You know, I had heard of that, do you think it was the old HD building downtown. I haven't been back since 1981. But orchid growing was different there, high humidity, breezes and pine tree needles. Heat limited what I could grow, I had a nice Catt violacea I remember. But we grew Japanese iris back then, they were not newer hybrids but very popular landscape plants, along with Amozon Lily. I believe the TB iris needed more of a seasonal cool dormancy to thrive well there, farther inland around Liberty, tx you start seeing TB again being robust.
BK, that maybe the trick to iris? Try the Lousiana or Japanese iris and full sun if you have access to them.
