...and I might be getting it bad!



...the Iris bug, that is. I got a chunk (not a fan, not a clump, but a larger-than-a-shovel-sized CHUNK) of iris fans last year at a local plant swap. I wasn't sure what to do with it and I even uprooted it in the fall and moved it to corner of my yard that was a little more moist. I wasn't sure if it would survive the trauma--I heard roots tearing and everything!--that late in the season. Well, lo and behold, I got a flower that just opened up yesterday/today and I LOVE it! ...and it's just a species iris, too, I'm sure. It isn't anything fancy, but it's so beautiful (and a more blue-ish purple than the picture shows).

I've talked about and considered getting more irises in the past, but that was before actually growing and seeing one! Now I know for sure that I have to have more irises.

If anyone wants to ID my bloom, please feel free to do so!

Welcome to the Iris virus.

Heh heh heh...that virus is incurable, you know.

DND, this is the place to find the ones you love the most.

Hello DND.

Hi DND. Yes the iris virus is very real. I spent 15 years happy with my 20 cultivars. Then I found the iris forum last summer when I was injured. Now I have 89 cultivars and look forward to an order arriving this summer and some possible trading. Start digging up lawn and whatever to get ready for the self-inflicted invasion.

DND listen and be forewarned by all those already affected with this virus that is resistant to all anti-viral medications known.
And welcome to this group of enablers.

DND!

DND. I've never that iris before and unfortunately can't assist with an ID.

How big is the flower? How tall? Does it have a frangrance?

We're a horrible group of enablers..

Yours is very similar to 'Pretty Pansy', but the beard looks too gold. I'd like to see some more pictures when you get them.

Welcome to the asylum DND!

The virus is very real. Some have converted to Ramen Noodle just to support their new cultivar habit. Others have guard dogs around their gardens to keep midnight iris thieves too It's a great addiction! I'm infected bad.

DND

I was infected in 1962 and deending on income and health it has been up and down. Now I am back in the swing and between trades and ourchases I will be getting 158 rhizomes this year. Friends are shaking their heads.

Welcome to the enabling virus fold my friend! We are here to help you increase your number of iris.

Thank you, all! To be fair, I've been ogling irises for a little while now here on ATP/NGA. I loved all of the photos, but it was hard to appreciate them fully until I saw one in person...in my own yard, no less! I didn't realize the blooms were so big, for one, and mine has a lovely, sweet fragrance when I stick my nose in it, so I'm assuming others do, too. And, a picture might be worth a thousand words, but seeing it in person is priceless. I think my next one will be something very different, though, just for some contrast until I can afford to do an abundance of them.

(I wrote that last post several hours ago and never submitted it...I didn't realize how many responses this thread had received since then!)

You guys are great! Thank you for welcoming me into the iris 'assylum', LoL!

The iris I posted is probably only about a foot high, but the bloom is a good size. I don't know the standards for measuring irises, but it's probably about 4" tall and 3" wide? I will try to go out and measure tomorrow and take pictures. It's definitely purple, but it's a very blue-purple, has a very sweet, but light fragrance (I had to get my nose right up to it to smell it).

I don't know if you will see anything in these photos that might help with an ID (as I mentioned, I'm definitely a greenie when it comes to irises!), but hopefully these might help:

Well -- it most certainly is an historic -- and Arlyn is our historic-expert, so I imagine he will be checking in here pretty soon with a thought or two. And whatever it is, it certainly is lovely.

In the meantime, Your reference to the *Iris Assylum* is very apt. Consider yourself warned................bwahahahaha (crazed laughter.................)

Henhouse said:We're a horrible group of enablers..

Yours is very similar to 'Pretty Pansy', but the beard looks too gold. I'd like to see some more pictures when you get them.

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Pretty Pansy')
• Uploaded by Henhouse

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Pretty Pansy')
• Uploaded by crowrita1

Sherry, thank you for trying to ID my iris. Your "Pretty Pansy" looks very similar. I think, though, that you're right about the beard on mine...mine is a little more gold colored and the purple on the petals of mine isn't so pronounced and rich-colored. The top petals in mine are a lighter shade of purple and the lower petals appear to be more blended (less distinction in color) between the white part and the purple.

(Sorry for the horrendous terminology if I'm way off. I'll get my act together as time goes on and I learn more, I promise! )

The scent is what first drew me to irises. Glad to hear someone else goes in nose first! Just love the sun hitting the iris and the lovely scent rising to greet you. I admit I am somewhat obsessed with smelling iris. That is a big bonus in my collecting Burseen hybridized iris. Almost all of his are fragrant.