Name: Bonnie Sojourner Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a) Magnolia zone
Some bloom from early thru late, Leslie. I still have blooms coming on jewel baby, bluebeards ghost and a few others. Some that did not achieve the rebloom trait in the summer/fall will do a rebloom in the spring. The rain that has driven me crazy has been good for rebloom. My TB's are early too. I should have most of my MTB's and IB's done before the early ones start. This year it is anyone's guess.
Thank's Carl and Leslie for suggestions on the little orange one. I grow a little species called Bayou Bandit but the foliage looks different to me from this one. I grow this one in zinc bucket and it does multiply quicy.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
Name: Bonnie Sojourner Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a) Magnolia zone
Actually, I can keep it happier in the bucket than in my soil here. I grow almost all of my LA's in tubs. I get big tubs and put nail holes an inch or so up on the side. The bottom acts like a tray to catch water. In the very dry season if I miss watering they just keep on growing. I need more tubs.......
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
The tubs are a good idea. I have some LA's being sent to me, and if there is overflow from the bed I made, I could put them in tubs. Have you ever grown Japanese iris in tubs? They like to stay wet so tubs sound like a good alternative.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
Name: Bonnie Sojourner Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a) Magnolia zone
Here are a few photos of the tubs. The ones with LA's in them are the large wash tubs about three feet across the top. Some critter has been digging all over the garden but it has not gotten into any containers.
The irises that I have not identified are in individual buckets.
I have not planted bearded irises in tubs or tanks as they hold more moisture than smaller pots. I do plant many other things in buckets, tubs and stock tanks. Here is one that had early tulips in it and now as the tulip foliage is maturing alliums are blooming and lilies are coming up
I wanted some evergreens to break the winters bleak color but I did not want to plant a low growing tree because of the snakes that frequent my garden. So, I planted slow growing and dwarf ones in tubs. Eventually they will be too big for the tub but by then the bottom will be out of the tub and the tree will be happy. Notice the stones I have in the garden. No grass. snakes hate it.
while the trees are small I plant dianthus and coreopsis with them to fill in. As the trees grow I will just take out the small plants and put them somewhere else. Since I was planting tubs of evergreens I thought why not plant shade loving things around trees. So I planted some with Japanese Maples and coral bells.
And just planting for fun
This stock tank has a birds nest maple in one end and a pencil holly planted in the other. There are both spring and summer bulbs in it also and since it gets sun a lot during the day I am going to put marigolds in it for summer and fall color.
hmmmmm...... you asked about tubs with irises planted..... guess I got carried away. LOL
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
Love the galvanized tubs and buckets as planters! I've got a couple of buckets I'll be using this year that are no longer useful for ashes from the wood stove- they were left in the rain full of ashes and the lye ate holes through them.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
Thanks so much for posting. The coral bells are lovely with the Japanese Maple!!! The wash tubs are a great idea for the LA's. I could position them in more than one place around the yard then! You drill holes on the sides near the bottom right?
I love the iris forum! In less than a week I have learned an alternative solution for my LA's and about Tutu Toe Holders to keep my bearded iris from flopping over!
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
Name: Bonnie Sojourner Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a) Magnolia zone
Yesterday was the first day without rain in awhile. Most of the TB's that have large or ruffled blooms were ruined. I managed to stake a few but sometimes with the weight of several ruffled blooms full of water, and the ground wet and soggy, the stalk fell anyway pulling the rhizome mostly out of the ground. I will have to wait and see what happens with those irises. Can anyone say monsoon?
I have a few that have not bloomed yet and perhaps they will have a chance to show off before it rains again. Some SDB's and several IB's are still blooming. Here is a few that opened today that I have not posted before.
MTB Bangles. The blooms are down among the foliage this year.
BB Dance Gypsy. A lot of people do not like the warm heart of this iris. I like the color combination and it is a reliable bloomer. I moved it last year and it has several stalks on it now.
TB Major Tom. This is a lovely iris. The falls are more rose/lavender than my photo shows.
Quapaw. I planted this one last year and it has several bloom stalks already. This was taken in the shade. I love the color of this iris. I will try and get a better photo of its color today.
Name: Bonnie Sojourner Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a) Magnolia zone
A few that opened today.
TB Decadence first blooms and in the shade.
TB Drama Queen, going strong on the wild hillside
IB Gnu Rayz. I split this clump last spring after bloom so it is a bit small this year.
TB Honey Glazed. My camera makes this one too tan
TB Imprimis. I love the soft colors on this iris with the dark dramatic beard! This one came from the far north. Thank you Tom!
first two taken in early morning sun
TB Thundermaker. It is hard to capture the colors of this one. It is planted on the east side of the back screened in porch. In the morning the early sun hits it and shines through the bloom and it is remarkable.
TB Tom Cat. Just opened but I had to take a photo.
The coral bells are lovely with the Japanese Maple!!! The wash tubs are a great idea for the LA's. I could position them in more than one place around the yard then! You drill holes on the sides near the bottom right? 
