Cameron, I know it won't last much longer, but isn't this fun?

This had definitely been a very strange December. I see we have a chance of rain and snow Monday.

Weird, huh? I'm not complaining about having Roses and Iris in bloom on Christmas, though.

It's definitely weird. I have a few salvias and a petunia in bloom now. The last freeze killed the blooms on my reblooming iris.

Owie, sorry. I am keeping my fingers crossed we don't get so cold that it keeps all these buds from opening. I took the photographs this morning.


Orange Harvest. Reliably blooms in October/November. First time to see a December bloom. I'll take it.



Lest We Forget. Received in 2014 and this fulsome stalk was completely unexpected.

Wow that's a beautiful orange. Hopefully the cold won't get them before they open? I have got a lot of irises from a lady on freecycle. Hopefully they'll bloom next year?

As long as the overnight temperatures do not go below freezing and the daytime temperatures are at least 45, I am confident they will all open. If not, I have had this pleasure and that counts.


Hope so, Cameron. I will have tons to share, too, if you are in this area next Spring.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll bloom without being damaged.
I could definitely stop by if you have any extras. Maybe I could give you some of the noid irises I got from the lady? They're an old fashioned kind that's white with maroon falls. I could also give you some Hot Lips salvia plants if you're interested in those?

Me, too.

Trust me, I will have plenty to share. Many of the Iris folk here have been exceedingly generous to me, gifting me with more than I could ever have hoped to buy. Most of them will have increases next year, soooo... I am home almost all the time, now, so just treemail when you think you might be over this way.

I am working on getting all identified Iris (and Daylilies) and will pass on the Iris, but would love some of the Salvia.

That's so nice of you Debra. Me and my mom head that way when we get our car checked out at Prestige Ford, and we visit my dad's grave at the Williams cemetery every once in awhile. I'll definitely start some cuttings of salvia for you, but be warned it can be a bit of a garden thug when it's happy. I always have to cut mine back three or four times a year because it's so vigorous, but the bi-color blooms and the fragrance are it's saving grace and it's fairly drought tolerant.

Would love to meet you both.

I have multiple plantings of red and pink Salvia greggii and cut them back, too.

We'd love to meet you too Debra. I planted two types of salvia greggii this year. One is the rose pink and the other one is supposed to have coral blooms.

It is a plan, then.


I have had Orange Harvest for about eight years and never noticed until today that it is diamond dusted.

Wow that's even prettier up close. Now when my purple one blooms I need to see if it's diamond dusted.

It would be an extra, added attraction.

I agree. There are so many beautiful irises. I also have another noid that's supposed to have maroon/ rust colored blooms. It got covered by the salvia though

Dang thugs.

LOL. If the freezing weather doesn't give it a haircut, I'll probably trim it back so the iris will at least get some winter sun.