I keep wondering if I would be better off cutting off the bloom stem and letting the energy go into the increases rather then risk getting a less then pretty bloom that is affected by the cold weather. Oh well, guess we will see what happens.

Tom, I was thinking of cutting off all the emerging bloom stems on single rhizomes this year. I had too many bloom without increase, so I'm hoping this will help them grow. I'd rather have a year of growth, then just see a bloom.

Beautiful blooms Sherry!

Me three maybe. My rebloomers except Pink Reprise have been super slow increasers. Some may take a year + for another showing

This one does have some increases, but none of them will be large enough to bloom next spring.

IrisLilli said:Hoping that bloom makes it, Tom!
If it does, please post pictures! I'm still trying to decide if it is worth getting, even if it really is too expensive for me.

Thanks for the photo, Sherry! It sure looks good... Hope you will get less fuzzy as you get used to working again! May I ask what your new job is?

I'm working retail for the holidays at a Pier One Imports store. They sell furniture and home decor. My last real job was about 10 years ago when I was a receptionist at a veterinary clinic.

I am so jealous that all of you have Milk In My Coffee.

When the price comes down it is mine!

Seriously though, if the bud looks like it has any frost damage at all I would cut it off. When I keep damaged buds they end up either shriveling up or, more often, bloom as chimera.

Hmmm... I thought a chimera was a tetraploid iris, but I'm clearly wrong. Is a chimera just a damaged/deformed bloom?

It can be a bloom of more than one color like half purple & half white when it is not the usual one color like purple.

'Mariposa Wizard' bloomed today after enduring horrible rain and wind. It has a slight floral fragrance (not sweet or heady). It has been in the ground two months.

I have been protecting it from frost so far, and we are supposed to get warmer weather for a while now. We got rain again last night.

Cheering that bloom stalk, Tom!

Henhouse said:

I'm working retail for the holidays at a Pier One Imports store. They sell furniture and home decor. My last real job was about 10 years ago when I was a receptionist at a veterinary clinic.

Furniture and home decor? I would probably spend more that I made from that job!

I love Pier One! So much fun to shop there. Sherry -- don't you have enough to do with your singing gigs and taking care of that big beautiful place of yours????

Sherry, our bedroom set is from Pier 1! Asian accents all over the house, too.

Almost all my candles and holders, decor, and a table are from there. I like that place more than the lady

There air scents are wonderful. The one close to me closed a while ago. Boo. It is a great place to get decorative pillows.

I only have two that are reblooming this year. One is Rosalie Figge, always reliable, and Faithful and True (Spoon). All of my others do not look like they will do anything this fall.

The weather was less inclement and I have sniffed 'Mariposa Wizard' again and had others sniff as well. It's perfume is slight, but is actually cinnamon bears, and red hot candies.

From the last few days:


Earl Of Essex

Queen Dorothy

I Bless

I Do

My Friend Jonathan

Belvi Queen

Baby Blessed

Eleanor Roosevelt

Lady Essex

Smell The Roses

September Buttercup

and, coming up:

City Lights

SOOO jealous of October blooms in Illinois, Arlyn!! Absolutely gorgeous!