I learned last year that during the hot and dry summers in this part of the country, irises do need water. I had divided and watered in about 75 irises, and my past experience in a different locale told me they would be happy without much more attention. I watered them perhaps once a month during that summer, but too late I noticed that probably half of them died. Last month I replaced the dead ones, and I'm watering once a week, and so far, no mortality. Our loose, sandy soil dries out almost instantly.
Sometimes I have felt so faint in the heat while hand watering that I water bent over, with my head near my knees! It must look very odd. I don't understand my body's reaction, because I spent my teen years in Southern Arizona, were temps in the 90s feel COOL, and everyone loves 100, compared to the higher alternatives.
You take care of yourself, Tim. What if you'd whacked your head on a shovel when you collapsed!
