Thanks for the kind words, Neal. Oddly enough I began with JI's 20 years ago just like you did. I planted them and they grew slowly and then zoomed into growth, same with the LA's.

Leslie - your photos are great and that James Dickenson is wonderful. I did open it and did get the full effect! I have this ESP that's telling me before too long you'll have many more LA's as well as Frilled Enchantment. Pale Yellow is so soothing.

Manure, water crystals, compost - the LA's and JI's will love you for it.

Hi Arlene -- welcome to our winter diversion!! I'm so glad you joined us.

Your Irises are wonderful -- and the picture of Prairie Glory with the purple gazing ball is just exquisite!!!

I hope that now you've joined us, you'll stick around! It won't be long we'll be sharing pictures of our 2015 blooms!!

Oh -- and I have a question for you. Your pictures of your Louisiana Iris roots are exactly what I was referring to. And in your last photo you have a pile of rootlets (for lack of a better term). Do you plant each one of those? Is each section a viable plant?

Leslie -- all of your pictures are wonderful -- but that red Louisiana is to die for! What do you do to sort of encourage them to behave and stay where you planted them?

Thanks, Mary Ann. I can stick around until it's time to get to work in the garden but right now it looks like that won't happen too soon.

I just cut them up and discarded those old, unproductive ends. Then I found out they could be replanted and would grow: no thanks. We only have a bit more than half an acre. Maybe if I had 20 acres I could handle all those roots but I even doubt that. I only keep the end of the roots with green growth and that's enough for me. The bags and bags of debris from those leftover chunks (that appeared dead to me) were so very heavy!

I'd also like to know how Leslie keeps the LA's from roaming.

No photos again; but does anyone have photos of I. reticulata? We grow Katharine Hodgkin & Harmony? My computer likes to turn the 'a' on the end to an 'e'. They are reticulated irises but the species is I. reticulata.

Frilled Enchantment is wonderful and I love the frilly ruffled elegance of Edna Grace!

I found a flikr pic of Katherine Hodgkin. Is this it?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...

Thanks, Sue! I do feel the LA's are more beautiful than the JI's. Even the colors are more vibrant.


Yes, I believe that is Katherine Hodgkin!

I am guessing that the hard clay soil surrounding their nice prepared bed is doing all the work in keeping the LA's from wandering. Why leave the comforts of a nice home bed?!

No clay here but no apologies for not having it either. I'll try potting some up and see if they still bloom well.

You will have to let me know if they do well in pots. I never thought of growing them that way.

Reticulated Iris (Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin')

I will report on my success or my failure.

I had hoped the west coaster would post some PCI's in this thread. I know some of you have some beauties. (Time to close your eyes Rob.... Don't want to get tempted).

Lucy - Katherine Hodgkin is really nice! Love the colors on the falls.

here are mine