It's such a strange thing to see Vi -- in Iris Lane, the Irises are languishing, or struggling to live. In the fenceline bed, I'm seeing increases like that. Makes me want to hurry up and *fix* Iris Lane. It's not a job that can be rushed though -- too big. I did buy all my metal edging -- and a little rain will soften the soil enough so that I can get started again. Found some small poison ivy plants in Iris Lane yesterday -- so I got those sprayed. Also found tent caterpillars in my white birch tree -- destroyed those nests -- and found lots of small bag worms on the Cypress trees in my Mom's yard -- so I got those sprayed too.

I tell ya -- between the weeds and the bugs, it's a full-time job just dealing with it all. Really cuts into gardening time.

You got that right, MaryAnn ! I found some small, fuzzy ,white caterpillars on some iris yesterday, that were "spinning "a web -like bag on the leaves?! Not sure if they are true "tent caterpillars", or just what they are (make that 'were"! ) . Never saw anything like it on the iris before....Arlyn

Well -- tent caterpillars are white and fuzzy -- and they do spin a web. Sounds like you got some. Kill them before they multiply!!!

Where is a praying mantis when you need one?

Maybe in church? Sorry, Lucy, I think the sun is getting to me! Yes, I destroyed the little beggars! We had some tent caterpillars, years ago, in an apple tree, and I made a long "tourch" with a pole, and a rag, soaked with kerosene, and burned them out....luckily these didn't require either a long pole, or a fire !.....Arlyn

I also have a couple that I consider to be in the negative category. That would be those that bloomed on a single rhizome, and have not increased. 'That's Hot' and 'Feudalism' fall into that category.

I should also point out that almost all of my rhizomes go into 1or 2 gallon containers when I receive them. I can monitor the water & fertilizer better when they're all hanging out together in the "nursery" (or punishment pile as Dave calls it- yes I have some plants that have been in containers for over 10 years..but not Iris!).. Most get planted in the ground in late summer/fall when the plants aren't expending so much energy, and can get by with a good single soaking before we get rain (she says hopefully).

Rob, I'm particularly interested in what has done well for you (since we're almost neighbors, afterall).

I planted mine in late August-October, so they're not quite a year old yet.

Modern Drama (5) flowered
Orange Joker (5) flowered
Shock and Awe (5) flowered
Spades (5)
Anvil of Darkness (5)
Summer time Blues (4)
Marching Band (4) flowered
Lady in Purple (4)
Paul Black (4) flowered
Living on the Edge (4) flowered
In Your Dreams (4) flowered
Black Phantom (4) flowered
City Lights (4)
Black Currant (4)
Buffer Zone (4) flowered
Accessible (4) ---planted 3 weeks ago!!

Nothing going too crazy, but they are going good. A lot of the ones I planted were small rhizomes (I call them nubbins) and need(ed) time to fatten up. So I'm expecting some good growth next year. That is "if" we get some decent rain...

The ones I'm babying and the ones I'm waiting to plant in September/October are in what I call "the nursery" too. They are potted up and in semi-shade...they get early and late sun, but avoid the hot mid day sun.

In Your Dreams will take off on you. It increases by 5 to 6 each year. I dig it up every two or three years.

Since I got Seakist (hopefully) this year, I wanted to plant it where the "wrong" iris was located, so I dug up Las Vegas yesterday to relocate. This is 11 months growth from the roots and the increases (sorry for the blur in the increases photo):


I plan on dividing, Soooooo, if anyone would like a healthy chunk of old school Las Vegas please let me know ASAP.

It is sooo beautiful Leslie. Now, if it was a dwarf.......... LOL

That's some kind of increase going on there!!!

I am thinking it will take me at least 2 years to see what does well in zone 5a. If something doesn't work well here, perhaps the rhizomes should move South or West. We can trade until we get the right rhizomes for our climates. I may also get some rhizomes based solely on late blooming varieties.

Linnea - I think late bloomers would be a good choice for Maine since it will be warmer by then. I have the opposite problem. My late bloomers bloom, but it is so hot that the bloom fades within a day, or the buds dry up before opening. I am getting smarter about putting the late ones where they get some afternoon shade.

Mary Ann - speaking of increases I would be safe to guess that your Bright Hour are vigorous growers?? I had put them in pots when I got them from you a month ago (more or less). Last night I planted one rhizome of Bright in my new bed. When I took it out of the small pot, the roots had already filled the pot!!! Planted Greg's Ominous Stranger that I had repotted, and it had happy roots too! Not as overflowing as Bright Hour though.

Yah -- Bright Hour is one enthusiastic Iris. You'll love it!! Makes such a beautiful clump!

Are the others doing OK?

That's is some good growth for under a year!

The rest of the Brights are looking good (am looking forward to having them clump in two different locations). Dragon's Flight, Smoke Rings and Clarence will all be going from pots to ground this weekend. They aren't as robust as Bright, but will be fine. The Gay Parasol, yellow Noid, Picasso Moon, etc. for my friend's garden are in pots and doing fine. I am waiting on one more shipment, then will plant that whole bed.

And thanks Rob. I am not sure if location and soil were the factors, or just the really nice rhizomes I got from Schreiners last year. Several others are getting really large too, and probably could be divided, including Change In The Weather (bonus), Badlands, and some of my SDB's like Ninja Turtles and Guise. Since several of my dwarfs are supposedly rebloomers I am going to leave them alone this year and see if they will rebloom.

Leslie -- the yellow NOID I sent you -- was that NOID Brite Gold?

All it says is yellow & white NOID. I won't know more until it blooms... of course.

OK. The yellow and white NOID is a different Iris than the NOID Brite Gold. That's what I was trying to find out. Thanks!