I bet he went out to AZ for the Superbowl.

I think he's dead! I shot him last winter.

Must be his swifty older cousin.

I hope so, Tom.

I was browsing differnt forums and I saw how well-informed you all are. So I'm taking a shot to try to get some advice on a bed I've never done before. I've been on shaped yard and I purchased the Spring Hill Nurseries Heavenly shades of blue German Bearded Iris collection, it has the loveliest range of violet blue to deep midnight blue almost black. But I'm having the darndest time figuring what to do to fill in in between these girls. I've looked at Columbine peony Rose andlupines. I've got an idea of how to lay out I just can't figure what colors to use. I know for the outside border I'm going to use a low-growing mounding salvia and I rich lavender purple. But for the other exits I'm not for sure what to use and what colors any suggestions I could get I'd be most grateful. The name for the irises I have are crowned heads, sea power, best bet, stairway to heaven, baja, (and my favorite center piece) dangerous mood. For the center I thought to have the lupine or maybe a peony tree or the herbaceous white peony perhaps even a rose and a contrasting and harmonizing color. Any feedback I I'm all ears to.

Blues and purples are very versatile... What works for me here in Santa Cruz, may not bloom at the same time in your garden.. If you tell us what zone, or area you're in, it would be helpful in suggesting some combinations..

I like to include different textures, as well as colors... Try combining flowers that are smaller, or larger, or a different texture than the Iris.. Those you named are all good choices..

Susanne Spicker has written some nice blogs on the subject with amazing photographs. These should get you drooling, and planning for the future..
http://theamericanirissociety....
http://theamericanirissociety....

Irises are such a unique shape and texture in the garden, most other plants and blooms contrast beautifully with them. As Sherry said, blues combine well with lots of other colors. I think you're on the right track- you've chosen spike shaped blooms and orb shaped blooms of peonies- an excellent combo! Columbine is always nice too, they have a fairy garden appeal to my eye.

Henhouse said:Blues and purples are very versatile... What works for me here in Santa Cruz, may not bloom at the same time in your garden.. If you tell us what zone, or area you're in, it would be helpful in suggesting some combinations..

I like to include different textures, as well as colors... Try combining flowers that are smaller, or larger, or a different texture than the Iris.. Those you named are all good choices..

Susanne Spicker has written some nice blogs on the subject with amazing photographs. These should get you drooling, and planning for the future..
http://theamericanirissociety....
http://theamericanirissociety....

Sherry, these are really good articles, with some mouth-watering combinations - thank you for sharing them. I have starred your post so I can find it again.

Schreiners display gardens use lupine & California poppies with the irises. If you can do lupin, another spiky type would do.

Welcome, Alonzo!
And thank you for reviving this thread ! It's as helpful
as many landscaping books! The members here are so knowledgable.
If the California drought is ever over, I'm going to steal some of the multi-plant ideas here.
For now, it's mainly irises.

Lupins bloom in July here.. Not too helpful for bloom contrast with Iris.. but I've got lots of California poppies and Calendula that bloom at the same time. Foxglove, Paludosum daisy, Achillea kelleri, Achillea 'Moonshine', Sisyrinchium striatum, Roses, Spanish Lavender.. Don't forget flowering shrubs too.. Spirea, Weigela, Viburnums bloom with the Iris here..

This shows poppies, paludosum daisies, roses and Calendula blooming with the iris..

My Lupins bloom after the irises here too. Some of my peonies bloom with them, and a few of my late tulips are still blooming when the first irises bloom.

In England our lupins have a very spread bloom season - we have early, mid and late ones, a bit like irises. The early ones start flowering in mid to late April. We don't grow them in France; don't know why, never tried. So if you're interested you might be able to find some that coincide with your iris season. I tend to buy mine from Westcountry Lupins, who state the flowering season for each type:

https://www.westcountrylupins.... (more info also if you click on 'more information')

That said, the palette of plants you list, Sherry, sounds divine! And beautiful photo, too.

I like the lupin colors. the wild ones in Mine seem to be different colors.

What a lovely thread to read through here at the end of the growing season (were I live at least)!

I too, grow my irises in mixed beds and it is very inspiring to see what other iris lovers use in their beds and what colour and texture combinations I have to try next!

So all!