Iris and some Irids 2006-2007

[zephirine]

No, definitely NOT baking in summer. This iris prefers a soil which is cool all year round. It is one of the "crested" irises, such as japonica, tectorum and others.

Very good news, Leslie, as this is what I have to offer the more easily! lol...
Thank you!
Zephirine

[fermi de Sousa]

The first of the Louisiana iris, "John's Lucifer" opened this week.




Nice colour and the next door one is about to open and it appears to be a yellow, maybe a pic by next week!
cheers
fermi

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Beautiful specimen Fermi !
Tell us, how many different Iris do you grow ? 

[mark smyth]

Great question Luc. Tops has to be the one still in a three inch pot

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I find it very hard to choose from all these beauties Mark, but I agree that the one you mention looks smashing !

[Armin]

Fermi & Paul,
its a great pleasure to see your cultivars! Please post more!

[Lesley Cox]

The Louisianas look very good Fermi. Wrong climate here. They grow well enough but rarely flower so I've given up on them.

[fermi de Sousa]

Luc and Mark,
the answer is "as many as I can"!
Unfortunately our dry climate means some have to be grown in the shade house but I've had luck with types that enjoy cold winters and hot dry summers, such as the reticulata and DBI. My latest obsession (especially since the Prague Conference) is the Juno and Onco iris!
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Fermi, that's an obsession that will break your heart and your bank balance, though you'll be more successful than I am, with your rainless summers. Best of luck with them.

[fermi de Sousa]

In the meantime, the "yellow" Louisiana Iris turned out to be "Dural White"!


cheers
fermi

[Cris]

Hi

Fermides, your Iris are simply beatiful. What colors

I have a Iris japonica (is this right) and it's started growing now. I have a question: does it like much water or can it stay more dry? And it's sensible to cold winter?

Thanks
Cris

[Lesley Cox]

Iris japonica and all species in that crested group, prefer some moisture in their soil and they also like some overhead shade. They'll take dry conditions but don't flower so well then. The smaller species like cristata and gracilipes are very hardy but the taller species, including japonica, wattii and others don't like much frost. It doesn't kill them here (to - 6C maybe) but the leaves get very tatty. The overhead shade gives shelter though.

[Lesley Cox]

While I think of it Fermi, will you, Otto and Cynthia go on the Mt Hutt day? My car (and lunch) will be available for 4 people. You would enjoy it very much I think.

[Cris]

Thanks Lesley. This is a beatiful flower and I wanto to treat it well to can seen its flowers.

 

[fermi de Sousa]

A third Louisiana Iris has come into bloom, "Black Gamecock" which I planted out last year into the "peat bog" and it obviously likes it!




I didn't notice the caterpillar on the last flower till I "developed" the pic!!!


cheers
fermi