The first white outshines by a mile the other one. I like the faint ring outline on it as well as the dep striking yellow in the haft area.

I agree with Mary Ann on that white -- and second her idea that you split the rhizomes and send them to us!!! I have a whole stretch of side yard just perfect for making them new homes.

I like them all Kent but I keep clicking on the pink one I really like the color of it just need to add bubble ruffles with some Magical branching and I want it. I also like the last white one nothing like a big clump of white in the garden it really stands out and works with anything.