Rotted bloom stalks this morning on Dusky Challenger, Alien Mist and my friend's seedling.

Again HOORAY FOR RITA!

NOOOooooo, Mary Ann! Not Alien Mist! That blue iris is a beauty. However, if you lose it I have one ordered this year so next year, or the next if it takes longer to increase, I will share.

Fear not, Bonnie -- it's ok. I had three clumps of Alien Mist. The two clumps in the temp bed next to the garage are struggling -- but the ones that I planted in Iris Lane, although not blooming, are healthy and settling in just fine. So I'm good. I wish I'd known that you were going to order it -- I would have sent you some. Never hesitate to ask me if there's something that you like that I have.

Bloom stalks starting to rot off and fall over ,here, as well, MaryAnn ! So apparently the rot is spreading to some not affected before

OMG Arlyn. When will it end?

Last night we had high winds blow through here (heralding a storm that didn't arrive) -- and it broke off bloom stems that were NOT rotted, and bent others over to the ground. I spend an hour this morning staking up bent stems, and picking up broken ones.

This is the spring from hell.

...... following the winter from hell and what kind of summer will we have????

Mary Ann and Arlyn - I'm so sorry to hear of your ongoing troubles...it's heartbreaking!

I too I'm glad that Rita had the gumption to run over and rescue the child from her father's stupidity. It sounds to me like he might have a drinking problem.

6 more went into the trash this morning.....and there are about 20-25 that need some attention...real bad ....stalks and fans laying on the ground. . I see a couple starting to get "rotty' in a bed that, so far, has had no problems....so I'm thinking that before it's all over....I'll be STARTING over !

I'm finding more rotted fans too, Arlyn. I can't believe all this damage. The healthiest Irises on the farm are the ones in Iris Lane where the soil was eroded and the Irises are growing in gravel. The flowers are puny -- but they're healthy. I'm rethinking my plan to restore soil to those beds..................

Is it only irises that are ailing? Are any other plants failing? I know a lot of plants do not like cool days standing in water. The weather should change soon...... hopefully.

Only Irises here, Bonnie -- however, I don't have an awful lot of other plants Daylilies are fine. So are Peonies.

Did those with rot bring in new soil? I would think twice about getting soil at the same place.

In my case, yes, Lucy. The "worst' beds are those with "new dirt", in beds made in 2013 . Although, it is starting to show up in all the beds.....even those that have 'nothing" added to them as 'amendments". In fact, the ONLY place I didn't see any rot, was in an "over flow" area, under a row of cedar trees ! I stick odds and ends there, not really expecting any bloom, or at least not MUCH bloom, but just to have the 'foliage effect":


as you can see, even though they are on the 'south side' of the trees, they get very little sun, and, of course, the trees are sapping the nutrients....but, it's better than a bunch of weeds growing there, I guess !

Grow the crested irises under the trees.

I planted a few i.cristata there, Lucy....just a week ,or so ago ! I notice that this year, there are quite a few buds on this bunch of iris, instead of the usual ,one ,or two. Neglecta, and Snow Maiden always do pretty well there, being early bloomers.....but.I think Snow maiden would bloom in a paper sack.....it's one tough little iris ! The TB's are the ones that don't preform well.....the sun's getting "higher" by the time they need it , I guess . One thing about these "shadt iris", ....they always have perfect leaves! No brown tips, no leaf spot.........just about the only ones on the whole place that DON'T get leafspot !!!

I just went to Newport Naturals Iris site and this is the message they have posted.

"We have experienced a very bad winter--very cold with little or no snow cover. Consequently, as we are doing our spring cleanup, we are discovering lots of rot in our fields. Time will tell how extensive it is, but for now it appears that we have lost all the new iris that we planted in 2014 as well as most of the iris we transplanted (divided) in 2014, and some of our long time favorites that had been in the garden for many years. Because of this, we will not be accepting mail/email orders for 2015. We will accept orders in person in the garden."

Further they stated that due to loss they would not sell any SDB's or MDB's.

sad

Wow. If the *big boys* are having losses, I guess we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. I agree -- very sad. Our losses are only disappointments..........

Yes, and not our livelihood. However, they have some really scarce irises that are hard to find ones. I think they are located in WA, I wonder if other growers in that part are having problems.