The irises started in early May with the MDBs and then the SDBs. Now I am down to the last of the TBs. I will be really sad to see them go this year. I think I say that every year, but it seems they were especially nice this year.
One of my first was Alpine Lake.
Along came Baby Pink.
And a pretty little dark violet - Cinders.
Here is Royal Bee.
Love this one. Gingerbread Man
Last one for now. Lemon on Ice.
I love iris....the only problem with them is they never seem to be able to hold themselves up.....
I haven't staked an iris for many years, one good reason to grow the early short ones. I had to tie up Stepping Out a few days ago, after about three and a half inches of rain in a couple of days and the wind to go with it. I just don't do much staking here. I never seem to get around to it, so they have to stand on their own.
Gypsy Eyes, another shorty.
This is Grandma's Hat. No problem for this little one to stand up.
Here's one I just bought at a local nursery this year. Little Annie. I think it should look a bit more on the brownish side, but that's lighting, camera etc.
I should stop now, but must throw this one in still. Red Heart, a lovely historic.
Brenda these are lovely!
I didn't know they came in shorty ones too. The colors.... wow so many nice ones. I really like the bluish tinge on Alpine Lake.
Thanks for sharing.
Bea
Hi all, Have you received the flyer from brecks. Wonderful reblooming irises. I don't mind staking because the flowers are so magnificent. I have 2 in to 3 feet.
I don't know if I could handle more staking...the glads, hibiscus, larkspur, helen's flower, monkshood, delphinium, lilies, are all staked....plus a few I'm probably forgetting. Good to hear they come in short sizes too though, will look for them from here on.
Gorgeous Irises Brenda! Thanks for sharing them with us.
--Ginny
What a lovely collection you have there Brenda! I got my first lot of Irises this year but need to find a permanent spot for them...another bed may be order. Do feed them anything special to get them to bloom so well?
Your camera sure picked up the shimmers on the Lemon on Ice very well....what a beauty.
Tks for the show!
Erynne
Love that soft blue of Alpine Lake. I think I have too much shade here to grow the bearded iris very well, they seem to flop. I love the little Iris pumilas in my rock garden though. Brenda, what does MDB and SDB mean? Does TB mean tall bearded?
Sandy
MDB Miniature Dwarf less than 8" (20cm)
SDB Standard Dwarf Bearded 8-15" (20-40cm)
IB Intermediate Bearded 16-27" (41-70cm)
MTB Miniature Tall Bearded 16-27" (41-70cm)
flowers max. 15cm combining width & height
BB Border Bearded 16-27" (41-70cm)
leaves shorter than flower stalk
flowers usually 4-5" width (10-30cm)
TB Tall Bearded taller than 27" (71cm)
flowers 4-7" (13-18cm) sometimes larger
Then there are the really tall ones - spurias, blooming just as the last of the TBs.
If you have a good mix of all the above, you can have iris bloom for a good 3 months or more.
inanda
here is SDB Jungle Gem
SDB Eyebright
SDB What Again
My favourite BB Cherry Garden
There is also an SDB Cherry Garden, same bloom but much shorter.
inanda
Thanks for the explanation, inanda. So, does Miniature refer to the bloom size and Dwarf refer to the height?
Sandy
MTBs have smaller blooms, are best for flower arrangements as the stems are thinner than BBs and TBs. They are easier to arrange in a vase.
Dwarf does refer to the height. All blooms are in relation to the size of the plant.
Here is another SDB called Crown Princess.
Inanda
Lovely pictures echoes and inanda. Ginny is that Red Heart the same as the one you just gave me at the RU?
I need to learn more about the different irises that we have. What type is this?
Sandy
Lovely, lovely, lovely pix. Thank you for sharing them. I don't have a single Iris, can you believe it. Must definitely get some. They are fabulous!
Joanne
Joanne you will have some Iris as soon as mine finish blooming!
Ginny I wanted to ask you what is the thinking on cutting off the leaves after blooming. I have usually left mine but I know folks who trim them down to about half. What should I do?
And can you name this Sib?
Here's some of my old timers, all given to me by a neighbor.
This is mixed in with some yellows - got to get it seperated soon.
A lovely old purple
Ginny I left a note in the mailbox of the house with those dark purple Iris but never heard anything. HOwever discovered a friend who is selling her house this summer has a nice clump which she is taking with her so I will g et some from her!
This message was edited Jun 24, 2007 7:14 PM
These are all tall bearded I think.
Woo hoo! Thanks Carol. I remember you said yesterday you could share some. A blue & white one, right? Will be nice in my garden, dontcha think?
Joanne
Ginny I really like the pic you've posted of What Again. That is a very nice contrast in colours.
--the other Ginny :-)
Sorry it took me so long to get back. I've been real busy with some special company. Thanks for the nice comments.
Erynne, I don't do anything special. I should fertilize them more, but they usually just get whatever the other perennials are getting, not a lot. When I divide them every few years, I add some compost to the soil.
I really enjoy the dwarf irises and if you have trouble with irises flopping over, these are a great choice. I have to have the TBs too, though, for the spectacular show. The NLRIS (Northern_Lights_Iris on Yahoo Groups) is having a sale in July for several types of irises, especially for us gardeners in the cold climates. I'm sure I will overspend again, and be looking for spots to put all these babies. Just can't resist.
Yippy Skippy (edited to correct name)
This message was edited Jun 25, 2007 9:33 AM
This Siberian just out today. It is Pink Haze - a bit pinker than it looks in this pic.
Hi Carol. Thank you for posting that lovely photo. In response to your question about cutting back your irises after bloom, are you referring to the bearded? If so, I don't see any good reason to do that, unless you are digging them up and dividing them. It is not a practice that I see Ginny, or anyone else around here doing. Trimming off any diseased foliage would be a different matter though.
Here is one of my Siberians, Sparkling Rose.
Time to get some wonderful irises for your gardens. Northern Lights Regional Iris Society fourth annual summer sale is now on. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/752709/
Some great choices and very reasonable cost, get your order in before they are gone.
Ginny
