Cuzz4short said:

Iris Sister: ...I think she's part of the Keppel/Blyth mafia too...

clifton

Deb

Well Iris Sisters IS right across the street from Keppel......

Cuzz4short said:

Mid-America: I was running out of spending fun, but wanted a certain Black. I think Tom and Paul have some amazing intros along with sidekick Miss Linda Miller. I spoke to Tom on the phone one day. For me it was like speaking to a hybridizing idol. He was taking a payment from me, but was still cool to hear from a guru. He's like Justin Beeber of irises

I think that's GREAT!! -- the Justin Bieber of Irises!!!!

All of your posts read by someone who hasn't placed an order yet (gotta get those beds going!) was absolutely wonderful! Gabe's info was very helpful. I found most of them, but not all. Can somebody post links to these great vendors?

Barbalee, there is a vendor 'sticky' at the top of the Iris Forum page:
The thread "Vendor list" in Irises forum

Getting caught up here...no computer last week.

I have orders with 7 or 8 vendors this year.
Iris Sisters is a particular fave, as well as Superstition.
However, I also tried out the Mid-America offer to distribute
Blyth irises, ordered from Australia by me, and Tom handled the customs
paperwork. It worked very well. A smooth transaction.
The Aussies arrived weeks ago (their iris season is much earlier than ours) and I have them planted in 5 gallon pots -
they're getting deluxe treatment! And I've been rewarded with new growth
already showing. I have the pots on the deck and can check on them regularly.
Valley of Dreams, a bonus, jumped right up.
Georgette Silk, the most anticipated, along with She, looks vigorous.
The others are doing well, too.

I'd definitely recommend this new way of ordering Blyth intros. And thanks to Tom Johnson at Mid-America!

Since I only order the ones that I absolutely can't live without, I couldn't pick just one favorite order that I'm looking forward to. I'm eager for all of them. Picking a favorite order would be like selecting one of your kids as your favorite.

I Wonder if Tom Johnson has all the tats on his arm too! I doubt if he's as arrogant as Justin Bieber though. I wonder if TJ reads these threads!

Jan after hearing your good experience with Tempo Two going through Mid-America I am definitely going to place an order next time. I was a little intimidated originally. It is a little bit of a bummer that they only sent out a February shipment and not April as well. I would have to pot and bring them inside.

I have ordered from both Tempo Two, who do a similar run with Europe as they do with the US (but they send the rhizomes later), and from Mid America, who do a parallel thing. I'm really hoping that both orders go well, and from what is posted on ATP they should be brilliant! I'll report back in due course.

I haven't finished ordering yet.
My Mid-america catalog came while I was gone, and I was comparing notes I made a couple months ago, to those I picked out of the catalog this morning. I what I like one day, isn't necessarily what I lie the next, so those that are on both lists get ordered.... And probably a few more.. I'm trying to keep my orders under control (Bwa-hahahaha)..

But so far..
I've ordered some 2016 intros from Ghio, and am really excited over those. Also a 2015 intro that I was late on ordering last year.

My biggest order is with Superstition, and getting a box from them is Christmas in July for me. Actually better than Christmas

I'm looking forward to my first order with the Shady Spot. I'm getting a mix of Historics, moderns, and maybe some little guys.. Can't remember exactly..

Napa had a couple of Mego's that I found interesting, as well as some of their introductions.

I may add to my Sister's order still

And I need to wade through my Bluebird list and make an order still.

And then there's doing some trades with all y'all...

I love seeing what everyone is thinking/ordering. Keep the posts coming! I hope you enjoyed your trip, Sherry. Did the Dutch garden get your attention in the end?

I would have ordered more if each place that I planned to order from was out of my favorites so soon. Ordering from so many adds lots of postage so I just didn't order if it would be a small one.
I suppose I am looking forward to my Stout and MidAmerica orders since they are my onlys...lol. (so far)

Yes, and remember some of the vendors haven't even opened for the season yet.

Janie, I know what you mean about postage. If I would have realized that the place I ordered from had more of what I wanted I would have placed a bigger order the first time and saved postage or used the difference to for 1 or 2 more rhizomes.

Richard,

As you add to your order they adjust your postage and bonuses. The shipment comes as one order. I ordered from Blue J just over $50 worth and got the 10% discount and soon I am adding the rest of the order and will get a total of 30% discount on the whole $150 order.

cliftoncat said:I love seeing what everyone is thinking/ordering. Keep the posts coming! I hope you enjoyed your trip, Sherry. Did the Dutch garden get your attention in the end?

We were going to go to Keukenhoff on my last day, but the kids were sick, and my daughter was exhausted. We did do a lot of walking, and saw lots of interesting tiny gardens. The only things in bloom were Magnolias and bulbs, and a few early spring blooming shrubs like Forsythia. Along the avenues there were mass plantings of deciduous flowering shrubs that will be spectacular in a few weeks. I have some pictures to download from my phone still.

Looking forward to your Holland pics, Sherry.
Welcome back!

Sorry you missed Keukenhoff, Sherry. We went once many years ago - it was impressive, although I found the lack of tall plants a bit disconcerting! We definitely came across the biting wind you mentioned... Also, my husband was recovering from major surgery at the time so we had to take things slowly. I thought the most amazing bit was looking out of the plane at the acres of tulips as we were coming in to land - you probably saw that?
Anyway, glad you're back safely and really look forward to some photos when you feel a bit better.

cliftoncat said:Gabe, wonderful post Especially interesting for those of us aliens (!) who can't order from many of the wonderful hybridisers in the US (I SOO want a 'Why Cows Gossip', best name ever!) - your post is almost like a soap opera, reading the down-and-dirty! I do occasionally browse even those websites I can't buy from, but that doesn't tell me about whether they're helpful, friendly, informative...

In my oracle capacity , I predict that within a few years you will be a really 'in' hybridiser and everyone will be wanting your introductions! If I'm right, try to do a Mid America and let Europeans buy your stuff!

I am another alien to the US who is also admiring the most beautiful irises I will most likely never be able to see or own. I need to devote some serious time to learn which iris nurseries sell overseas or track down someone who can sterilize iris and buy them for me.