I agree, Arlyn, I will try one I lose over and over, changing the area it lives and its care just to try and grow it successfully....... until I give up. If I lose one that is a lot like another I grow I will not replace it because there are so many glorious irises out there and I am so limited with space...... and, I cant have them all!

Light rain here overnight..nearly a an half inch. This is exactly what we need right now. Hoping for the gully-washers in January/ February..

So far, I've only had to replace one iris that rotted.. I'd never had any rot here before, so it was a surprise. It was a historic that I really wanted, sooooooooo...

Interesting that you feel mean not replacing an iris. Guess we all love them enough to humanize them with feelings.

Leslie, when an iris blooms in my garden I always have the feeling that it is blooming for me. I guess that is why I talk to them. LOL

Thank you for the offer, Tom. I have lots of plants, I am hoping for your sake you do not have R O T. Maybe you can find something you would like.

I hate losing plants, I lost a variety of things after last year's harsh winter. It seems to be starting up again today. It is only in the 30s now I had planned on replanting my Japanese maple tree that I lost but will wait until Spring now.

Bluebeards Ghost is one of my favorites.

The more I see photographs of it, the more I like it. Thank you, Polly.

I got Bluebeard's Ghost from a friend late, late in 2013. I planted it outdoors and then it had a bad winter. It did not bloom but is doing ok. I hope it blooms for me next spring. The photos I have seen of it are so lovely. I can just imagine a clump of it with those little blue beards sitting on the white falls.

Have to agree that it is a beauty. Not sure why I haven't bought it yet.

I don't get much rot. There were some rhizomes that needed trimming - to the Northwest of the house and under dappled shade of a large Norway Maple. Those were trimmed, bleached, scrubbed, dried and replanted more in the open. I left a few where they were too, considering they have lived there over 150 years. They survive in that spot - tough old I. pallidas.

That says something for choosing hybrids that come from tough old stock.

'Bluebeard's Ghost' is another that never quite made the cut... There was always something that I had to have more desperately... This year, I think it was 'Blackbeard' that bounced it off the list... although I can't remember why..

Leslie -- lovely banner!!

Thank you Mary Ann!

I was just browsing Schreiner's and liked the beards on 'Elainealope..

Then looking through my wishlist on Schreiner's, it looked like a parade of great beards.. Here are some of them..

Oui Madame


Social Graces


Padded Shoulders


Devoted


When do the new catalogs come out? Wish I didn't have to wait that looooong

Forever Blue


Zap


Jump Start


also:
Guise
Hottentot
Neutron

Some of those are on my wish list too, Sherry. Are you actively making order lists or still in the wish list phase?

I'm waiting for the new catalogs to come out so that I can completely ignore my wish lists and go with the moment... Actually, I need to be a little smarter this coming year w/ my orders.. I've barely made a dent in planting all I got this year. If it hadn't rained today, I would have been out digging a new bed in the "vegetable" garden. It's got the amendments already there.. just needs to be dug in.. I'm thinking that I'll be able to get maybe 30 in there. Another 30 in the new keyhole bed that I was working on yesterday. If I take away the tomato area, I could get another 10 or so there.. But that still leaves over 100

you are going to have to look at your area with an eye for an additional iris garden location. decide where you want a long strip of irises and just lay it out, solarize it and hire someone to till it up. Then add some amendments and this spring you will have plenty of room to plant irises. Remember the ones in the pots are going to multiply by spring. They will soon be clumps. LOL I will be willing to take some of the increases from the little guys just to ease your burden..... what are friends for after all.

Sherry, I was given Elainealope in September. Looks to be doing well and I can send you some when it increases if you want.

"Devoted" is striking--I like it.

Me too, Deb -- that was pick of the pics!!