Sometimes with irises, I just get over the color of the blooms and want new and exciting ones. For example "Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Ziggy')" it's something that has to do with the color.

It just looks too blah for me after a while.

I removed Jurassic Park from the garden.

There is a NoID I had, or still may have, that smelled like cat urine. For that reason, I must say that I really hated that iris.

When I first saw pictures of Thornbird, I didn't think it was very nice. Later one of my friends got it, and when I saw it in real life, I liked it, so I later got it from my friend. Some irises grow on me after I see them for a while. One that I had for a while and didn't like much was Expect Wonders. I got rid of it.

I love Thornbird. I also really like Lest We Forget, that blooms well and is a good grower.

As I read this thread I keep trying to decide if I have a least favorite. I am not fond of Victoria Falls which was suppose to be Good Point. It has lovely large blooms but they flop and wilt at the first drop of rain. The only iris I have booted from my garden is Isn't It Something. Raspberry Silk may go this year. I really like broken color iris, but these are just so blah.

I moved all of Victoria Falls out last year Leslie. It was nicknamed here Victoria Falls Over and it lived up to that name.

@SonoveShakespeare - we'll see come this summer. As I said, any division will be really small because of the one gallon pots.

I don't like red in my garden in the spring, iris or not. Red to me is for later in the summer.

I LOVE Thornbird. It is a fantastic grower and it is so very different and unique. The soil/water/fert/sun facts all go into it.

I say sometimes that a pure white is boring and/or ugly. But sometimes when in the garden with other, it provides a nice contrast.

Thornbird is that contrast. The fact that it is a SA helps too. Many folks have mentioned their surprise at the horns/flounces that it produces and the weird coloration. It is VERY distinctive; no matter if you like it or hate it.

Greg ~ Thornbird will be new for me this season. I think when I first looked at the picture of it, I did not care for it either, but then over the course of viewing so many photos of irises, I grew to be quite fond of it.

In fall, Rob sent me a huge clump of it, so it will most likely bloom this spring. My irises start blooming on May 15th. I am considering using it to make my first cross with a couple of established irises. This will be the "trial run", as most of the other irises will not be up to size yet.

It does make a nice clump.
:

Tom ~ Oooh! It would look nice next to purple.

I have praetorian guard and it is a pretty one, similar to thorn-bird, it grows well and blooms alot and gets real tall.

I love Thornbird (and Devil David) too. I have TB planted next to a dark purple. DD was eaten by a gopher, but I have a backup along the fence.

You mean this rhizome of Thornbird Evelyn?

UndertheSun said:You mean this rhizome of Thornbird Evelyn?

Yeah, that's the one!

(I have been thinking about Devil David as well.)

I like Devil David. Mine hasn't bloomed yet, but it has been slowly growing. It would have moved along faster if it was out of a pot methinks.

I haven't ordered Devil David yet. His parentage is interesting.

How to make a unique iris by certain combinations. Oh, it is so fascinating!

I don't even have room (yet) for what I have already ordered. And I have to reserve room for future seedlings.

I guess that some of you have unlimited plots of land and the energy and help to go with it. At the first bloom, I will have to decide which ones that are not suitable for crossing. Of course that might turn into two years. I want to see vigor, not just beauty, and also they might not bloom yet.

Sometimes though the most unlikely combinations can be really unique and beautiful as well.

As I continue to map out the genetics of each iris, I make a list of potential mates for them, based on my research. Some are not even fertile and not that special. They will be the first to go. Sometimes you don't know the potential until you try it. It isn't just logic. The more I study, the more anomalies I find.

Evelyn, I never have room, but somehow, with some work, it always works out.

Leslie ~ With the help of Iris Fairies?

Lestv said:Evelyn, I never have room, but somehow, with some work, it always works out.

This sums up my space issues too
I've cut back several clumps to just a couple of rhizomes.