Bearded Iris Raised Beds

Bearded Iris Bed #1

 This week I added a layer of leaf compost to the bearded iris raised beds.  I covered the soil surface, except on and adjacent to the rhizomes.  I want to keep the rhizomes exposed.

This is the last thing needed for them this winter, other than minor puttering to remove dead leaves.  They look pretty sad with the dying leaves.  I think they are like that every year.

Bearded Iris Bed #2

Bearded Iris Bed #3

 The anemones that I planted last winter at the front of Bed #1 are growing now.  That surprised me.  I thought they might be dead.

There are a couple of plants to remove from Bed #1 but no hurry.  Those are a trailing rosemary, a couple of Laburnum cuttings, and some ginkgo seedlings.

Top L-R: Kissed by the Sun, California Blue, Immortality.  Bottom L-R:  American Classic, Red Dirt Road, Accent.

Iris germanica, with mushrooms.

New start of Owyhee Desert

 Bed # 2 is pretty much as I want it.

Bed # 3 has some reserved spaces for rhizomes from Old House Gardens, to arrive in April.  At the left are Egyptian Walking Onions.  I expected to pull those as scallions, but deer ate them.  The remainder have a chicken wire cover.

The established cluster od American Classic, Kissed by the Sun, Accent, Immortality, and Edith Wolford all survived their move from the Vancouver yard.  They should have good displays next year.

The Iris germanica clump, planted this spring as a new rhizome, has a mushroom companion.  I don't know if that is commensual or infecting.  It could be inoculum from the filler soil, or from the mycorrhizal inoculant.  The iris looks OK so I am leaving it alone.

Clump of Cherry Garden

New start of "Los Angeles"

Expanding clump of "Helen Collingwood"

New start of "Alcazar"

They new rhizomes, planted late summer, all look OK.  For reference, this is Owyhee Desert, which looks settled in and is making increase.

The Cherry Garden clumps also survived their moved from Vancouver and appear to have increased.  Last year's TLC got them growing rapidly.  They might look better in a different location.  I have 4 clusters of those.

Los Angeles did not appear to grow as fast as some of the others, but I think this rhizome, from "Historic Iris Preservation Society" is settled in.

Helen Collingwood grew one new rhizome last year.  This year it has increase of 3.  It is settled in and the rhizome looks robust.  It looks promising for bloom next Spring.

The last one, Alcazar, from Historic Iris Preservation Society this summer, looks settled in.  It has increase of 4 new buds to develop into rhizomes.  I'm curious about whether it will bloom next Spring. 

Not much else to do with the bearded irises now.  Hard to just watch them in dormancy, but that's the season.

Bearded Irises. Progress report.Iris bed #2

Bearded Iris bed #2

Bearded Iris "Alcazar" 1910

 I did some minor puttering in the bearded iris beds.  Bed #1, the first historic iris bed, is too cluttered.  As we move into fall, I want to remove some extras.  Buddleia grew like crazy.  Oregano is too big for the irises.  The iris seedlings need to move too.  Too crowded.  I need a place for them.

Bearded Iris bed #2, also heritage irises, with a couple of exceptions.  Marigolds and sweet alyssum grew larger than I expected, very nice but too much crowding.  Still it will be ok to wait for frost when these annuals die off.

I did add some "step-over" plants.  Hoping they stay small.  A Sempervivum, alpine geranium, and a couple of others. 

Bearded Iris "Owyhee Desert" 1997

Bearded Iris "Romeo" 1912

 The iris starts are sending out new sprouts, and the original leaves are growing larger.  They are settling in.

Alcazar was via Heritage Iris Preservation Society.  From the separate, historic iris blog - "Color effect light hortense violet, velvety pansy-violet bicolor viened on bronze haft; size large; form long; open, oblong ; flowering habit free ; tall bearded class ; height 32 inches ; branching wide at center or above ; A flower of extra substance ; firm texture ; slightly crêped surface ; good fragrance ; An outstanding specimen plant, with very large well balanced flowers and excellent foliage."  I like that description, "hortense violet".

I suspect "Romeo" is mislabeled.  The prior blossom did not look like the web identification for this variety.  It bloomed in the winter.  It is about to bloom again.  Why is this a fall blooming variety?  Strange.


"Los Angeles" is in a shadier spot.  Not good for new iris starts, but it is what is. 

I'm continuing to clean up bearded iris bed #3.  That is mostly new varieties, some were established clumps moved from the Vancouver yard.  Some exceptions.  A few unrelated plants need to be moved from that bed as well.

Bearded Iris :Los Angeles" 1927