Reticulate Iris-2013

[Hans A.]

Iris pamphylica  - first flower is open.

[arillady]

Wow how stunning is that 

[Gail]

Congratulations Hans, it is beautiful. I love this iris and bought a print from Jon Evans of the photo he took at a Kent show some years ago which has a wonderful painterly quality to it (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/discussion/atshows//KENT+SHOW+/219/?page=2 ).

[BULBISSIME]

Well done Hans !!! it's really a superb species. They are earlier in your garden than here... but leaves are coming and I also hope to get some nice flowers, like yours.

Seems it's a bit rainy in the balearic's 

[Maggi Young]

Congratulations Hans, it is beautiful. I love this iris and bought a print from Jon Evans of the photo he took at a Kent show some years ago which has a wonderful painterly quality to it (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/discussion/atshows//KENT+SHOW+/219/?page=2 ).

   Oh, I remember that photo - Jon is very talented. That photos is so "painterly" - just superb.

[ian mcenery]

Beautiful Hans What else is there to say?

[Hans A.]

Thanks for your comments - it is also one of my favourites (although the leaves are the longest of all the Iris I grow) - glad to hear some more forumist have success in growing this gem.
Fred, yes it was quite rainy, but it has stopped - hope we will not get snow as in last february.

Gail, thanks for the link - a really superb picture!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Beautiful Hans What else is there to say?

Nothing much, Ian : it's superb, Hans !

[Hans A.]

Thanks Luc! 

[Alan McMurtrie]

What a strange year.  It is only January 30 and a couple of Retics are showing colour -- unbelievable!
It's +13°C today, and the snow is almost all gone !!  This happened about 2 weeks ago as well.  Normally things should be frozen solid until mid March.
The forecast is for the temperature to be below freezing for the next 6 days.   …we'll see what happens after that.
It was down to -19°C in between the two thaws

[Gail]

Looking promising Alan - can't wait to see developments...
My first retic opened today; Lady Beatrix Stanley in a pot but I've only seen it by torchlight whilst putting the ducks away. Roll on the weekend!

[David Nicholson]

Nice to see you back Alan. I have "Clairette" (I think!) out but pretty beat up by wind and rain.

[Armin]

I would careful watch the weather forecast and proactively keep some bare of straw available in case you expect black frosts.

My collection was hit hard last year during February 2 weeks lasting black frosts (up to -18°C). I lost ~90% of all my bulbs in the raised beds.
Iris reticulata cultivars were eradicated, too.

[Susan Band]

Here are a few of Alan's hybrids flowering at the moment here.
Avalanche, Down to Earth, Sea Green.
All do well here either outside or in the tunnels.
The seed I got a couple of years ago from Alan are doing well and some might flower next year. I am looking forward to seeing what comes out.

Susan

[art600]

I planted Alan's seeds back in 2006 and had my first flowers last year.

This year I have had one flower, with more to come.

I am posting a shot of this - nothing exotic as shown by Susan - a good garden plant and large.  I also show the difference in size  between it and an Iranian iris.  If only the delicacy of the Iranian could be bred into good garden plants.

The milk bottle top gives some idea of size