I'm pretty happy with how the irises have done this year. Some are not done yet, but I can see the results. Only two of the old, rescued clumps were not up to producing at least one flower. Of the new cultivars, bought by mail order, only one ("Cheetah Cheese") produced flower at all. I had 2 rhizomes of that variety, and unfortunately the one of those that did bloom was something else entirely. I also had a new one, "Blatant", that I had bought locally and which was small, dried out, dead looking rhizomes, that I think I planted in October. I didn't have a big expectation that they would survive, let alone bloom. They did survive, are growing vigorously, so might bloom next year. I expect that next year, these new ones may have more flowers, and the stems may be taller because the plants will be more established.
Next I will want to cull a few that are really not worth the space and effort. In addition, I want to re-combine a few cultivars that are separated into more than one bunch, which will free up some spaces and look better.
I think I want the smaller cultivars together at one end of the bed. I also want the re-bloomers together, because they benefit from extra care during the summer while others will be dormant.
The main thing now is I get to enjoy these beautiful flowers, and the bonus is most bloomed this year, a year sooner than I expected.
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Saturday, May 18, 2019
A Few More Irises In Bloom. 5.18.19
Padded Shoulders. 5.18.19 |
Pink Attraction. 5.18.19 |
Owyhee Desert. 5.18.19 |
I added another photo of "Owyhee Desert". It's a smaller variety, should be at the front of a border. Even though it's small, this coloration and pattern make it among the nicest.
"Pink Attraction" doesn't look like much. Holding judgement.
"Immortality" was in my old yard, survived moving here, but suffered when I had a leaf spot epidemic. I moved it to the woodlot edge and forgot it. After moving it back to the test garden, it's doing very well. This is just the first bud, of many, to open. "Immortality" was registered in 1982, developed by Zurbrigg, so at more than 30 years old counts as a "historic iris". It has the late 20th century flower shape, and is considered a good re-bloomer. The stems are not as tall as some modern cultivars, but that might be an advantage in a climate like this one where rains can tip over the heavy flowers. That happened in my garden with the cultivar "Red Dirt Road".
Of these, all but "Immortality" were from Schreiner's Irises. I've had "Immortality" for so long, I forgot where it came from.
Immortality. 5.18.19 |
Friday, May 17, 2019
Cowlitz Peach. 5.17.19
"Cowlitz" Peach. 5.17.19 |
So far, so good. After an unseasonably hot week, in May, with temp almost 90F, we had chill and rains with temps down into the 50s.
This tree is not 100% free of peach leaf curl, but has less than any other peach I have ever grown - just a few scattered spots. Whether that continues will be an observation in progress.
Still, I have optimism that this tree will do well. Since peach seedlings are often similar to their parent trees, these may be similar to Oregon Curl Free. I don't know if the Curl resistance is a multiple gene trait, or a single gene, and if it is likely to be heterozygous or homozygous. There are lots of possibilities.
"Cowlitz" Peach. 5.17.19 |
I've also read about growing peaches from air layers from the parent tree. I should look into that to see if I can make some own-root progeny.
Iris of the Day. Los Coyotes. 5.17.19
Modern Bearded Iris "Los Coyotes". 5.17.19 |
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 LĂ©mon 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 |
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 |
Labels:
Accent,
Honorabile,
Los Coyotes,
Sans Souci,
Shah Jehan
Neighborhood Bearded Irises, All Mulched. 5.17.19
My helper, Rufus, took me around the neighborhood to look at bearded irises and check on my observation that mulched irises are healthier than unmulched irises, contrary to virtually every bit of advice in books and websites.
In this area, the main mulch used is shredded fir bark. I think that's what I see nine times out of ten.
Around the neighborhood, there are many patches of irises, some apparently many years old and not maintained other than by mulching. Of the ones that I saw, only the one that shares a photo with Rufus is un-mulched, and I'm not sure about that one due to the thick plantings of poppies and other flowers
So in the end, the only irises that I've seen with disease - black spot - have been the bare-soil ones in my own yard. And those are just about the only ones that are not mulched.
This summer after I divide and clean up the irises in my own yard, I'll put down a layer of shredded fir bark. It certainly doesn't seem to hurt, and appears to help prevent leaf spot and other diseases.
I don't know why so many references state that irises should not be mulched. Maybe that's the midwest, or other wet summer climates?
There are certainly some beautiful iris gardens around the neighborhood, too. I have not ID'ed any of them, but they are very nice.
In this area, the main mulch used is shredded fir bark. I think that's what I see nine times out of ten.
Around the neighborhood, there are many patches of irises, some apparently many years old and not maintained other than by mulching. Of the ones that I saw, only the one that shares a photo with Rufus is un-mulched, and I'm not sure about that one due to the thick plantings of poppies and other flowers
So in the end, the only irises that I've seen with disease - black spot - have been the bare-soil ones in my own yard. And those are just about the only ones that are not mulched.
This summer after I divide and clean up the irises in my own yard, I'll put down a layer of shredded fir bark. It certainly doesn't seem to hurt, and appears to help prevent leaf spot and other diseases.
I don't know why so many references state that irises should not be mulched. Maybe that's the midwest, or other wet summer climates?
There are certainly some beautiful iris gardens around the neighborhood, too. I have not ID'ed any of them, but they are very nice.
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
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 LĂ©mon |
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 |
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Irises Today. 5.14.19
Bearded Iris "Before the Storm" 5.14.19 |
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 |
Bearded Iris "Red Dirt Road"/ 5.14.19 |
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 |
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 |
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