Iris, non-bearded 2016

[johnralphcarpenter]

I think the second one is 'Perry's Blue'. All lovely.

[ashley]

Some beautiful irises, including these various crysographes forms and Paul's fine sibirica hybrid. 
John, your photos show very well the rich colour of x hollandica 'Eye of the tiger' as well as the unique shape and markings of tectorum.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for your photos John. It's really nice for me to see some irises when all of mine are in winter mode. I haven't even seen buds yet on I. unguicularis. I feel a bit like an addict whose supplier has gone AWOL. WhenI see your obviously very fine 'Perry's Blue,' I am mindful of how reliant we in NZ have been on American importations for so long. I doubt if anything has come from the UK for at least 50 years, in sibricas or TBs anyway.

[johnstephen29]

Hi Ralph, Ashley and Lesley thanks for your kind words, I really tried to make sure the photos were doing the plants justice as the iris is one of my favourite plants, so many different species and hybrids, and I love them all. TBs? Lesley?

[Lesley Cox]

Hello John,
Yes I love TBs too but have to admit to liking more, the older, more tailored forms rather than the ultra frilly and laced modern kinds and over all I prefer clean, clear colours to the sometimes bizarre combinations we see today. The so-called splashed forms I don't like at all. So yes, call me old-fashioned if you wish.

[johnstephen29]

I wouldn't call you that Lesley, I wouldn't be so rude😉 To be honest I'm a bit that way myself, I'm a bit of a species freak, if I like a plant I will try to get the species rather than any hybrids that are available, not that there is anything wrong with hybrids, each to his or her own as the saying goes.

[Philip Walker]

My Iris sibirica from mixed a seed packet

[TC]

Iris Delavayi.   It has taken me about 6 years to finally get flowers from seed.  I had almost given up as I had lost the label and kept wondering what the pot of leaves were going to flower as.
Now I know.

[Lesley Cox]

  not that there is anything wrong with hybrids, each to his or her own as the saying goes.

Absolutely John.

[Lesley Cox]

There's hope for mine then Tom. This spring coming will be its 6th year though the first 4 were all in a pot so it may take a bit longer as the growth was very restricted. I had 4 seedlings from NZIS seed and one of them is regularly strongly variegated as it comes through, a good clean light yellow and green striped form. Even without flowers it has been very attractive. The variegation ages to full green but not until well into the summer. It should be spectacular in bloom especially if it reaches its full height potential of 1.5 metres or, as one I know, even more.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for your photos John. It's really nice for me to see some irises when all of mine are in winter mode. I haven't even seen buds yet on I. unguicularis. I feel a bit like an addict whose supplier has gone AWOL. WhenI see your obviously very fine 'Perry's Blue,' I am mindful of how reliant we in NZ have been on American importations for so long. I doubt if anything has come from the UK for at least 50 years, in sibricas or TBs anyway.

Article in the June edition of 'The Plantsman' on Cedric Morris (there is usually a 'Plantsman Biography' in each edition and very interesting they are too) In the article it mentions that Morris was "a very private man in the world of horticulture. Any publicity about his planting emerged from his connections in the 1940's with growers such as the highly active active Orpington Nurseries in Kent and [Perry's Hardy Plant Farm in Essex]"................ I wonder if this is where the name for 'Perry's Blue' came from?

[johnstephen29]

Could well be David, I'd be pleased as punch if it was named after me

[Regelian]

Nice delavayi!  I've been trying to get true seed for years.  I hope a selfing takes.

Here are a couple of Louisianas and a I. forrestii.  The forrestii has been a task, as the snails and slugs love the stems!  This is the only bloom that survived on 3 seedlings.

[Roma]

Iris 'Broadleigh Carolyn' is flowering well this year.
Iris sibirica grown from seed.  The flowers are quite small but there's a lot of them held well above the foliage.

[David Nicholson]

Iris spuria ssp maritima