Well -- it occurs to me that we need a place to talk about Irises, or other stuff, that doesn't fall under a specific category. This thread could serve that purpose -- sort of a *what's on your mind?* place.

So -- I'll start. I just saw a photo that Sue posted of an Iris that I've never seen before: Bronze Heart. It is so beautiful that the minute I saw it I was scrambling for a pen to write down the name to order this year. And I'm wondering -- does anyone here have that Iris? And if so, does it really look like the picture? And how does it perform for you?

I just Googled it and Mid America has a great image of it. Really beautiful.

I have a question about searching for a thread from last season. The thread is in the Iris forum and it featured Macros of iris.
Can anyone help ?

I think that you are looking for the "Beautiful Beards....some close ups" thread.
Click the link below:

http://garden.org/thread/go/25...

I love the title of this thread Mary Ann. Heaven knows we all chatter off topic on every thread (well, maybe not everyone, but some of us tend to stray....).

Ya know. That is how we get our numbers up, by "Endless Chatter" (which is a good name for an iris).

And here I thought it was because we all like to talk to each other. ;-) ;-)

Love your avatar pic, JoAnn -- is that you as a little girl?

Good to see you Jo Ann, haven't seen much of you on here lately, hope your doing well.

I am making 3 Cheese cakes for our annual horse awards banquet and youth benefit sale. Last year the chocolate turtle went for $75. I'm making that one, a Caramel Apple, and a plain one with cherries. As ususal, I get to be the auctioneer.

Wow! How cool is that? Seventy-five bucks for a pie!!!

Can you do auctioneer-speak Tom?

Not really Mary Ann, but the keep handing me glasses of wine, and I get funnier as the night progresses.

Hi everyone. I left Iris when the season ended here.
I needed some iris images for a painting I am working on so here I am and the threads are really perky, guess I will hang around.
My avater is me at about 7 or 8, pigtails and all. I over sharpened the image so it leaves me with a fierce face.
Tom: there is a fantastic cheesecake recipe for Apple Brandy
https://www.facebook.com/taste...
Recipe
http://trib.al/8b4a1nb

Good idea Mary Ann, we definitely needed this thread! We go on really good tangents, so they should have a place to bloom!

Tom, reading your post made my stomach start growling....thanks, LOL Well, I can't blame it all on you, I've got my own jazzed up version of pork and beans going in the crock pot and its starting to smell really good in here.

Yesterday was mild and cloudy here, and I worked on getting veggie beds prepped. I'm extending the garden and adding 3 more growing beds, and one is going to be devoted to Zinnias and Sunflowers. Growing up it seemed old ladies, who always had the best gardens, typically had a row of Zinnias and I loved that! I'm telling myself its to draw pollinators, but I know the truth- its just to have something pretty to look at while working the garden. For me it is a slippery slope to start taking food garden space for flowers, so I must watch myself

Colder today with a few snowflakes falling. Trying to make myself get back out there, need to stay somewhat active during winter so spring rush doesn't kill me, LOL

My grandmother always had rows of flowers in her veggie garden. Zinnias, Bachelor Buttons, Marygolds, Glad's, and others. She loved to have fresh flowers in the house, and would go out and pick them fresh to bring in the house. I'm going to have a row of Dahlias in my veggie garden this year, and the iris seedlings have begun to take some of the space as well.
Jo Ann, that cheese cake looks a lot like mine, except I didn't put brandy in it, but that's a good thought. I top mine with a streusel topping too, but I also add carmalized almond slivers and and drizzle it with caramel.

TOM !!! Yer killin me. My daughter made this for the holidays. She caramelized Pecans. Your version sounds great.

I was hoping this was the place to come and discuss whatever and not a rant about someone else's 'mindless chatter.' Ranting is one thing but being mean is another.

Thanks, Mary Ann! We do, indeed stray off-topic. Lol The sure sign of a good thread is exactly that.

I don't grow many Irises but you all make it fun to come and share. I am making a new bed this year and possibly two. Iris will be prominent.

Mmm...pecans...mmm...

Omigosh -- yer killin' me too!! Carmelized almond slivers? Caramel drizzled? Struesel topping???? I am going to have to find a box or bag of candy around here and pig out!!!!

JoAnn -- you were one cute kid!! Love the braids!

Yah -- I wouldn't want this thread to take the place of *meanderings* on our regular threads -- those are too much fun! But once in awhile we all have something we'd like to ponder or share or whatever -- and I have found myself looking for a thread to bring it up on. Well -- rather than hijacking another thread -- here we have our own thread for just this purpose. Seemed like a good idea to me -- I'm glad others of you like it!!

Celia -- I'm glad you joined us. Our love for Irises is inclusive and contagious!!

MaryAnn.. I think the picture is good that Sue added to the database it does look like that not sure about the growth, I think it was almost done blooming when I visited last year but here are a couple pictures that I took of it the first in the evening and the 2nd in the morning with full Sun. I prefer the full sun pick of this one because you see all the different blends of color in the Falls.It gets a here

Tom - all three of your cheesecakes sound devine. Wow, lucky auction goers!