Reticulate Iris - 2014

[Steve Garvie]

First reticulate iris of the new season here is Iris vartanii. It came into flower just before Christmas -as befitting an iris from the Holy Lands.


Iris vartanii


Iris vartanii

[Steve Garvie]

A single bulb of the wild diploid form of Iris danfordiae (bought from Janis Ruksan's last autumn) has broken cover well ahead of the other Iris danfordiae that I have.
It's providing some colour and good cheer during the darkest time of the year!


Iris danfordiae BATM 0357


Iris danfordiae BATM 0357



Iris danfordiae BATM 0357

[David Nicholson]

Iris reticulata seedling from a batch of Alan McMurtrie seed sown 4 September 2009 and flowering for the first time. May well be some others later in the season which I hope will be a little more exotic in colour.

This was seed shared with Arthur Nicholls, TonyG and Lesley and wondered if any of them have (or had in Lesley's case) flowers out?

[Diane Whitehead]

Lucky you, David.

I sowed a lot of Alan's seeds in 2003 and again in 2006 and am still
awaiting my first flower.

[David Nicholson]

Can't be skill on my part Diane. I sowed seven pots with 20 seeds in each pot and when I re-potted them all last July I had enough for four small bulbs in each pot.

[Diane Whitehead]

I've just looked closely at the plants growing where all the labels are for my
McMurtrie seeds, the green-leaved ones that are the only plants in the area,
aside from the blooming snowdrops.

The leaves are almost flat on the ground with the edges sharply folded up.
 The outermost half of each leaf has the edges touching.

I've been scrutinizing the leaves in the retic photos on  the forum but can't
decide if my plants are right.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Iris reticulata seedling from a batch of Alan McMurtrie seed sown 4 September 2009 and flowering for the first time. May well be some others later in the season which I hope will be a little more exotic in colour.

This was seed shared with Arthur Nicholls, TonyG and Lesley and wondered if any of them have (or had in Lesley's case) flowers out?

Looking good David ! Well done !

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Two old cultivars in flower over a month earlier than last year !

Iris histrioides 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'



Iris "Katharine Hodgkin" - obtained as "dark form"...  some whisper that it's a virused form     Any ideas anyone...

[udo]

Nice flowers from all,
here my first:
Iris histrio in the pale form from S-Turkey

[Cyril L]

Luc, Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' is one of those frequently affected by virus, usually manifested by dark blue streaks in the flowers.  Yours look clean.  I have grown it for many years on a raised bed and it seems to be unaffected so far.  However my Iris histrioides 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' got these streaks after 3 or 4 years, so I have disposed of them.

Here is Iris sophenensis x danfordiae 'Passion', one of Alan Mc Murtrie's hybrids, flowering early this year.  Last year it was a month later but it has flowered around Christmas time before.  A very unusual combination of olive and yellow.  I will eventually grow these hybrids outside.  Iris 'Summer Day' has been outside a few years and is doing fine.  I have a few others about to flower.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Luc, Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' is one of those frequently affected by virus, usually manifested by dark blue streaks in the flowers.  Yours look clean.  I have grown it for many years on a raised bed and it seems to be unaffected so far.  However my Iris histrioides 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' got these streaks after 3 or 4 years, so I have disposed of them.

Thanks for the feedback, Cyril ! It's a relief !

Quite a special looking hybrid you're showing there !! 

[Steve Garvie]

Iris reticulata    ex Kuh-e-Abr, Iran.

[Cyril L]

Nice reticulate iris.  Seems easy outside here.  Is this the true colour Steve?  I seem to remember this is one which is blue with no trace of purple.

[Steve Garvie]

In life it is quite a clear blue Cyril.

These images were taken yesterday afternoon as the sun was sinking low in the sky. Such warm golden light is great for saturating reds and yellows but it can make the blues look a little muddy.

I should have adjusted the white balance in photoshop but laziness got the better of me! 

[Cyril L]

That's what I thought Steve.  The time of day does have a marked effect on the colour balance.