I have two of those Brad; "Going Big Time" and "Border Skirmish" (both from my local Iris Society). I also picked up "Oil Painting" at the same time. I would love to have "Rare Coin".
As to my "issues" with Joe's intros. I did lose a few last year to the rot which hit all my irises equally. So I could toss them out of the conversation. My main experience is with a group I got as a "Host Garden" for the DVIS (Delaware Valley Iris Society). I hosted the following Ghio 2011 intros:
Cardinal Rule
Dazzle
Engagement Ring
Enjoyment
Famous Last Words
Polite Applause
I have had these for three bloom seasons. Here is how they have performed. All stayed in the same spot until this Summer.
Cardinal Rule 1, 3, NB
Dazzle NB, 2, NB
Engagement Ring 1, 6, NB
Enjoyment 1, 1, NB
Famous Last Words 1, 2, NB
Polite Applause 3, 1, NB
NB = No Bloom Stalk
I don't take much from this. Engagement Ring is a VERY good increaser and should put on a nice show this upcoming Spring. Cardinal Rule and Polite Applause are average growers and the rest have struggled (I think that only "Enjoyment" has survived and is in a pot in my TLC nursery).
Bubble Bubble followed the same course and may be lost.
I have not used much in the way of Winter protection, but do have some natural protection. In the past I have had alot of Pine needles, but had to get rid of two trees and only have two left. My iris bed alone the driveway does get alot of Oak leaves curtesy of the wind and a neighbor. Normally, I have about 1/3 of my garden that was transplanted/moved that year (so starting over again); never really had an issue with failure. So anything associated with last year must be viewed as an outlier.
