Oh dear. Don't like crises. Hope all is well.

Leslie -- you're way ahead of me, then.

A crisis trumps everything else. Glad your friend had you to help, Tom.

The new beds look great everybody hopefully you have all had a better growing season then we have had in Iowa.. 2014 has been one of the hardest years to grow plants that I can remember from the extreme cold this winter to constant Hail storms all through spring with 80mph winds and now the past 6 weeks it has not stopped raining here every other day we are getting dumped on with heavy rain, all though the grass and trees Love it.. The Iris do not like to be that wet especially those coming from a dry California climate most are planted with the bulb exposed to prevent rot which has helped the majority survive it and settle in but the dirt erodes so quickly when you are getting 4" in a hour it has been a real challenge just to keep dirt in place in the berms. The one plus this year has been the new bed for the 2013 seedlings they are growing well and the increase so far has exceeded what I expected from them at this point, now if we can just get past Jan & Feb in Iowa. I should have some fun new plants to work with Here are some pics from when I started bringing dirt in and getting them ready in April and how they have grown through the summer. I planted the seeds the first week in February and had close to 75% germination this year that's why there planted so tight was not expecting that many will get some updated pictures this week of the other new beds if it stays dry.

I have a question. It sounds like everyone if running out of space to plant their iris they bought or received with trades this year. Does everyone have a plan on what to do next year when one can't resist buying or receiving more iris through trades?

Good question Barbara! The answers should be entertaining! As for me I have plenty of space (for now) because I am planting in a fallow field that used to be pasture, but I have to get the bermuda grass out first...which has slowed the process considerably.

I have a pasture standing by too... and a hillside after that.. If those get full, I'll have to start logging the trees..

Brad, I can't wait to see pictures next spring. I love seeing the conifers in your garden too.. People don't use them nearly as much in California, and it's a shame. They give great texture, and anchor a garden in ways other plants don't... And they really show off an Iris bloom when in the background. Wait...You're growing bananas? Zonal denial!!!

My land is 1/4 acre with a huge house, barn and driveway taking up 1/2? of it. But, there is a church across the street whose volunteer gardener went to heaven 3 years ago. New volunteers are clueless. Someone even removed all the iris rhizomes after they bloomed. I don't know what they did with them. Then, someone started transplanting hosta. The poor plants sat in a pile under a shrub for a month. I saw them on my way to the post office, day after day. Finally, I got my shovel and water, and planted the poor things in some bare spots. People who were late for Saturday evening service smiled and thanked me, saying how lovely the garden is - as if I were the gardener.

I can't go to church as I get really sick from fragrances. Maybe I will become the church gardener instead. If I run out of space, I can put my spillover plants there.

Linnea, I have done the same thing. I went through the Master Gardener program a few years back and started planting my county full of hardy, tolerant plants. Old cemeteries, fair grounds, museums, parks, even around the 'welcome to our town' sign. In the process I have met many people and I often enjoy the fruits of my labors as I am out and about. Irises, daylilies and bulbs are some of the plants that will withstand neglect and come back year after year and even multiply.

Barbara, I am looking at widening beds, extending beds, making islands and even cutting a few trees that have outgrown their place near my garden. I also use pots for thinned varieties of irises. I buy pots that match and are not black and row up the re-bloomers and when they are blooming I bring them to the front of the house or iris bed so that they are enjoyed close up.

I also have some very old large shrubs, like St. John's Wart, that are aging out and I have started new ones from seeds in less valuable (iris) real estate, so to speak. This is going to give me more room for it is. I do have a tectorum but it is not planted on the roof...... yet.

Wow Brad! That's some huge bed of seedlings! You should have many of them bloom next spring, and it will be one nice show. I am quite sure I will want to make a road trip next spring to see them all in bloom. I'm glad you get to weed it! I have trouble keeping my small seedling bed weeded. I can see some of the soil has washed out a bit. Have you had any rot issues this summer with all that rain? Where are you going to put next year's seedlings?

I have some plans for a new bed next year. I had one of my peach trees winter kill, and I will have some room where that was, as I'm not replacing it. I also am going to claim another 60 foot row from my veggie garden. Some for new seedlings, and some for re-planted irises that I will move to make room for new cultivars in other beds. The plan is to limit myself to more of the newer introductions, and not get too many of the older ones. The problem is that when I'm in the middle of winter and looking at all the irise pictures posted during the winter, I think I want them all. We'll have to see how that goes!

Looking really good, Brad ! I've had some rot issues also...more than usual, but ,as August was one of the driest on record here, I can't blame too much rain as the cause . I agree with Tom, a road trip may be called for !
Arlyn

To answer Barbara's question -- I'm going to do the same thing next year that I did this year -- not get anymore Irises!!! What's that I hear? Distant laughter????

Brad -- your seedlings look amazing!! Look how they've grown over the summer! How are your replaced Irises doing? I hope I get to make a road trip next spring too!!

I was AVOIDING Barbara's question....just so the laughter wouldn't be so "distant" ! I do plan on extending one bed by about 10'-12'( it's about 5' wide), but as to "new to me " iris for next year.....not many! I have several cultivars that are "going away" completely...and quite a few "duplicate' plants, that are "leaving", also....which will, along with the planned bed extension, open up room for about 40 plants, but at least half that number will be "duplicates" of something I already grow, and will be added just for "propagation" purposes.
I do have quite a few on my long-term wishlist......but the chances of ever finding them are somewhere between slim, and none, so......tune in next year, and be the first to say ,"I told you so !"

Brad - I love the gardens with the conifers! So beautiful.

Barbara - I got smart at the end of this year and created a bed I can easily expand. That said, I am sure I will have to create at least one new bed , unless I go the Mary Ann route and not buy any!

Impressive, Brad.

When you see Brad's garden in person, you will drop your jaws! It's breath taking!

I saw the photo tour in the Iris Society piece and can understand that I might have a little trouble breathing if I saw it in person.

http://theamericanirissociety....

I think the National convention will be in Des Moines soon, I hope they include a tour of his gardens then, it would be a shame not to.

Here are a couple of overhead pictures of the old, moved, & new beds.





The row along the fence is old. The middle two are old as well. The closest of the middle row was moved last year and the furthest was moved this Spring. The row on the left is all new this year. The garden along the house is old too, but is being reworked.

The stuff in the first section of the left row is 10 feet of cultivars I got at the end of bloom (June 12th I think) from a local that is moving to Florida) and the other 10 feet is mostly ARUBA contributions. The second section is mostly tveguy3 contributions.

Well goodness after those displays my beds look tiny. Here is my new Japanese iris bed:


Then my fully planted long bed with the redone tree ring:


Lots of you ask about raised beds. My last bed is set up so I can easily expland it at both ends when needed. First is the bed after I skimmed off all the sod and set the stones:

Then I lined the bed with paper before filling it with soil:

And this is it partially planted. Left room for ones I knew were coming. Will need to expand it slightly because of the PNW buys.

Looks real good, Leslie!