CLOSED: Iris Secret Trades

Would ya"ll be intrested in doing a secret swap for named tall bearded iris?
I"ll host if I get enough feedback. I am new to this , but I am sure my friend Kathy can advise me of the how tos and pitfalls of organizing a successful trade.

It is just about division time for most of the country. My thoughts are .......and please offer suggestions. To offer only named and labeled tall bearded iris. Enough included to make it worthwhile to priority ship. And ya"ll help me with rules if we need some (surely we will). Most all mine have come from trades and that makes them all the more beautiful. Lets check this out.

Sea Power pictured

I could participate

I would like to give it a whirl. I can't find anyone who has Sea Power available this late in the season but I sure would like to trade for some.

count me in, i'm new to this sort of thing also. thanks for the heads up jackishar.

Count me in also.

I ordered iris from two or three different places this year (first time for named varieties) so I'm in:)

I'm game I love these trades.

Shirley

I only have oldies but if named oldies would work I would be in.

I might be interested, also

ok lets see if we can get 25 or more people involved by the end of the month

and named historics ..yes Mitch, would be great, many people are collecting them

Just wanted to make sure - never hurts to double check before you get started in one of these.

Count me in, just need to know how many to send.

I'd like to participate too. Also have named SDB, MTB, IB & BB Iris.

I would prefer to keep this one at tall beardeds and to include the older varieties..so as not to confuse me further .....ya"ll gonna have to bear with me on this trade, I am learning as I go...with enthusiasm!!.

Happ I am studying on that.....some have many to trade , some have few. some of you growers have been at the iris a while, some are newbies.....and I want this to be FUN for all with no stress..my thoughts now would be a minimum of six and more if they want, mixed or single varities...then I wonder if the pros might be insulted by the newbies or already have what they (we) are offering........decisions, decisions.
I welcome your more experienced advice

jackieshar, can't stress over the details, it is a fun secret trade and pro DG iris growers should know that, so what if you get duplicates that you have you apparently like them, or you can trade with someone else later....its just fun and those who sign up should know that. I live close to an iris farm down the road from me. They sell in the spring a package of 3 rhizones. That way you can plant in a triangle for good coverage. I have also just purchased one rhizone and just waited until it filled in because they were too expensive to buy 3. Just a thought.

thanks for a response that echoes my thoughts..FUN...still wondering how many to trade , and if I should ask players to list what they have, what colors they prefer, hybridizers they prefer...just as suggestions for traders..or not? Just play by ear.......

I don't have iris farms in my area and even the box stores and local retail sellers don't sell them. I have managed to order way more than I can afford from the internet sites. I always try if reasonabley priced to order in 3s. With my addiction comes a need for instant gratification.

Sounds like fun...include me, please ! Thanks Jackieshar

Oops, just went back and read it over again. I just replanted mine and so don't know the names until they bloom. Sorry, I'll have to wait until next time. Ah...I was really excited about this.

How about this...

1. 4 named Iris in each set
2. People post their wish lists of colors, etc
3. Create a must be sent by date
4. Unknowns, seeds, other plants, etc can be in package AFTER the 4 named Iris are in the box already.
5. Seeing some people are very very new if the plants are small you may send them for a named one but add a extra named plant for each small plant.

Sounds perfect to me.

we will include that in the plan and still take other suggestions as we near the months end...I don't want to start til the end of the month to see how many will want to participate

Jackie,
please count me in,maybe I can get some amethyst ones ? Sounds so exiting.

Hi Jackie-Thanks for inviting me to your swap; unfortunately, I'm so new to the Iris-Arena that I have no 'names' to share. Only a couple UNKs. I'll catch the next train if there is an un-named exchange. Have fun, gang!

Hi guys,

Thanks, jackieshar, for the invite. I'd love to participate, but I can't. Iris borers got all but ONE of my irises (one PLANT that is, not variety) - SOB! From over 200 down to one, sigh. Maybe in a couple of years I can participate, after I rebuild my stock, lol.

Just a suggestion for the trade, people should bleach their iris rhizomes to try and prevent the spread of iris borers. Many people do this (especially in trades) anyway, but I thought it would be good to mention. I don't want what happened to me to happen to any of you! I didn't get the borers through a trade, but I didn't know I had them for a year and gave my extra rhizomes to friends. So far, it appears I divided them before the borers came, but I still haven't heard from one person I gave some to. It would probably be good to have everyone either bleach them before sending or after receiving. Doing it twice might be too much for the rhizome, I don't know. Or, just have the people who bleach before sending include a note that they did. The iris borers aren't on the west coast, but they're in the east and through the midwest. Just trying to help!

If you guys need the recipie for the bleach solution, I'll find it and post it here. If anyone knows it off-hand, then please post it. Thanks!

~Kristy (this was my main bed in May 2005, sigh)

The bleach wash formula would be great. Whatever I send will more than likely be new purchases since none of my current iris are anything I can remember the name of:LOL: Those are being split and dug by a couple of friends so I can make room for the new ones. I'm expecting most of them in late Aug. or Sept.

Hi again,

I found the bleach ratio. It's 9 parts water to 1 part bleach. Soak for 15 - 30 minutes. I got it from this thread, but there are others in the iris forum that note slightly different ratios, etc. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/628665/

Hope this helps!

~Kristy

Kristy,
Thanks for posting it again,
Brigitte

no prob :)

~Kris

Okay, I'll do it. How does this work, though? How do I know who to send them to?

I think sign ups are running until the end of July so the details still need to be worked out. In an earlier post Mitch mentioned a few guidelines which seem good. I'm just going to watch for updates. Might take a peak at a different Secret Swap and see how it ran.

Mitch had some good ideas....and I will look at any others

we probably won't start the secret trades til the end of the month to get more participants, my goal is at least 25 people..with list of likes and dislikes..4 trade rhizomes expected with anything else volunteered..I"ll be the host and draw names and match them up. The person u send to won't be the one who sends to you. Start maybe the 1st and finish up expecting all to be sent by the 30th......haven't worked all the details yet, been sending out feelers to see if ya"ll would be intrested...more to come later. I hope it will be fun
Jackie

Jackie:
There was a secret swap for hostas in the spring. You could read the description and how they set it up. It may give you some other ideas that may help you.
LuAnne

BTW Jackie, is that gorgeous clump of Sea Power from your garden? I thought one flower was gorgeous but WOW they sure make an impact!

I'd love to participate - am partial to blue selfs - pale or medium shades - fragrant if possible

Hi Jackie,
My ST buddy before, I would like play ...
Thank you!

I only have a yellow that i can divide and trade. Will that help? One thing i know about it for sure, it can handle tought cold weather and it puts up lots of scapes. I haven't read yet how this works.

yep, if it's named we will be excited to have it in the trades.....we trade 4 rhizomes at least and they can be of 1 kind or several

Count me in Jackie .... This sounds like fun ....

hey.....look at all the positive response so far........this is gonna be a blast!!!