What is the dark leaved plant in those last 2, Neal?

And there is this pretty thing, and as you see, I like trying to match up that bright beard.

Celia, that is Lysimachia 'Firecracker'. I love that foliage with so many Irises, but it was a too exuberant to keep in that bed. Its not bad for being invasive like a lot of Lysimachias, but the soil in that bed is really rich, and after 3 years it was taking over the whole bed. I'm trying to come up with tall dark foliage plants to replace it with.

Neal, your clump shots are gorgeous! You must spend a lot of time wandering the garden when the irises are in bloom..... and the dwarfs are really sweet.

I forgot to comment on your blue Siberian. It is beautiful too.

Oh yes Bonnie, you've got me pegged, LOL. Thanks! - there should be some really good clump shots this spring from a bunch that had been divided in 2013.

A couple of other little guys:


The purple with white beards in the 2nd pic, reblooms most years. I think a couple have posted pics that look similar, Sherry? Arlyn?

Here is one that I may be able to identify. But right now it is a NoID.



It is a pretty hardy iris. It is a rescue that had been treated like lawn and mowed down for years and never allowed to grow fans or bloom. It was in a very dry area where the soil was hard as concrete during the summer. I brought it home and the first year it made a few blooms.

Bonnie, that Sib is actually the loveliest shade of orchid-lavender, and unlike any other Sib I've seen. During the years it was establishing and not blooming (like 4 or 5 years!), I completely forgot what kind of Iris it was. The leaves are so beefy and wide, I didn't even recognize it as a Sib. I have a 2nd clump that looks like it too, that has yet to produce a bloom. It may be the same, or not. Being such an airhead makes every spring like Christmas for me

Bonnie, I LOVE that! Very unusual, it should be possible to ID it.

This NOID Louisiana was supposed to be mauve-pink. Way wrong, but a really pretty one.

oh, I know what that is like, Neal. Makes me kinda sorry for folks with excellent memories..... no wonderful surprises in their gardens. I had planted some bulbs in a large tub among other plants and forgot them. When they bloomed they looked like white spider lilies..... Peruvian Daffodils I think they are called. I totally forgot that I had planted them. What a nice surprise. LOL

Bonnie, this is the extra tall Sib I think we both have:

In another bed I have a clump behind tall Peonies, and they hove above beautifully.

Thanks, Neal. I think I'll go with one of the shorter dark-leaved weigelas then.

This one was suppose to be Peekaboo Zebu (not)... I thinks it looks a lot like Wearing Rubies.

I really enjoyed going through the historic collection. some of the SDBs we once grew & some I would like to grow. No plant permit so could not order. I bought MDB 'Bright light' from a historic sale last summer & good to see a photo with its yellow beards.

Celia, there are also some dwarf forms of Ninebark that may work for you. My problem is this bed is all fiery or autumnal tones, so the pink or rose blooms of either Ninebark or dark leaved Weigelia would throw things off. The Lysimachia blooms aren't very showy, but the sprinkling of golden yellow blooms was nice.

Ken, that beauty would look gorgeous against Ninebark or Wine leaved Weigelia!

Most of my NOIDs are obviously older varieties, but this one seems relatively recent. I got it as a pass-along in about 2010. I haven't run across many candidates, as the pinks I've seen tend to have less, um, conspicuous beards. Whatever it is, it's always popular.

Wow, this thread is moving quickly!! Yes Tom, you are right this post should have been addresses to Arlyn.

Moiris said:Tom, I think your #6 that your Mom got from a neighbor may be much older than you are thinking. Take a look at the listings for Pink Opal, Jacob Sass, 1934:
http://wiki.irises.org/bin/vie...
http://www.irisparadise.com/Ir... (Go to page 12)

Bonnie, that peach and white iris you recently posted is really pretty. Hopefully you can find a name for it.

Ken, I agree, your Noid looks like Wearing Rubies to me!

Brett, that is a lovely pink. That clear pink color makes it a newer iris. It took hybridizers a long time to get a pink self that was really a true pink. I bought a lot of irises labeled 'pink' and most turned out to be a parchment color or a peach color. I had about given up when good pinks were created.