Patty,
Yeah I bought Arrivederci too! Actually bought most of Keith's this year. He does make some pretty ones.
Engle's 13-2 = Purdy's 90-1= Amile Correvon but they are all lovely plants. Helen thought there was a little difference between them but when we did the Dalton project they looked very similar to us. I have real trouble getting seed from these guys but I would definitely plant anything you do get as it might be very interesting. It must be a hybrid of a pink flowered X yellow flowered sort as the blooms are intermediate in color between the two groups. With such different genes from the two parents, the seedlings could be quite interesting with new mixes of the traits from each parent. Have I hooked you yet?? We also don't have a lot of new velvety ones so I would like more of that type. I do have some kids from 'Lipstick' that are looking promising too.
I start my iris seeds in 6" pots, one pod/pot. I use sterile potting soil and plant the seeds about 1" deep. Mine are usually planted the end of October so they take full advantage of our OR winter rains. Seedlings start germinating as early as February and the seedlings are lined out in April and May. The seed pots are placed in a graveled area by the garage that stays a bit more protected so that the young seedlings will not be frozen. In severe cold spells they go into the garage itself. Keith Keppel brings his into a greenhouse to grow so he has a bit bigger plant to row out than I do but my soil is better so I generally catch up by July 1 and nearly 100% of the bearded iris seedlings bloom the next spring after rowing out.
Kevin
