Reticulate Iris 2010

[Gail]

Has everyone seen the fantastic picture of I. zagrica on the AGS site? (You have to scroll past a lot of galanthus!)

http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/discussion/miscellaneous/RHS+London+Early+Spring+Show+/349/

[Maggi Young]

I hadn't seen those pix on the AGS site, Gail, thanks.


The last flower of I. zagrica in close up looks to have virus in it....eek! And the plant was awarded a Botanical commendation!

[winwen]

Virused or not, I find that the coloring of Hans plant is superior to the ones shown onthe AGS-site.
Nevertheless: all are really gorgeous plants indeed!

[Hristo]

+20c yesterday encouraged 'Katherine Hodgkin' and histrioides to flower, temperatures now down to +2c with snow, oh the humanity!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Iris ret. Kuh-e-Abr opened in the sun today.

2 flowers  from 3 bulbs - nr 3 way behind and looking terribly virused... 

Luc, unfortunately the others look very suspect too
It's so frustrating to buy bulbs that turn out to be heavily diseased.

I have recovered from shock now  Ashley.. I decided to let the leaves develop a bit more and post another pic here for further examination.. 
I'll also drop a line to the supplier, see what he says.
In the mean time my moral has boosted seeing your wonderful Iris, Ashley and Chris : beautiful stuff !!

[Hristo]

Thanks Luc, I do hope you get satisfaction from your supplier!

[Janis Ruksans]

the last one could be "Harmony". 

I think you're right Armin.  Thanks.

Could be JOYCE, too - the difference is very small.
Janis

[Hans A.]

Thanks for all the kind comments!

Hans , thank you for showing the handsome I. zagrica .This is the first time I have seen it , it looks as though it may ripen its seeds on a stem like I. pamphylica - must be closely related . Hope my seed from J.J. A. will germinate .

Otto, in last years topic there were shown some very beautiful pictures of this species - if I remember well also of the seedpods. I am sure some more pictures will follow here a bit later (here nearly everything is earlier than in the more northern parts of europe)

@winwen - it is about 10 cm high and belongs to the smaller flowering ones of the reticulata group - but I agree with you, it is a gem. Think it will not be self fertil but in any way I tried to self it.

@gail - thanks for the link, the pictures are really fantastic - but I fear maggi's suspicion is correct.

Chris + ashley thanks for showing those beauties!

[Hristo]

Thanks for looking Hans!

Some old timers and newbies flowering. The danfordiae is the standard triploid in cultivation. This is in it's second consecutive flowering year. 'Lovely Liza' is new to me this year,  Iris 'Harmony' bulks up very quickly in the open garen here. Lastly 'Velvet Smile' is in a covered bulb bed, she has bulked up to  point where she can move out into the open garden the end of this season.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Looking good Chris !
They seem to like the Balkan conditions !
I planted 3 bulbs of Lovely Liza in 2008 - got only 1 flower last year and am very curious what it will give this year ? (not showing yet)

[Hristo]

Hi Luc,
I can't think of a single reticulata that hasn't performed better here than in th UK.No great surprise given the change in latitude I guess. I had some Iris vartanii pips from Alex, I put 4 in the open garden, and 4 each in two bulb frames. The garden pips came up last, missed a cold snap, they are now the better looking plants! A good summer bake is all but guaranteed here whch seems to enhance flowering.
We have seedligs from our own seed and from Alan McMurtrie ad it will be interesting to see how quickly they go to flower!

I shall look forward to seeing your 'Lovely Liza' Luc, is she pot,frame or garden growing?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

My Liza is in the garden Chris ! 
Do I read correctly that your climate doesn't guarantee a good summer baking ?? I would have thought you did have a hot and dry summer 

[Hristo]

Hi Luc,
It is possible to have a 'wet summer' here, but they are very rare and do not constitute a wet summer NW Europe style. It can rain like mad for a week in July or August and within a few days all will be dry again! I guess I am being just a little cautious having only seen 5 summers in Bulgaria. I shoud go for a dry summer bake is guaranteed I guess!!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Seems reasonable to me... 

[David Nicholson]

Lovely show Chris, and flowering Iris danfordiae two years running-I'm impressed!!