I actually made 2 iris beds this year. I took out a tree, which meant that the bed along the garage could no longer hold the hostas due to lack of shade. but is perfect for iris. So I moved all my iris to this bed, improved the soil, and planted all the dozen I had, plus a couple I purchased, plus the tons another forum friend sent me - and had too many! So I now have a second iris bed on the east side of the house!
Still need more rocks, will have to visit my farmer friends for some - although I have plenty in a rock garden I could also use. All my farmer friends have rock piles in a corner somewhere. Some years heaving has been a problem, other years not. But since many of these Iris were planted in mid - September, I am not willing to take a chance, when it is so easy to "rock' them.
I have many more daylilies, both heirloom and newer varieties - registered and unregistered. And you are correct, the newer ones are gorgeous. But there is something to be said for the older heirlooms. In fact, I have a couple of heirloom TB Iris also.
I grew up with Iris, and Peonies, and Daylilies. I guess that is why these are the ones I look to now, and am planting in my yard. In fact, I have just acquired my first ever peonies, and will be planting them today. They are the last things I need to plant this season.
My sisters and I own property in western PA, and although that is where the heirloom daylilies are that I grew up with (part of the property used to belong to a hybridizer 50 years ago) for some reason,my family never planted any of my Grandfathers Iris up there. So earlier this month, I fixed that problem, and planted about a dozen iris up there along the porch. They are all rocked, and will be on their own until May or so. It will be interesting to see how many (if any) survive. At least I don't expect the deer to get them!
I do have a few hosta - and yes, most are the usual mass produced variety. But I do have a couple that I purchased from a grower a couple years ago - awesome plants. But I doubt I will ever get addicted to them, like my TB Iris and Daylilies. Thank goodness! ~Jan
