Bearded Iris 2007 to 2009

[Lesley Cox]

Pleased you're posting these Paul. My taller vars aren't out yet but in any case, yours are different names from mine so there will be a wide selection to look at. Doesn't matter that they're not your own. It gives people an idea of what they may want to order (or want NOT to order ). What an incredible selection of colour combinations bearded irises give us. Truly something for everyone.

[Maggi Young]

Every time I look at these bearded iris, I think of Las Vegas showgirls or can-can dancers from the Moulin Rouge!  They make Dame Edna look restrained, don't they?

[Lvandelft]

Paul, thank you for showing these bright pictures. Looking at them I get 'summer feelings'.
Though I cannot complain about today, when I could walk through the garden in lovely sunshine, but there are hardly any flowers here at the moment.
In November we are reaching the so called 'dark days before Christmas' 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great show Paul !

The vote of the Belgian jury goes to "Starring" 

[Lesley Cox]

As an illustration of how many bearded irises are around, and how many different breeders, I have recently had three new catalogues from specialist TB growers, and not a single one of Paul's pictured vars is mentioned. Many are Australian, most are American. The very subtle differences between so many different named vars also shows how it is important if at all possible, to visit the nurseries before choosing, rather than order from a printed catalogue. Not always an option though.

[Lesley Cox]

Just this one today, a Table iris or Min TB, called New Idea. I like it because the foliage is very healthy and short, the stems well above it. Also, the two stems on a new plant will have at least 10 flowers. It is a little like the Arilbred 'Vera.'

[Paul T]

Many of the irises I showed have come from the iris nursery we visited (Rainbow Ridge).  Some of the pics I showed are of varieties that have not yet been released (at least two of those I pictured are slated to be released next year, according to their labels).  I buy most of my irises from them, as does the friend I showed the pics from his garden.  'Dark Top' and 'Baby Blush' are recently registered seedlings that haven't yet been released and at this stage don't have a release date.  So there are 4 of them that you really couldn't have found in any catalogues as yet.

I must admit that I agree with the Belgian Jury.  I saw a big clump at the nursery of 'Starring' and it stood out brilliantly.  I had a feeling that I had bought it last year and I had.  Unfortunately it is a single rhizome that is flowering without offsetting this year, so I am hoping that it will put on a late fan or two or else I will have to purchase it again after it flowers out. 

[Lesley Cox]

It may be something of a sacrifice Paul but if you were to cut the flowering stem now or well before it finishes flowering, that would be the best possible start for new fans. With no flower to put energy to, it will make new growths.

[Paul T]

Lesley,

I did that to all of those (I have had a few this year) that are in danger of flowering out.  Some were neatly before the iris show, so it worked well.  The others were enjoyed inside in the house.  I don't know whether it really helps or not, but I figured it was worth a try.  I had wondered about whether to try to set seed on a flower, just to elongate the season that the plant remains active, then nick the rhizome slightly to try to stimulate offsetting, but decided instead to just remove the flowers and hope!! 

[Joakim B]

Paul some lovely ones there.
I could care if it is grown by You or if the photos comes from the garden of the PM.
If it is Iris I love to see it.

Only now I have the opportunity to post the pic of the sorry looking iris that flowered end of October.
I took the pic after the flower had seen its best time. The weather was bad with rain so that explain the shabby conditions of the plant but as a contrast how the HS plants look it is worth posting it. I did not detect much scent in the cold weather.

Kind regards
Joakim

[Lesley Cox]

Paul some lovely ones there.
I could(n't) care if it is grown by You or if the photos comes from the garden of the PM.

I would like our current PM better if he did grow irises. On the other hand one from some years ago grew a great collection of lilies and I couldn't stand HIM. Pompous little... But on his death, his widow advertised and distributed free of charge, much of his collection and seed from it, to a grateful gardening public.

[Maggi Young]

Jings, a rare case of public benefit from a politician... albeit a dead one 

[fermi de Sousa]

Jings, a rare case of public benefit from a politician... albeit a dead one 

Is that tantamount to saying; " the only good politician is a dead one"?   
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Lesley,
I think you earlier mentioned a remontant DBI with purple flowers, and I wonder if it's the same as this one;


If so, what is it's name, please?
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

It looks very much the same Fermi though I guess it's not possible to be quite sure from a picture. If so, it is called 'The Gem.' I was pretty sure it was raised by Jean Stevens in NZ way back but I don't see it in the Checklist of NZ Raised irises, so maybe not.