Bummer, Teresa. I think I can send you some Queen's Circle right now, if you like...........

I just pulled the tag for SharpShooter. I've had it for three years -- and this year it died. It was in the sunshine bed too!

My Sharpshooter has only bloomed once in 4 years so it might as well be dead.....just sayin'
One can usually predict that too much moisture will cause rot but other things are a mystery. Some of those historics never seem to be bothered, probably why they are historic for sure.

Thank you Mary Ann and Jen. You ladies are my new best flower friends!

yes, the 'historics' which did not perform are no longer around; which is why they seem tougher. the tough ones are still here which will work for modern plants as well.

I think the best preventive for gonners, once they have made a clump, is to divide into a few new clumps.

irisarian said:yes, the 'historics' which did not perform are no longer around; which is why they seem tougher. the tough ones are still here which will work for modern plants as well.

My thoughts exactly!

SDB Break Yolk is gone. I got it from Blue J this summer. It is planted in a new SDB bed and all the others seem to be doing well in that bed. It just refused to do anything, sat there pondering life and then just gave up. When I took it up I saw it had never made one new root. I really like the combination of colors on that one. I wonder if they would replace it.

I would sure ask!!!!!!!

Let me know how you fair Bonnie, since I really should be asking them about Grace Upon Grace that lasted less than a week....

Critic

Here is another chapter in goners part 2:

A touch of whimsy: I am making a moss graveyard for the little bits of green buds popping up from rotted rhizomes. They will be together where I can observe what happens to them. Maybe the moss will add a beneficial (fungus - algae? what is moss?) and the rocks make a little garden of it. (I was just informed that moss is a plant!) It will be interesting to see if these mighty green bits ever make it to the big world.

Thanks Arlyn. Been a while since I've been on this thread.
Just found LaPerle, Caparne, 1901 in the just shriveled up category. The heavy soil and lots of rain in June did a real disservice to the growing of irises in many areas of the Mid-Atlantic region. I am sure that some we plant are not readily adaptable to our regional local climate.
Add Dracula's Kiss to the list; that kiss must have been fatal.

Sorry to hear it, Dave. You've had a very disappointing transition.

It often begs the question..."When is enough, finally enough ? "....I've tried some cultivars, numerous times........with numerous failures......and, still, I keep trying them, hoping that THIS time, I'll have success ! I guess the concept of "It just don't like it here!" is sometimes hard to swallow !
I try to identify the "problems", and find "solutions".......and still, every year, there are those that either "Won't start growing", or "Rot out", or have some other calamity befall them. We (or at least "I") blame the weather....too wet, too cold, too....SOMETHING !, and the soil....too sandy, too heavy, too "poor", or too 'rich"....I "second guess " myself as to culture, as well as to choice of cultivar.....but, I guess it keeps me occupied

I have set a limit no matter how bad I want the iris. Three times. If on the third time it rots, diminishes, dries up and just goes away I am not going to replace it. I can enjoy the photos of it here on ATP. Some may not get three if they are not a super fave. Some hybridizers irises do not grow well here and I am looking at that too before I buy one. That is what I love about the older ones. They are survivors.

Dave, I have Dracula's Kiss if you want another.

Phillipb2,

I just looked up Dracula's Kiss. I would not mind at all to add it to my iris bed.

Richard, send me address in a tree mail.

Thanks for the offer. For now I am going to hold off as I have had bad results with plantings past mid-Sep. I will keep a mental note for next season if there is room for more, which somehow there always seems to be. The ones I just planted yesterday may need some straw mulch to survive over the winter as they are at risk.

Ok Dave, just let me know.