Iris of the Day. Los Coyotes. 5.17.19

Modern Bearded Iris "Los Coyotes".  5.17.19

 The irises pictured today have some similarities in their color distribution, although nuances of the colors vary.  In addition, the shapes and sizes vary.

I bought "Los Coyotes" about 5 years ago.  This iris is among the rescues that I collected from around the yard last summer, and this is the first time that it has bloomed so nicely.  No scent that I can appreciate.  The flowers are lush, large, and have that classic yellow standards, brushed brown falls that is notable for "Honorabile" as well.  In fact, "Los Coyotes" looks like a tetraploid, more ruffled and larger descendant of "Honorabile"

Speaking of which, "Honorabile" is blooming too.  Much smaller, this iris falls into the category of "miniature tall bearded".  Honorabile was developed by Lémon in 1840, although there is debate about whether the current version is really Honorabile or is a different variety called "Sans Souci".

On to "Accent", this iris is larger then "Honorabile", but the flowers are smaller and not as ruffled, but taller stems, than "Los Coyotes".   "Accent" was developed in 1952.  The falls are more of a burgundy color, compared to "Honorabile" or "Los Coyotes" and the shape is that of a mid century tall bearded iris. 

Historic Bearded Iris "Honorabile".  5.17.19

 Finally, there is "Shah Jehan".  This iris has a similar effect, although compared to the others in today's selection, the falls have a more purple coloration.  The plant is taller, with a taller flower stem, compared to the others.  "Shah Jehan" is significantly older, having been developed by W. Neel in Vanouver, Canada, in 1932.  "Shah Jehan" was named for the Mogul emperor who commissioned the Taj Mahal, and had more than 900 gardens build in Kashmir, according to the link.   This iris does have an elegant look, and might be nice in a larger clump.  With only one flower stem, so tall and ungainly looking, it would not be my first choice in a flower bed.

All of these are nice in a collection.  If I had more limited space and had to narrow down to two of this classic, golden standard / brown or purplish-brown or maroon-brown fall type, I'd go with Los Coyotes for the bigger, brighter, larger and more ruffled look, or Honorabile for the small but very nice, and obviously very historic feel.

Historic Tall Bearded Iris "Accent".  5.17/19

Historic Tall Bearded Iris "Shah Jehan".  5.17.19

Irises Today. 5.15.19

Most of these are the same as other recent photos, but it wasn't raining today and I have a better camera this time.

Iris bed.  5.15.19

Mostly, Iris "Golden Caterpillar Climbs Snowy Mountain".  5.15.19

Iris Helen Collingwood.  5.15.19  Variety created in 1949 by Smith.

Iris Honorabile.  5.15.19  Variety created in 1840 by Lémon

Iris Loreley.  5.15.19  Variety created about 1909 or before, by Max Goos & August Koenemann

Iris Alcazar.  5.15.19.  Variety created by Phillippe de Vilmorin in Paris, France. It first bloomed in 1905.

Iris "Pay To Win"  5.15.19  Variety created by Hager in 2002.

Iris "Red Dirt Road".  5.15.19.   Variety created by Schriener in 2013.

Iris "Red Dirt Road".  5.15.19

Iris "Sunny Disposition".  5.15.19  Created by by Zurbrigg in 1989.

Historic Irises.  5.15.19

Mislabeled Iris.  Maybe Kinkajou Shrew.  5.15.19

Historic Iris Beds. 9.2.14

Historic - mostly - Iris Beds.  9.1.14

Recovering Iris Plants.  9.1.14

Recovering Iris Plants.  9.1.14

 This is the state of the historic iris beds.  Historic irises, not historic beds.  They have nice growth, coming into fall.  I have sprayed with neem oil weekly.  The neem does not damage the leaves.  I don't know if it helps.  Fungus spot remains on the older leaves.  Expected - fungicide does not heal old spots, it prevents new ones.  I don't mind a few, expected in an organic garden.

Established vs. New Iris Plant.  Honorabile.  9.1.14

I thought I would lose Owyhee Desert - not historic - and Gay Geisha - historic.  Both are growing.  I doubt bloom next year.  Gracchus took a big hit too, and is growing again.  All 3 of these got replacement soil earlier this year, not enriched or amended.

Flavescens is poking along.  This may not be a good variety for this area.  I bought a replacement but the  original regrew.  The replacement is smaller than the original.

Alcazar is growing again.   It's almost as big as it was last year.  I thought it might be near-dead.  I suspect it will need at least another year to get viorous growth.  Assuming the plant disease issues are not a problem.  These also got new, unamended, unenriched, replacement soil.  The same for Shannopen, not shown.  That one, formerly big stout fans, reduced to nothing, but a tiny shoot grew so I kept it.

The final photo shows the difference between 1st year and 2nd year growth, for spring planted rhizomes.  This is sold as Honorabile but may be Sans Souci.  I bought a replacement because the growth last year was so minimal.  Despite the fungal issues with other plants, the overwintered cluster has much bigger leaves and better growth, compared to the rhizome I planted this Spring.  I think this indicates the Spring planted rhizomes, even if they might bloom the first year, are more stressed and take longer to establish, compared to summer - dormant -rhizomes.  This seems more true for the ones that are allowed to bloom the first year - makes sense, but the point of the Spring planting is to get same-year flowers.

New tags for all.  These are copper, which is embossed with ball point pen.  The steel markers with laundry marker faded too fast and will be reused elsewhere.

Looking Back. June 1 2013

Heritage Iris Bed #1

Pallida variegata

Looking back at June 1 2013.  Most of the heritage irises and some off the others were blooming.  Most of the heritage irises were in their first season here, so had not established.  This gave me a chance to view the flowers.  I think in their second year most will have more flowers, and they will be larger.  I think some will be clusters of flowers, instead of one stalk per rhizome.

The colors are very impressive.

Looking back, I didn't realize the NOID was so brilliant yellow, and the NOID plicata was so beautiful.

Honorable vs. Sans Souci

Quaker Lady

Caprice

 Gives me something to look forward to as we move into winter.

Iris flavescens

Iris pallida dalmatica

Pink Bubbles

NOID Yellow from Battleground WA

NOID plicata

NOID plicata

Iris Raised Bed, heritage Irises

Heritage iris and culinary herb raised bed

 Heritage iris and culinary herb raised bed.  Now I wish I thought of this before.  They go together very will

Caprice.  The photograph color is not the same as the flower.  In person is is more of a rosy red, not so blue.  Nice sweet fragrance.  In the literature this is described as a grape fragrance.  That is not far off from reality.
Quaker Lady.  Also a nice sweet fragrance, floral.

Pallida dalmatica.  Also, sweet grape - like fragrance.  Sweeter than grapes.

Sold as Honorabile but Historic Iris Preservation Society states most likely Sans Souci.  No fragrance, which I knew when I ordered this variety.  I liked the appearance, and in person it is better than I anticipated.  Ideal little iris for this bed.  I don't know what I should call it, but leaning towards Sans Souci, since that is probably the right name.

Flavescens.  Also unscented, and also ideal for this bed.

Helen Collingwood.  I think I already posted that so will hold off doing so again.  Also nice floral fragrance.

Iris/herb bed #2 is also coming along nicely.  Both got a dusting of crushed eggshells this weekend for calcium.

Caprice 1898

Quaker lady 1909

Pallida dalmatica 1597

Honorabile 1840 (Sans souci? 1854)

Flavescens