Pawpaws, Will They or Won't They?. 5.14.19

 These are clusters of pawpaws forming on the varieties NC-1 and Sunflower.  I can't say for certain which tree has more.  I've had tiny pawpaws fall off at this stage, but they are starting to look promising.

Of the maybe hundred flowers that I hand pollinated, maybe a dozen clusters are present and some of those might fall off.  If these all develop into fruit, that will be very cool, but I'm happy with just a few.  Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I think you have to pollinate about ten times the number of flowers, as fruits that you hope will form.  Also, I don't know whether morning or evening is better, or if it matters. 

Irises Today. 5.14.19

Bearded Iris "Before the Storm"  5.14.19

It's been raining for more than a day, so most of the current iris flowers are somewhat less than perfect.  Still, it was nice to re-identify a couple of the rescued cultivars that had lost their labels, and see what a new one looked like.

There are several dark dark blues, which correspond to the original cultivar that I had of "Before the Storm".  These held up nicely in this rain.

The variety "Cheetah Cheez" is a variegated (broken color) with a predominance of yellow and orange.  Mine came out with mostly purple-ish colors.  I don't know what variety this really is.

Bearded Iris NOT "Cheetah Cheese".  5.14.19

 Allowing for thefact that iris colors often look bluer in photos and online, than in person, this may be the variety "Kinkajou Shrew".  Or not.

Bearded Iris "Red Dirt Road"/  5.14.19

 The very tall, brick red iris is "Red Dirt Road"  Nice size and the color is nice.

I was able to re-identify the variety "Sunny Disposition", which I've had for almost 20 years. 

I was looking at photos of "Zin City" online, and starting to regret buying it.  It's in a smaller size class, but the color and flower are very nice, especially in person. 

If I can get some photos tomorrow in better light and better camera, I'll give it a try.  These are not as vibrant as the flowers are in person.

Bearded Iris "Sunny Disposition".  5.14.19

Bearded Iris "Zin City'.  5.14.19

Irises today. 5.12.19

Unknown, Old Yellow Iris.  5.12.19

I didn't see anything that special today, although I'm enjoying the iris garden and there were some additional varieties blooming. Of those in early or peak blooming today, I think I like "Owyhee Desert" the best.

The yellow that is unidentified, came with the place.  There's no way to know the variety.  Looking at the Historic Iris Society website, it could be one called "Antigone", or one called "Country Butter".   It's a nice, old-type (mid 20th century) iris, so I'll keep it as a link to the past at my place, and just call it unknown, old yellow iris.

The lavender iris here is pinker in person.  In the photo, it looks more blue.  Not fragrant.  I think I will cull it, I have more than I can take care of and it doesn't have any special characteristics that make me want to keep it.

"Play to Win" came out quite nice.  It's kind of a standard, white standard / yellow fall iris.  Nice form.  Some fragrance.

The Unknown Pink was in the woodlot.  If another pink blooms and they look the same, then there's a tentative ID.  Possibly - but not certain - Beverly Sills.

"My Friend Jonathan" and "His Royal Highness".  5.12.19

Lavender iris.  5.12.19

Another photo of "Owyhee Desert".  5.12.19

"Play To Win".  5.12.19

Unknown Pink.  5.12.19

Irises of the Day. Blutique, Owyhee Desert, and Loreley. 5.11.19

Blutique.  5.11.19

Today has three "Irises of the day". Mostly, the iris of the day is one that comes into bloom on that dat. I tried twice before to grow "Owyhee Desert" but had disease problems in those iris beds, and gave up. It turns out to be as nice in person as in the photos. Blutique was a surprise. I thought that maybe the ones I planted in early July might bloom this year (Owyhee Desert among others) but doubted the September plantings, such as Blutique, would bloom in their first May here.
i was wrong.  Most of the new ones are blooming.

I think "Blutique" will make an awesome large clump in a few years, and "Owyhee Desert" will be striking as well.

Both are fragrant.

Loreley.  5.11.19

Loreley has been grown since some time between 1900 to 1919. It's a sturdy variety, and seems more disease resistant than most. I've been growing it since 2012. The color variations make it interesting, and it's a nice coincidence that all three of todays irises have variegated flower patterns.

Owyhee Desert.  5.11.19

Pepper Plants. 5.11.19

Pepper Plants, started from seeds in January.  5.11.19

I'm moving these on to outside life.  I potted them up from tiny 6-packs into these pink packs that were saved from petunias that I bought last year.  Peppers like it warm, and it's been in the 80s during the day.  The largest, in bloom, are Cayennes, followed by Jalapenos.  This year I want to keep them in containers, for protection from soil herbivores and to keep them warm for better performance.