Iris reticulata 2018

[Mini bulb lover]

Thanks for posting that for me Fermi. I wish all reticulata irises reached flowering size so quickly!

[fermi de Sousa]

Nice surprise to find 2 blooms open at once on this little retic.
It's one of Alan McMurtrie's (the I.danfordiae influence is seen in the wispy uprights) which I got through Marcus Harvey years ago when Janis was selling them.
The label says 'Blue Ice' but I see a different iris (e.g. http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/plants_album/the%20plants%20-%20%20complete%20collection/iridaceae/Iris/Subgen%20Hermodactyloides/I.%20reticulata/slides/Iris%20reticulata%20Blue%20Ice%200002.html ) though I note that Peter T posted a similar pic on the forum in 2012.
Any comments?
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

The most common Retic grown in Australia has to be 'Harmony' with its two-tone flowers of purply-blue (not as blue as in the pic).
This is the first one in our garden to open,
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

A couple more
'Purple Gem' - from Hillview this year
'Gordon'
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Open today:
1) Iris 'Violet Beauty' with 'Gordon' behind
2) Iris 'Violet Beauty' originally from Lambley Nursery in 2014
3) Iris 'Violet Beauty' in another bed and colour not true in pic
4) Iris 'Goerge'
cheers
fermi

[Michael J Barrett]

You have a great collection Fermi. Thanks for posting

[fermi de Sousa]

You have a great collection Fermi. Thanks for posting

Hi Michael,
it's taken a few years of gathering as different varieties have become available over the years.
When I first started growing them 'Harmony' was the only one I could find!
It took a few years before its sport 'Alida' was brought into the country but now it's proving as amenable as its "parent"; here's the first of its flowers for this year
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

After a couple of days more flowers have opened on Iris 'Alida' and the first flower on what I think is 'Springtime' but it might be 'Clairette' - I can't tell them apart!
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Some iris in flower in the garden today:
1) Iris 'Pauline' - recent purchase from Hillview;
2) Iris reticulata ex 04-IM grown by Jon B from seed from Alan McMurtie
3 & 4) more Iris 'Springtime'
cheers
fermi

[Otto Fauser]

an unusual shade of ?turquoise blue : a cross I made way back in 1962 by putting pollen of Iris winogradowii onto the commercial form of Iris reticulata . This commercial form of reticulata seems to have vanished from the trade .

[Maggi Young]

That's a pretty one , Otto - though I find them all rather fetching!
Good to hear from you - hope you are well?

[Mini bulb lover]

I'm finding Iris vartanii (seed from Oron) is performing pretty well for me. It's more vigorous for me than Iris reticulata, possibly because it flowers so early. I have relatively mild winters (it never snows but we do reach freezing a couple of times) so maybe there are more days of growth after flowering compared to cooler climates?

Could any breeders tell me if it would be possible to cross Iris vartanii with I. reticulata? Has anyone tried? I'd have to save the pollen from both as they flower at different times (I assume store it in the fridge or freezer). If I could get Iris reticulata to flower earlier, maybe I'd have more success with it?

These are some Iris vartanii bulbs on 1cm grid. Pretty good for pot grown I think.