I mow them all down.

Jane, its fine to cut both Sibs and LAs back in fall. I cut most of mine back pretty short in fall, and JIs too.

Lucy, I have never had any insect activity on Sibs here, but I'll keep any eye out. I find the more of anything I collect, the more important it is to keep everything tidy. Last year I didn't allow any Sibs to keep seed pods like I usually do- I knew spring would be a busy time and I didn't want to risk stepping on emerging bulbs in order to clean up the bed.

Jane - you should cut back the foliage on LA's in the summer, which is their dormant period. They start their growing period in the late fall and it continues over the winter so leave those new shoots.

With JI's is is recommended that you cut back the foilage in the fall.

cut back old Siberian foliage then as well.

Orthecheeta is a fly so very difficult to see except when eating the pollen.

Thanks. It helps to tidy up things and have less that those #@*& borer eggs can hide on. The LA foliage gets so long so I will just cut off the brown ones. I think it is hard to kill sibs but my new ones just planted will be babied and left uncut.

Jane - yes, to what you suggest for the LA's. Next year you can cut it all back in the summer.

That was fast! My box from Iris Sisters came today

I got my two ebay wins: Head over Heels and Lesley My Love,
an order I placed on their site for 1 Pretty Kitty, and got two bonuses:
Bowled Over and Mulberry Magic. Many increases on them!

Box #2 of 3 showed up today!! One of my Shadows of night has a total of 18 increases counting the possible bloom next season. Gave me 5 and I ordered 3.
Safari Sunrise came with 5, ordered 3.
Bonuses: Mysterious Ways, Concerto for Lloyd, and Nosferatu.

Very pleased AGAIN!!

I envy people being able to plant. Not good to do so here.

We're getting some decent amounts of rain now, Lucy. There will be a lull in the rain for a few days and the
temperatures will be in the 60's. I'm hoping CA can pull itself out of drought conditions after 4 years
of insufficient rain!

Gabe, Mysterious Ways is a beauty!

Ooohhh, Bowled Over as a bonus!

I've had Bowled Over for 3 summers, it's doing fine, but hasn't bloomed yet. Maybe next year.

irisarian said:I envy people being able to plant. Not good to do so here.

Oh yeah, too cold here too, Lucy

gemini_sage said:Ooohhh, Bowled Over as a bonus!

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Bowled Over')
• Uploaded by Betja

I know, Neal it's a beauty. But so is the other bonus, Mulberry Magic.
Robin knows the colors I like!

Bowled Over is G*O*R*G*E*O*U*S!

Mulberry magic is gorgeous. It deserves a spot in my army.

Henhouse said:Bowled Over is G*O*R*G*E*O*U*S!

Another Ghio - made in CA!

Hopefully all of these nice people will be willing to share (or trade) once all of those increases come to fruition. Both of those are gorgeous and I have coveted Lesley My Love forever.

I had Lesley My Love, but died before it ever bloomed.