I'm having a bit of a quandry w/ some of those colors too Neal... I suspect the darker purples would look good with the grey toned Iris. There are some roses with tan or grey overtones too. Hot Cocoa has a lot of brown in it. I can't get a picture that is entirely accurate, but this one
Some of the things that bloom at the same time in my garden: Digitalis, Heuchera, Roses, California poppies, Achillea, Alstromeria, Phlomis, Cerastium, Spanish lavender, Cerinthe, Iberis, some of the Daylilies, Calendula, Nepeta, Salvia greggii, Chionanthus retusus, some of the Viburnums and Spireas, Leptospermum.. Wisteria and Lilac with the earlier Iris..
There are Iris in and amongst the roses etc..
I like the Achillea 'Moonshine' and Calif. Poppies in this picture w/ 'Spooned Blaze'
Because of our drought, I mulched my beds pretty thoroughly this year. I used wood chips, but didn't put them directly over the rhizomes. They have a way of shifting around, and I've been clearing them off as I've been cleaning up the foliage and weeding.
