Because my beds tend to be on the dry side in summer, my iris get off to a better start in pots. I've been slowly identifying spots where I can stick one or two in the ground here and there.. I'm digging up plants that have self-sown or spread in places where an Iris would be just dandy (goodbye Hellebores, sayonara Festuca, adios Stachys, au revoir Sedum...). It's been too hot to work on the new bed I'm planning.. plus I need to go look at interlocking garden walls to even out the slope a bit. Some days I wish I could just wave a magic wand...

They do develop some amazing roots when in pots for awhile, don't they, Sherry.

Irises have some long roots for sure, and in a pot you get to see them. Ususally when I dig them I manage to break some of them off. It's hared to get all of them.

If we do not get much rain during a year the irises for shallow roots unless they are in pots. I can get water through the entire pot but I cannot get moisture very deep into my beds. I may need to enhance my soil.

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. It IS labor of love, that's for sure. I'll keep plugging along. If I only had a place to plant the Irises I ordered from the PNW sale..................

Looks like it's "Pots" for the irises, Mary Ann.

Yeah -- I don't *do* pots, Tom. That just doubles the workload, IMHO. I have to find groundspace for them. I know that I have room for five or six -- problem is, there's sixteen of them!!

IC, Well, then looks like you could maybe use some of the recovered area in iris row? or is your temporary bed from last year full too? or a new 4 X 8 raised bed, lay down paper, add dirt, plant iris kind of deal for the winter? Or you could cull somethings?

Oh -- there be NO cullings!!!

I actually have some room on the back side of Iris Lane, close to the road -- where there was no erosion problem. If need be -- I could plant them there temporarily. Oh yes -- my temporary bed from last year is full. VERY full. I have taken Irises out of there and planted them in the fencebed -- trying to give some room to the remaining Irises there. They have all grown SO full and fast! Those Irises are slated for Iris Lane when I'm finished re-doing it.

I could also pull the plug on several Irises that are looking so poor. Spice Lord lost its only remaining leaf -- although I think I can see a little green nub of an increase on the side of the very small rhizome. Parquet Lady is also struggling.

I like the idea of a new raised bed -- I just don't know where I could put it. And I feel like I should spend that time and energy on the existing beds. Sigh. I should have stuck to my resolve not to participate in the PNW sale. Will I never learn?????

Probably not.

I had about 325 pots on the ground last year; 250 of that number were the "For Sale" type.

well, Mary Ann, they tell us about the PNW sale two weeks before, post the iris names 24 hours before and stress the 'first come first served' and reiterate that there are limited numbers to very new and expensive irises for only five bucks each...... a black eyed pea grower could not resist that so what is an iris grower to do. I will bet you showed great restraint in not buying double that amount!

Yup ! Nothing to feel bad about ! We all say at the start of the season, "None !", or, "Only a few!"...but what we intended to do...and what we do do...gets us in the "Do-Do", quite often!....................Arlyn

LOL Arlyn!!

Ah -- now I feel much better!!

Well, I planted a new iris this morning. Well technically it's not a new iris, it's one that I thought I planted 2 years ago, and it came out to be a different one, so I got rid of the different one, and got this one given to me, so since it was already on my list I consider it a re-planting, Well, that's as clear as mud ha?

Arlyn, you put the Do Do in the compost pile!

Will be home tonight so I will have iris bed pics for you tomorrow. Got an email the Stout has sent my order Mostly dwarfs and a IB with horns (Viper). To go with those PNW iris I already don't have room for!

Dwarfs don't take up as much room as the larger iris. That is not why we hybridize them, but it's a good excuse.

Whatever works, Lucy!!

Leslie -- you're as bad as I am!!

Good heavens. I know Mary Ann. This year I am probably worse! But I appreciate the smaller space needs and already have room set out for them in my new bed.

I have two climatis, two day lilies, and some firns sitting waiting to be planted. Maybe tomorrow. I spend most of the day canning tomatoes, and I only have 2 of the 4 pails full canned. I have a batch of suace finished, but will can them tomorrow. Had to help a friend through a crisis today.