Nice ones all, but Dracula's Kiss has me drooling!

Just curious--how do you all decide which ones to buy/plant/keep/reproduce?

Dracula's Kiss is a stunner! I also like Rustic Dance. That one is worth waiting for a bloom.

Great images, Pam! That first one of Bottle Rocket!

Jai, I think everyone has different criteria for making those choices, so I don't know that there is any hard and fast set of rules anyone could apply.

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Pam, I like Rustic Dance...but I love Patch.

Jai_Ganesha said:Just curious--how do you all decide which ones to buy/plant/keep/reproduce?

It is a disease process known around here as the "Iris Virus"
Everyone has their own tastes and preferences as to color, height, type and hybridizers. Space, time and $ put occasional limits on our collections. But then all the pictures and trading generosity tend to help support the addiction.

The pictures! Definitely the pictures!!!

Pam, thanks for posting these. I lost several markers when I moved back in 2015 and you just "found" Dracula's Kiss for me.
Weird weather has certainly changed how the blooms show up, some faster and some slower. But looking good.

DaveinPA said:Pam, thanks for posting these. I lost several markers when I moved back in 2015 and you just "found" Dracula's Kiss for me.
Weird weather has certainly changed how the blooms show up, some faster and some slower. But looking good.

Glad to be of assistance!

Jai_Ganesha said:Just curious--how do you all decide which ones to buy/plant/keep/reproduce?

I buy the ones with the flower colours and patterns that appeal to me. If it blooms every year and it increases quickly, that is an added bonus.

with Robin.
I've recieved some bonus iris that I may or may not keep.

It never occurred to me that some wouldn't bloom every year--is this trait common?

Jai it varies. It is not uncommon for an iris to 'take a year off'. A lot of things can influence regularity in blooming - weather, soil conditions, overcrowding, amount of sunlight received, and the amount of growth the previous year. We all hope for blooms every year from all of our plants!

Here are a few 'different ' blooms. I enjoy the oddities as well the beauties!

Awesome Alex
Such fun!




Just Crazy
Does this one bloom oddly for everyone, or just me?





There was one normal one in the bunch.....


One of a Kind
This still scares me a bit



Power Point
This is the first time that it has ever had horns!



Plastic Money
I bought this simply because of the name.
Fits the group well!




Vibrato
This came in a Ghio Surprise box.....
It was....




And finally, my favorite fugly iris of the season so far...
I have waited three years for this to bloom.

Dewuc Whatic






Calvin and Hobbes approve!

Snork said:Jai it varies. It is not uncommon for an iris to 'take a year off'. A lot of things can influence regularity in blooming - weather, soil conditions, overcrowding, amount of sunlight received, and the amount of growth the previous year. We all hope for blooms every year from all of our plants!

Thank you. This makes sense. I'm used to growing things (annuals, perennials, and bushes) that bloom every year. If an iris didn't bloom for a year or two I might chuck it. That makes me feel superficial. Haha.

I've interacted with irises a lot throughout my life both at work and in arranging but I've never actually grown them. I'm learning a lot on this forum and this thread. I really appreciate how helpful everybody is!

Pam you have more and more blooms coming and some nice ones too. Just Crazy has had some really unusual forms for me too. Wonder if that's why it got that name?

Snork said:
Calvin and Hobbes approve!

May I ask what the blue and white iris is?

I thought Dewuc Whatic would be prettier than that.

I got Just Crazy from Bianco last fall and it has a stalk, so I'll soon know if it looks crazy too...

Pam, I love the dogs! Why is One of a Kind scary?? Never heard of a scary iris before, I'm intrigued!

Robin ,I would not describe Dewuc Whatic as pretty, but it sure is interesting - and no two blooms are completely alike. I enjoy Burseen's sense of humor mixed with color!

The really pretty blue and white plicata is appropriately named Palace Beauty. It is stunning in person!

IrisLilli said:I got Just Crazy from Bianco last fall and it has a stalk, so I'll soon know if it looks crazy too...

Pam, I love the dogs! Why is One of a Kind scary?? Never heard of a scary iris before, I'm intrigued!

Lilli I find that most of the iris in the garden lend a very peaceful and relaxing feeling to the area around them. (That is to say, when I have the time to just enjoy them and am not busy pulling weeds and swatting bugs.)



One of a Kind, however, does not give me the warm, fuzzy vibe! I guess because it is huge - tall and imposing. The coloring is distinctive - the heavy veining in the standards sorta reminds me of an angry person's throbbing temple vessles. It is a gorgeous flower.....but I don't want to sit too close to it.

Or maybe I am just a little weird!