My first ever...Here is a bloom pic of my 2015 cross that bloomed this Spring. It is Clarence X Ecstatic Echo. I did that cross because I love the colors on Ecstatic Echo but it doesn't keep it's blooms that long and Clarence has long lasting healthy blooms and is a very strong grower. I was hoping to get strong Ecstatic Echo colored blooms. Of all the seeds I had, probably at least 20, I only got one plant but I was so excited about even this one plant.

Ok So I didn't get the colors of Ecstatic Echo but it appears to be an extremely strong grower like Clarence and the blooms are Huge!!! I also do love the ray pattern. And actually, I know there are many many Purple Irises but you know the "face only a Mama could love" saying. Well, to me it's beautiful But trying to be objective...If someone else gave it to me, I would keep it because of it's strength and again, cause I am just a Mama who likes the way her baby looks. smily:

Also, wanted to say to all the advice I received from you all that helped me get to the point, I actually saw a bloom on a cross!!!!!



This pic shows its shoulders:

Congratulations Elsa!

Thanks Robin!!!! Here are my 2016 crosses. These are from Yellow NOID (which I strongly believe is Historical Golden Cataract) X Sue Zee. These are both Intermediates I believe. My goal was to lighten up that green in Sue Zee. But I love everything about Sue Zee so it is also just to get something good from Sue Zee, like the confetti. Now the 2 seedlings that survived my lack of experience, look to be more the size of an SDB than an Intermediate. I have no idea why I decided it was a good idea but I took them out of their container and placed them in the garden. My hope now is that they survive the winter and grow and strengthen.

Funny story on these, is I sent you all a picture to ask in March whether what was sticking out of the ground was even a seedling and you assured me it was. Even now after growing 6 months, they are still very small. Also, so far, there is not really a rhizome. It is more like a little white Onion bulb. Is this normal? Sure hope they survive and someday produce a bloom.

This one is about 2 inches tall


This one is about 3 1/2 inches tall:


Do you all think these are SDB's? or Intermediates? Or is it too soon to tell? Do sometimes the Seedlings end up being duds that don't bloom or do pretty much all Irises bloom at some point or other with good care, etc?

An immature iris often has a small bulblike structure instead of what looks like a rhizome. I have had them bloom when that small. I think all irises bloom given good care but I am certainly no expert. I know that even named and highly prized irises are moody when it comes to regular bloom cycles and some do not like the zone they are in and refuse to bloom in that garden. Stay optimistic as you are already getting some nice blooms.

Thanks Bonnie! The reason I was asking is that I didn't want ro get too excited about them if they were duds or something. But your info definitely encourages. This was a playing with "Green" cross and so it's extra special to me. All my other Green crosses did not produce a pod. I know theses seedlings may not even be Green but I am anxious to find out what the heck they are.Thanks again!

Elsa, some of our most beloved irises came about when a hybridizer was trying for something totally different. I hope you get some great green ones, as I do love the green ones, but like you I am anxious to see what other lovely surprises you will get.

Elsa ~ Please keep us posted and take pictures of them, once they are blooming.

Elsa, your seedlings look fine. I've had some seedlings grow quite quickly and some grow very slowly. I wouldn't be concerned about the height.

I have lots of seedlings that look just like the ones in your pictures. I think it will take a couple of years of growth before you can tell exactly how tall those seedlings are.

Gorgeous seedling Elsa! Intermediates are usually crosses between an sdb and a tb, so your little seedlings could be sdb.

grannysgarden said:Elsa, some of our most beloved irises came about when a hybridizer was trying for something totally different. I hope you get some great green ones, as I do love the green ones, but like you I am anxious to see what other lovely surprises you will get.

Bonnie ~ You are so right about that! I have been checking the parentage of almost every iris that I like, and when the parents do not even resemble the child, you know it was just a "happy accident".

Thanks all for your encouragement! And info. ! will absolutely share the progress of these seedlings as they grow/bloom.

Cuzz4short said:I heard drying them enough to where there's no remaining moisture. Don't dry to much though or you'll lose the good pollen. Then store in a glassine envolpe, stick in a jar and freeze. Maybe I'm missing steps. I refrigerated some for weeks and it worked, but forgot to freeze it. In fact it's still in the fridge, about 40 envelopes worth..wooops!

Gabe ~ Where do you purchase glassine envelopes?

Never mind. I ordered some from Amazon.

Good luck with your seedling, Elsa! I tried crossing this year, and I got one take, and a bee pod, but they were both accidentally cut off before the seedlings could be released...so, I'll have to retry next year. Hopefully, some new cultivars bloom for me so I can try new crosses.

I love your seedling that bloomed, by the way. I'd totally buy that.

https://www.clearbags.com/stat...

@evelyninthegarden
evelyn, i just typed in glassine envelopes in a search engine, and this is only one of many sites that sell envelopes in various sizes......you'll probably want to check out several for price comparisons?

Daphne ~

Daphne ~ Yes, I like to get everything ahead of time so I don't scramble around at the last minute trying to get all the supplies that I need. I did that with the organza bags...I probably purchased too many of them, but I guess that it is better than running out. (Obviously I won't need them right now.)

I ended up saving some daylily pods...bee pods, which I usually just cut off. I have no ambition to hybridize daylilies, but some people wanted the seeds, even if there was no ID on them. Crossing irises, when I actually get started, will take up enough of my time. I need to be focused.

Even after a first year bloom, iris need another time to settle down, so be patient.

That is so true Lucy, If you recall that MTB seedling that I posted in my bloom thread this year comparing it's first year bloom to the second year you would wonder why I ever let it go another year. Since I lost all of my pictures from this year when my computer got trashed, I can't re-post the pics, but I suppose if you want to hunt down that thread you could look at it.

Tom and Lucy ~ Growing irises teaches us patience. In some cases, whether or not we are.