Historic Iris Swap Anyone?

Hi Folks!

3 years ago, after living in a woodland environment for 5 years, I moved back to the sunny, open Bluegrass region, and am so happy to be able to grow bearded Iris again! Starting again from scratch, I've been gradually adding some each year, mostly through trades and starts from other gardeners. Now I've got lots of space for plants, and enjoying being able to plant in masses that show up well from a distance in this big yard. Vigorous Historics have been a perfect, cost effective way of doing just that...and I have a sentimental love for growing nostalgic plants and enjoying blooms my grandmother may have loved.

Many old Iris have been passed along for many years, and the names long since lost. I'm interested in acquiring other colors and varieties for extended bloom time and to add variety to the garden, but not really concerned too much with names. Finding names for old stands can be challenging too. If you know the name, that's super! But I'd hate to miss out on some great old iris just because its a "Jane Doe" :-)

I have some general ideas how we could do this, but I'm most certainly open to suggestions. I'm thinking each participant send a flat rate box full of rhizomes, whether its packed with all a single variety, or a combination, along with postage $ to return the same size box to you. Sort of gearing this to folks who may have plenty of just a variety or two, and would like to start a collection (but certainly open to anyone who'd just like to get in on the fun!). I would pack a variety of those sent for each participant, each receiving back the same number of rhizomes they sent.

If you don't know the name, as much info as possible would be good, and pictures even better. Since so many are blooming now, its a good time to get good pictures. Notes on height, fragrance, vigor, bloom size, and bloom time would be helpful too.

I'm going to post this in the Iris and group trades forums as well- we can keep the discussion of old iris in the Iris forum and learn from the pros about them and perhaps get good thoughts on ids.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/982610/

As far as timing, I'm flexible, but thinking have everyone's boxes to me by the end of June, and get everyone's boxes mailed back out the first couple of weeks of July.

Any thoughts?
Neal

i might want to do this. i might not could do a big flat rate box though and i could only trade with one person. i do have 4-5 old ones out there that i could trade and would love to get others as well. i'm not interested in names either neal. lots of mine have already bloomed and if i misjudge and send the wrong one lmk later and i will make it good next year when they bloom.

Hey there Barb, good to see ya! I was thinking of you the other day when I was out pinching my Mums :-) Come to think of it, it really doesn't matter what size box you can send, I can just keep a tally on how many each person sends and make sure you get the same number back. So don't let that keep you from participating :-)

you might get a better response ont he iris Forum.. or not (cuz im sure you've tried, lol). I've yet to try and grow any iris here, so Im afraid Im not much use to you :(

I am interested. I have many pretty iris with no name . I can take photos and send, The first are just starting.
Question is this for just Tall bearded iris or you including standard and minis ?

I'm open to standards and minis, which brings me to something I forgot to mention- each participant should send a list of attributes they'd like in those they receive, like color, height, age, and a list of things they don't want. That way I'll have some guidelines to go by in customizing each person's box.

Photos would be great! Be sure to check the link in the first post- there's also interest in the Iris forum and some nice pics are being posted, and some good info on old Iris ids.

well are we just supposed to send the iris to you? and where are we going to talk about it? here or over on the iris forum?

Right, you'll send the labeled rhizomes to me, along with $ for postage (in the amount you paid to send- flat rate is easiest there) and a list of colors, etc you'd like back (like if bi-colors are your favorites) and a list of anything you don't want in return (say for example, if you just don't like yellow ones, or short ones). Once we see who all is interested in participating, I'll start a thread with all the specifics- when to send, etc.

I'll keep a thread open in the Iris forum for chat (see link in first post), and there we can post pics, Q&A about culture, ids, and such.

I don't know why but all my tall bearded are going to bloom short this yr. Wierd. Nev er had this happen before. BEV

neal, you are just quality people. glad to know you. i just reread your first post and the first thing i thought was what a great guy. i have lots of iris i could send you starts of later on this year after we do this thing. but alas, i am very lazy about digging. it would take something pretty awesome to get me out there with my arthritic hips and get you some flowers. but then i thought........neal might have some liliessssss. does neal?

I would love to take part in this exchange. Here is one of the historical iris I have. "Florentina" 1400's

Gingerbreadgirl, welcome aboard! I've been wanting a Florentine Iris for years! Isn't that the one they called Oris root used in pot pourri?

mama, I thought I'd responded to your last post (maybe it went 'poof'?). Anyhow, you know I got Lilies! LOL Glad to work something out this fall :-)

Hello, Thank you. Yes, this is orris root, but not "Florentine". It has blue on it. This is "Florentina". It is greyish and the inside glows different colors when it opens and sweetly scented. I am so excited about this. I love historics!!!!

florentina is gorgeous. never saw it before. and this thread isn't as popular as the other thread for some reason, neal.

mama, I noticed that. And the one I started in the group trades forum has had very few responses.

mamajack...I kindof think that it is because the 'iris people' mostly collect over there and don't look at the trades forum!

I'm interested. Mine are about to bloom. I don't know what variety they are. When they bloom, I'll post some pictures.

well pgt, whatever it is we're going to want them. hehehehehe part of this is almost cruel to me neal. my greed.....and this is the first time i have called my "interest" in plants just flat out greed. i want 'em all. may the Lord have mercy on me.

Mama, we're just plant piggies! Well, I'm an all out flower hog!

Here's a good thread on Heirloom Irises:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/972677/

I have several of these blue ones to include in the swap. They resemble pallidas, but have much larger blooms and are quite tall.

Just thought this thread needed a boost

bump!

I have that purple one,too. I have a trial bed that I try out new, to me, iris in. Last fall I randomly planted these two near each other.
After blooming you could almost see the family resemblance . Wish I could id the older fragrant one. Very large flowers.

more modern variation

Definately not Stepping Out, will have to mark it NOID



This message was edited Jun 10, 2009 6:40 AM

I have Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus.

Yellow Flag Iris Pseudacorus, In many parts of the US it is considered invasive. I have it growing naturally along the lakefront, it's beautiful. I transplanted some to my pond edge. It's also used a lot in pseudata hibridizing. Just don't send it to areas where it is on the invasive list.

Sandy, I think we should keep this swap bearded Iris only. That way they can all be handled the same way and they don't require moisture while in transit and storage, making them the easiest to ship. And as mittsy mentioned, yellow flag is considered invasive in a lot of areas and I'd hate to unwittingly send a thug to participant's gardens.

Wow I had no idea. Mine are not in water as I read this morning. I have had them 20 yrs and invasive is not what I would call them but maybe if I made it wetter there. I have an armadillo that dug a huge tunnel under them and when my DH was alive he said when he looked in it you could see the bottom of the rhizome. They seem to manage in drought conditions.

But now trying to sell you on them. I was fascinated to find out what they were 4 yrs ago.

I don't ever want to pass on an invasive. I have wondered how people still trade water hyacinth as is is on the federal list now. Not just State. I know they say it is not invasive up north but it ends up going south again. Someone dumped some in a canal here and they are fighting them bad with a back hoe to keep them out.

Thanks for letting me know.
Blessings,
Sandy

I have Mildred Presby and Easter Bonnet, I can send whatever sized box of each LOL


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