Actually I don't keep a bloom count either. If I was making crosses I would be more concerned about all this, but otherwise they are going to grow to whatever height they grow to and give me whatever number of blooms they give me. There is nothing much I can do to change that so I don't feel the need to record it.

I'm still learning, so my question is if an given name Iris has 3 or 4 blooms per stalk this year will it have 3 or 4 blooms next year. I'm guessing yes, because that's why the hybridizers cull them.
Edit to change the number count per bloom stalk.

I have a file on the name, hybridizer, year, time of bloom (Eary, Mid, Late), whether it's a rebloomer/space age, type of bloom (TB, IB, etc..) and where/when/who it came from. I also link the name of the iris to the ATP or Wiki database of that particular iris. I also use the ATP database.

I use the time on the photos (created, or modified stamp) to keep track of when something bloomed.

I have hand written maps and maps created on the computer...and I place name tags by every plant. Both are ineffective when the wild turkeys dig up your beds. However, they are useful in creating a list of possible ID's of those irises that were dug up and tossed around by the turkeys. So I document those irises as "Turkey NoIDs from bed ___" to help ID them later.

Lots of good ideas so far.

I keep a spreadsheet with lots of into such as was mentioned already, a map on the computer of locations and have started a spreadsheet of stem height, leaf length, bloom width and height and fall and std width. PBF is noted also. All clumps have a marker. A Word file has info with picture on each plus who got what each year I send any out.

Where an iris comes from is important in case the id turns out to be wrong. Some eBay sellers and most big box stores have wrong id on theirs. Can serve as a caution for future purchases.

Turkey NOids.... wow, it is sad when it's so bad you have to document that.

I also have a "Bloom Log" to go with my spreadsheet. The bloom log is just that. I tag each and every bloom with a numbered & colored cable tie. I then log it into the notebook.

So my first bloom would be # 001. Here is how it would look.

April 24th

001 Jewel Baby location


At the end of the season, I add up all the blooms for each cultivar and put that number in the spreadsheet under that year.

A re-bloomer would look like this: 15 + 4

Lestv said:Turkey NOids.... wow, it is sad when it's so bad you have to document that.

There's 3 lists and about 60 potted irises labeled that way.

Rob, That is so sad!

Dave, you just mentioned something that I have *intended* to do, but really never have.....keep track of what I send to others. I make notes, "at digging time"....but have never kept them....it would be a good idea.

I have many of your shares, Arlyn, but listing what I share is just more work for me. I have been known to offer an iris to someone only to have them tell me that I sent it last year.

I used to use spreadsheets. A few years ago I found Plantstep software and spent the $30 for it. One of the best I have used. There are annual updates that also include the AIS info that prefills on 30,000+ named iris as you add them. Also has section for daylilies perennials, roses, etc. You can add pics of blooms, garden location, purchased from info. You can also track and show parentage. More info than I will ever use. There is a demo available for download if you want to play around with it. And you can upload a lot of the data from existing spreadsheets you might be using.

Hi, Ed! {{waving}}

Nothing as detailed as most of you, but I keep journals of all my plants and some sort of rough map of where
they are. I have hybridizer, year of intro, but that's about it. I generally keep a list of what I receive from someone,
and update my plant files here as needed. I also keep my bills of lading or shipping as an additional record.

Many of my cultivars, I fear, are turkey NOIDs, but that's due to the fact that we have recently downsized and
are redoing a garden of many years standing with lots of irises but, alas, no tags, nothing to ID them and some
of them are beauties. I suspect many of them came from Breck's, possibly a few from Schreiner's, because the
house was occupied by the family who built it until they moved to a nursing home. I simply walk around and
sniff for fragrance and admire them, unknown though they be!

Muddymitts (Mary Ann) here has shared generously with me, so I have some of hers that are ID'd, thankfully.
I have learned when dividing and replanting to bury tags with the plants, especially my DLs. Deer, pets, squirrels
and other creatures are notorious for moving or destroying tags, even the metal ones.

I have a book ( my husband calls it a compendium) of all the plants I have with their name ( common and botanical), picture, height, spread, bloom time, bloom color, sun needs, water needs, maintenance, and a more detailed section on culture and propogation. All of my Iris are included in this. I also have a more detailed file ( paper and computer in Excel) of each iris in alphabetical order with its name, ATP webpage link, height, bloom season, bloom color classification, flower pattern, bloom description and where, when and from whom (for ATP trades) I received it. I also have an Excel spread sheet with basic color descriptions and a picture of the iris, organized by color so I can tell what colors are weak , (and I need to fill in with orders and trades) in my garden. Then I have maps of each of the sections of my yard with lettered circles for each plant and a legend naming each flower ( common and botanical ) in the area. Although most of my beds are multi flower, the iris dominate my yard. I guess I like spending time on my computer when I cannot be out admiring blooms, deadheading, weeding or maintaining my garden.

Cleat, I'm impressed with your organization.

crowrita1 said:Dave, you just mentioned something that I have *intended* to do, but really never have.....keep track of what I send to others. I make notes, "at digging time"....but have never kept them....it would be a good idea.

I have that list especially! More what I'm sending out.

Plantstep.. It prefills from AIS.. I'll have to take a look.

Blessings

Keeping information such as bloom width, height, std. height, fall height, width, etc. is a tremendous amount of extra work and effort and I don't find it necessary at all, unless I
planned on becoming an Iris 'hybridizer' (NOT). So I keep the very basics on
my spreadsheet - Name, Date, Hybridizer, type of Iris, and location, as well as if it bloomed
or didn't. Ta-dah! Done.

Alan, I don't measure my irises either. With all the other garden work, watering, weeding, planting, hoeing...... I would never get anything done if I measured plants. A great deal of my bloom stalks have been shorter than average this year and I made an 'overall note' in this years records.

Someone who "daubed pollen" would be interested in the registered ....or even" actual", height. I don't plan on doing any hybridizing, but I keep that info as an ID tool....I probably should make a column for "PBF", too....but that's in a separate listing. For me.....many of the ones I grow are "oldies".....most have a name (may not be the *right* one, but a name, none the less!), and quite a few DON'T have a name, so the more info I have, the better my chances are , either in finding a name for one of mine....or for helping someone else find a name for one of theirs