Mary Ann, isn't it funny how some patterns just don't "speak" to us? I used to love any flower with broken color- Rembrandt type tulips, roses, peonies, -anything. These days they just don't do much for me. Not a strong dislike, just kinda "meh.."

gemini_sage said: Y'all are making me like autumn colors more every day! *note to self: no more new beds, no more new beds, .....

Riiiiiiiiight, Neal.

Neal - you will love Milestone. It is a good grower.

I really love some broken colored, especially those with strong colors like Bewilderbeast, Gnus Flash and Peggy Ann. I gave Isn't It Something away this summer. It just looked too washed out all of the time. Jury is out of Liger. I picked up Kickapoo Kangaroo this year, and am still waiting on a few others to bloom for the first time.

I dislike most of the broken color images I have seen. The only Iris I have with a broken color pattern that bloomed for me is Elainealope. I don't like it, but it was given to me by a moving neighbor and I have a cousin named Elaine. The plan is to give it to my sister house when she and her husband buy a house, but in the meantime, I should probably keep it. The only one I am looking forward to is Tiger Honey that Arlyn sent to me. For some reason, I like that pattern. Killarney Green has a subtle broken-y pattern, but I like that one, too. Weird what we like and what we don't.

I love all the photos I've seen of Baboon Bottom, but the breaking is more subtle in that one. Another planted this year (thanks Barbara!) that I'm looking forward to.

Oh, funny how everyone feels about the broken colors. I have several of them, but they mostly bore me now. I'm thinking about actually taking out 'Tiger Honey', 'Coyote Ugly' and 'Brindled Beauty'. Nearly did it this year, and probably should have, considering the numbers I still have to find a place for in the garden. If Batik would ever bloom decently for me, I might like that one.. 'Bewilderbeast' does bloom reasonably well, and fits well enough in the garden. I got 'Painted Lady Lavender' from Napa this year because the broken color looked subtler than some of the others.. Less clownish and a little more refined.

I love Tiger Honey! It is one of my very favorite broken colored. Like Bewilderbeast the broken splats and splotches are smaller, no big glaring patches of any one color.

Neal - I've got you down for Milestone!
For an iris introduced in the '60's, I think it really
holds its own in today's garden. And prolific! It
hasn't had any special treatment at all. I've divided it
and tossed the sections into a pile to be dealt with "later",
only to find that they've already rooted and produced new fans!
I don't think you can kill it!
The only danger for me is to not value it sufficiently because it
is so vigorous. I 'm going to try using it as a parent for just those
qualities it has.

Those who would like some of it, please email me in the spring, if
I don't already have your address.

"I don't think you can kill it!
The only danger for me is to not value it sufficiently because it
is so vigorous." - Jan

I think this is true for me with Quaker Lady, Acoma and Las Vegas.

Bonnie I still have 3 seedling from the cross with Smart. One is registered as Ye Gadd. It is not been introduced because I don't have enough stock as yet. arils are not fantastic growers here. First is that one & then the one which I also have a photo. No photo of the third because it is tan with a brown signal & I am not sure that I like it.

Leslie, Acoma and Quaker Lady are doing good for me. I was out giving them attention and they have put some new fans on (about a 20% increase on both) I am doing nothing special except watering every few days and put on a little Alpaca manure on them when I planted.

Lucy, those two are great! And the brown one is probably a great one too. Don't toss until you put the photo on here and get honest opinions from iris lovers.

Do you have Alpacas, Richard?

Here are a couple of flounces and a flattie. Enlarge the photos for richer color.. especially the last one...

This was a bonus from Schreiner's last year or the year before (it's all becoming a blur)
'Wings At Dawn'


'Mary Contrary' has 6 falls... she's a bid of an oddball..


'Wing Commander' put on a great show this past Spring.

I like Mary Contrary!

Sherry. I don't have an Alpaca, but there was a person who was selling manure. approx. 6 cubic feet for 3 dollars. Its non hot and can be used right away. Its good for nitrogen. It would need to be amended with something like bone meal that has the nutrients.

Bonnie--I remembered the cross: Smart X Zezura. The brown one is the best grower, wouldn't you know.

Lucy,

Lots of people love brown irises!

The ones pictured are stunning! When they get going and you introduce them, I am gonna get me some for my sunny hill.

Linnea is right -- lots of people love brown Irises. I'm one of them!!!

Ok. Since I was gone all weekend in New Orleans I have some making up to do!
This first one is a new one I had to add this year. This is not my picture it's from Google.
This is "love to party"

My red Noid

Gypsy romance

Noble contessa. ( which is not growing so well at the moment I hope not to loose her!)

Halloween moon

And another new one I added this year! Good morning sunshine

I love *Love To Party* -- how pretty is that????

Oh nooooooo -- not another NOID red -- I don't think I can handle it...........