Mary Ann...I just guessing, but knowing Santa Cruz I think a fatty refers to the width of a hand-rolled 'cigarette'.

Medically speaking of course!!!!!!!

I suspected................

The temperature here is in the high '70's this week.

Bonnie, I have Dipped In Dots, it bloomed last year, it's maiden year, but didn't bloom this summer. It's growing OK though, and should bloom next summer.

Any of you have any Sibs, JIs, or other beardless Irises on your lists?

Henhouse said:
Rob, In Santa Cruz when someone mentions a fatty.. it's usually something else

I need to watch what I say... I just came back from getting a hair cut and I said "I got it whacked off". Those words were met with a strange expression.

gemini_sage said:Any of you have any Sibs, JIs, or other beardless Irises on your lists?

I fear how long my list will get when I start adding the little guys and beardless irises to it.

Neal, I have a couple of LA's on my list. I lost Black Widow and want to replace that one also. I can usually find some at spring plant sales and add them to my garden. I have some named and some that I have lost the names to. I just try and keep in mind color and bloom size now when I shop for them. I wonder how the JI's would do in this zone.

Neal - I have both JI and LA irises on my list. Just got some new Japanese this year. Want to see how they do before I buy too many more. Though I could aways try to grow them in pots like they do in Japan!

Rob, What beardless types do you like?

Bonnie, judging from the few LA irises I grow, I really like them. I'd like to find a strong red and a good golden yellow. Some LAs are coming really close to true red.

Leslie, I believe I saw JIs being grown at Duke gardens, so they should certainly grow for you. I found they take a couple of years of settling in before they hit their stride, but they're fantastic from then on.

I'd like to get a couple of shades of blue JIs with yellow signals, and a few Sibs in blues and yellows.

Neal - there are several really pretty blue JI's that would fit your bill. It really depends on if you want light blue or darker blue. Neptunes Trident is a more solid blue with yellow signals, then ones like Lake Effect, Cascade Rain and Cascade Crest have softer blue and white with yellow crests. I got Pleasant Starburst this year that is along those lines. You could go crazy with different shades of blue with yellow signals. And yes, Duke Gardens does have some lovely Japanese growing (the gardens are just a few blocks from my house). And I agree they take awhile to get started. I have heard 2 to 3 years. The wild ones I already had took closer to 5 years before they started really blooming.

The more brilliant shades of blue and yellow Sibs would be great in concert with the softer hues of the JI's.

Pleasant Starburst is gorgeous! Looks like it has been watered with blue dye! I'd like to get some varying shades of blue, maybe 3 next year.

Can you tell me what type of iris this is?


Sorry about the poor quality of its photo. I may be able to find a clearer one later.

Pretty sure it's a Siberian, are you wondering about the cultivar?

No, it is a NoID but when it grew about five feet high I thought it was a bit odd.

Maybe it's a SIB on Steroids!

My LA's grow really tall, but never heard of a SIB that does. Maybe it's a species or species cross. Some of them get really tall.

Bonnie - I think if you have no problem growing LA's - you should be able to grow JI's with no problem.

Neal - that is what I really liked about Pleasant Starburst. Love the washed color.

Since I crowed about my great luck with Rio Rojo from an ebayer - a more-than triple-fanned clump, really, with great roots, etc. -
Now, it's only fair, that I must kvetch about what came today - from a different ebyaer - this is the Rustler she sent me! :




I'm asking for a refund. Poor little puny thing...