Blooming Iris in the Fall??

I have one set of iris that are currently blooming. I did not know they bloomed in the Fall as well as spring. I haven't seen any others around the area in bloom. I just walked outside one day and there they were in full bloom. Only half of them are currently blooming. They all bloomed in the spring and I just left the plant stalks (for lack of a better term) as they were because I didn't know what to do with them and had yet to have time to find out. I have heard they usually split like crazy but was uncertain how to go about this. I have bulbs in this bed in the Spring and annuals in the summer for lots of color. Is this normal for them to bloom in the Fall? I planted the bulbs in the Fall of 2003 and this is the first year for Fall blooms. Actually this was the first year for Spring blooms as well. Any info on Irises would be much appreciated.
-Stacey

Hi Stacy-- I don't know which variety of iris you have, but some cultivars are known to be "rebloomers" or more botanically speaking, "remontant". Growing up in Tacoma, there was a very old variety growing in our yard that we always called "Root Beer" because that is what it looked like and smelled like! It never rebloomed once while I was growing up but I took a chunk with me when I moved to Oregon and from then on forward it bloomed twice a year.

I think if your iris behaves the same way next year you probably have one of these types of irises. From the shape of your bloom it is an older variety, I just have no way of knowing the name of the cultivar.

When your irises seem to be too crowded (the tubers seem to "crawl" over one another), you need to divide. Dig up the clumps and cut the newer tubers (officially called rhizomes) away from the old "mother" tubers. Replant them but not deep. The top of the tuber should either be showing or not more than say 1/2 inch of soil over them. They like to bake in the summer sun. Share excess tubers with friends, neighbors and relatives. I am guessing that your iris is very fragrant when in bloom. Many newer ones aren't.

Thank you for the good info on irises. It is very helpful. I seem to recall this variety being called a black bearded iris but I didn't even think about keeping the back the bulbs came in. I just wanted to get them in the ground and mess cleaned up! Live and learn. I didn't notice a scent of any type but I will be sure to check again. They definately seem too crowded as they seem to be massed together. I have to admit I am a little nervous about digging them up and cutting the rhyizomes but the best way to learn is by doing/ When is the best time to do this by the way?
Thank you for the info, it is greatly appreciated!
-Stacey

Bearded irises need about 6 weeks to regrow roots after dividing. This means 6 weeks before your first frosts set in and slow or stop root growth. Being in eastern WA you may want to wait until next summer to divide, usually 6-8 weeks after spring bloom leaves enough time to dig and replant.

I have one too, a blue bearded, that did not bloom earlier but did this past week. I transplanted it earlier this spring.