Nothing blooming yet, but buds are popping up all over the place in the dwarf beds! I think it will be another good year for little blooms . This year I will be sharing my blooms, which still reside at my current house and I will also be documenting my journey with the garden to the new house. Saying that I am a little overwhelmed is an understatement, but I have faith that I can do it! The one thing that I am concerned about is hybridizing this year. I may have to take a year off since I can't see how to transport irises with stalks and not break them off or stress them out really badly. I may just focus on the dwarfs this time since I feel that it would be an easier transport with them. Any thoughts?

I hope to have some lovely pictures for you all real soon

Well, you have a lot of work ahead and my thought is that you should not stress yourself out either, so taking a break from hybridizing might be a good idea for both the irises and yourself.

I hope you have an army of helpers Liz. That's a massive task.

That's a good way to think about it William, I actually hadn't thought of the work that goes into it in general.

Robin, it's mostly just going to be me! My dad is going to prepare most of the 90 X 75 bed with the tractor so that will help a lot. I'm freaking out about the digging, dividing, labeling, trimming and replanting part though.

Looking forward to your pictures, Liz!

Me too, Liz!

I am impressed at your undertaking Liz but if anyone can do it you can. William is right cut out all the stress that you can and one thing will follow another. We will be rooting you on.

William said:Well, you have a lot of work ahead and my thought is that you should not stress yourself out either, so taking a break from hybridizing might be a good idea for both the irises and yourself.

Liz ~ I agree with William! You are going to have enough work to do. Maybe you do not recall your last move, but moving, even without irises is a very big job. As much as I enjoy all of your iris pictures, right now you need to focus on your moving and all that goes with it.

If you have the spare time to share pictures and post your progress, well that will be a bonus that we all will enjoy. Thank you for all that you contribute to the Iris Forum.

Thank you Bonnie for the encouragement, that means a lot I'm going to hold off on the hybridizing, but it will be so tough! Making crosses is very fun in general...but not during a move.

Thank you Evelyn, you're too kind. I will definitely be posting pictures, but they may come slower than last year. It's something I really enjoy and I have to treat myself through all the chaos

Liz ~ I understand. There are times that I feel the necessity to read every single post in all of the Iris Forum threads, when I have other things that I know I should be doing. I suppose that it wouldn't hurt to skip a day or two now and then. We all have busy lives, but at the end of the day I like to "catch up".

Some people are here more than others, but I notice a lot more members participating now that it is bloom time.

Looking forward to seeing many of your beauties Liz. I thought of you this morning because Burseeno Graphic is opening! Since you are the only other owner of said iris it should hopefully bloom for you too this year.

Oh, Leslie...please take a picture of Burseen Graphic when it blooms!

A lot of paper bags of irises will be traveling to VT?

evelyninthegarden said:Oh, Leslie...please take a picture of Burseeno Graphic when it blooms!

Edited to correct the spell check. It didn't like Burseeno!

Lestv said:Looking forward to seeing many of your beauties Liz. I thought of you this morning because Burseeno Graphic is opening! Since you are the only other owner of said iris it should hopefully bloom for you too this year.

That is so exciting Leslie, can't wait to see your pictures!!!

Yes Lucy, lots and lots of bags, maybe even big boxes

Well our Liz at least has youth on her side!! Good that your Dad can help too. Hope you have lots of time to make the move.
Irises are pretty sturdy. I'll bet your young son can handle some of the small stuff. How much of a drive is it from your old place to new?

Wish we could all help.

Jan, it's only 2 hours away, so that's not too bad. Unfortunately I hurt my knee a couple months ago and it has really been bothering me, but I think I'm going to buy myself a rolling garden chair and/or wear a brace. I don't know how I'll get through the next few months without Ibuprofin

Right now I'm working on dividing my pots of seedlings into individual smaller pots. My most productive cross was Caramel n Chocolate X Mysterioso with 24 sprouted seedlings. The rest had less than 10 each.

Sorry to hear of your knee problem, Liz.

janwax said:Sorry to hear of your knee problem, Liz.

Sore knee, no fun! I suppose it can happen at any age. Yes, please do take care not to strain it. And with all you have to do....

Jan and Evelyn. It should be better by now, I just haven't been taking care of it.

Only a couple days away from the first bloom This is my lavender/blue MDB noid. I'm still holding on to the possibility that it's Marmot.