I'll add my 2¢ worth at the risk of appearing foolish, BUT, it seems (to me) from looking at all these losses there's one common denominator-: wet, wet & more wet. I've looked at Greg's numbers + Dave's and several others; and it looks like there are abnormal rainfall amounts in most if not all of these areas. Here locally June and July have been almost catastrophic with up to 20+ inches of rain. Then if that's not bad enough the humidity has been almost suffocating to work out in and even breath! All of these can and do lead to bacterial soft rot.

I'd like to comment also on certain Keppel irises: Midnight Oil & Kitty Kay will rot here no matter what I do. Happenstance, Crowned Heads, Cross Current & others will grow and bloom no problem period!

These thoughts are something I've been wondering about, and felt the impulse to add them here. I'm sure there are plenty others out there. And mine aren't 'exactly rocket science'.

I agree with you Leon. Some irises just will not thrive for me while others increase and bloom against all odds. I am on my second try with Midnight Oil and it has just been sulking since I planted it. If it does not grow this time I am going to admire it from afar. Some years rainfall, or the lack thereof, makes a big difference in my irises and with all the rain this spring it is a good indicator of which ones are hardiest in my area. I think my medians can tolerate more water than the TB's can.

I should have mentioned that a few hybridizers TB's do quite well for me when their medians just will not thrive. Innerst SDB's grow slowly and struggle while his TB's perform like most all of the other TB's. ???

I've been curious about all that wet for some of you, too. Seems it was wet, hot, wet, hot cycle. This year taught us many things, I suppose. It did me.

I planted a rhizome of Cherub's Smile last year. The roots were dried up with no green on it at all but the rhizome was firm. No growth at all last year. This spring...no growth. I started cleaning up the bed after the bloom season was over and there were 8 inch tall leaves on the old, dried up Cherub's Smile rhizome. I learned that if a rhizome feels firm, I will give it extra time before I pull the plug on it. Unfortunately, I do have a couple with squishy rhizomes. Those are goners.

Ummm Eric? Did you, by chance, buy that Cherub's Smile at Walmart? If so -- it is likely something else and not Cherub's Smile at all. My Cherub's Smile turned out to be Immortality.

Buying Irises at Walmart, or Lowes, or Home Depot is really a crap-shoot as far as what cultivar you end up getting.

I call them Surprise Iris.

It was given to me so I don't know where it originally came from. I consider an iris, or daylily for that matter, as "probably" this variety until I see it bloom. Then I can drop the "probably." Most of the time it works out but even when it doesn't it's okay 'cause surprises can be good, too. I got an iris from a reputable dealer on ebay last year (actually I got a lot from them). Almost all of them bloomed and were true to name except for one. It was a very nice iris but not Immortal. Next spring when it blooms I need to take pics of it to see if I can get some help ID'ing it.

Muddymitts said:Buying Irises at Walmart, or Lowes, or Home Depot is really a crap-shoot as far as what cultivar you end up getting.

And they look like shriveled up dog biscuits which have a rare chance of even living!

I've seen some that completely dried out and like iris jerky. People still buy them, too. They put the same ones out year after year.

It surprises me when people continue to buy them at the big box stores even AFTER they've been skunked!

I wonder -- maybe they don't know that you can buy Irises from professional growers?

Maybe. I tried to stop a lady from putting down good money for a dead stick but she as much as told me where I could go and how to get there.

We lost quite a few varieties either to rot, gophers or just did not increase in size at all.
This year with the business being taken over by another person, it will be dug divided amendments added so next year should be a much better year

D

Dee -- I didn't realize that someone was taking over your business!! Will the name remain the same?

Lady Leigh..... gone
saaaddd

Add "Merchant Marine" to my ever growing "Total" loss group

Bonnie! No!!! So soon???

Oh no........................ Lady Leigh and Merchant Marine????

Both beauties. Very sad.

Thank you for the commiseration. I woke up this morning and the first thought was 'Hey, I'm alive!' and the second was 'but Lady Leigh is not'. The sun will shine and I will be in the garden for a bit so all will be well with my world.