Viewing post #996512 by ARUBA1334

Happy Thanksgiving !!! everybody hope you all are having a relaxing day thanks for taking the time to comment on my pictures its encouraging to know they are so well received here.

Out of this group I kept numbers 1, 2 & 6 with 6 being my favorite because of the form on it while the other ones had interesting patterns the standards were open and floppy that is a trait I don't care for in Iowa we have strong spring storms and constant wind I want flowers that will stand up and not fall apart in the rain.

Gabriel.. You can spray the pods with insecticide to keep bugs off and it won't hurt a thing..

Jane.. I can't leave the foliage laying around I have to either toss it in the dumpster or burn it the fire method is quicker

Bonnie... Thanks for the kind words maybe 1 day something here will get a name but for now I just like playing in the dirt and the excitement of watching them bloom and wondering what would happen if I crossed Plant A to Plant B That's awesome you have some seedlings from the bee's they were busy this year for me as well and created a few pods on some of the seedlings and I thought well we have plenty of space now so I'll see what grows from them but there were no seeds inside any of the pods. I hope you do some crosses this spring they are well worth the wait nothing like waking up everyday during bloom season finding something new of your own blooming for the 1st time it is a fun process

Sherry.. Thanks !! and Yes Joe is definitely a mentor for me and as you know he is just a all around good person and I enjoy his company every spring, wish I was a little closer would bug him a little more I certainly am trying to use the good majority of his plants for form when working in my garden and mainly because they grow well for me and I know if he gives something a name it is special, so I try to take his newest creations and mix them with other garden favorites because I think it makes them better.

A good example would be his ( Going Big Time)... ( Polite Applause X Gypsy Lord)...he took a awesome plant (Gypsy Lord) kept that color but added bubble ruffles to it this is another one of his I made a bunch of crosses too this year because I liked the pedigree and growth habits here. I have seen a glimpse of what's coming remember anything that was introduced this year, more than likely bloomed for the 1st time 6 or more years ago for him he is way ahead probably working on 2 or 3 generations past this years intro's already not to mention all the siblings that never got names because they were short a bud or some other small thing. In my opinion any time you mix his plants with others they get better another couple that I thought were Outstanding intro's this year from others that has his plants in the pedigree were from Superstition ( Velvet Valentine) which comes from (Bowled Over) and Napa's ( Splendid Spring) which come from (Picture Book) both were incredible.

I don't get on the Iris Lovers Facebook while I enjoyed the pictures from people on there the conversations seem to be more arguing than anything and with the little spare time I have when getting on the computer would much prefer visiting with you guys


(Going Big Time)


(Velvet Valentine)


(Splendid Spring)