Oncos 2011

[Hans A.]

Fantastic grown plants, Hendrik!

[BULBISSIME]

I agree with Jamie : iris Jordana is just fantastic : colour and shape
congratulations for both species hendrick !

[arillady]

Found the garden on the web:
http://www.ramat-hanadiv.org.il/index_en.aspx
Hendrik lovely oncos.

[Alisdair]

Pat and Hendrik (and Fred),
The closest I can get to pinning down I. giladensis (which I'm pretty sure it was spelled on the label) is that in the 1933 Flora of Syria an iris was described as Iris atropurpurea var. gileadensis. The current Kew/Missouri Bot Garden "The Plant List" (which despite being obviously a work-in-progress, with all the defects that naturally go with that, is a wonderful tool) sinks this into Iris atrofusca, but admits to low confidence limits on that judgement, which really means that the question is pretty much open as to whether or not this iris is truly a separate taxon.
We did incidentally bump into David Shahak out in the field - or I should say flat out on the field, as he was stretched full length out on the ground busily measuring and photographing. Oron says David certainly knows far more about Israel's oncos than anyone else.
Here is a link to the Rothschild memorial gardens at Ramat Hanadiv:
http://www.ramat-hanadiv.org.il/lobby.aspx?boneId=323
They are excellent, with a strong educational bent (bee/butterfly gardens etc), an emphasis on native plants (e.g the onco area, which is to dream about); the total area is over 400 hectares, largely a nature park, which surrounds the central area of well laid out and tended themed gardens.

[Miriam]

Very nice display Hendrik, Hans and Alisdair  
This is what I know about Iris gileadensis: Iris gileadensis is not Iris atropurpurea. The distribution of Iris atropurpurea is limited to the Mediterranean coast line. Iris gileadensis is Iris haynei (dark forms) from Jordan ( Gilead is an area refers to the mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the present-day Kingdom of Jordan).

Here is the twin-brother of Hans' Iris damascena
I thought it is pretty similar to Iris hermona, but they are very different both in leaves and flowers.

[Janis Ruksans]

This winter I lost ~80% (may be even more) of my Oncocyclus
Janis

[Rafa]

Like Janis, I lost many of my oncos, but in the other hand some older seedlings have germinate. Needless to say I am more than shocked by the amazing pictures that all of you have posted, congratulations.

Definitively I have to paint Iris camillae and Iris damascena, maybe together in the same plate!!!??.... Hansi? Miri? any picture that you could send meeeeeeeeee

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Gorgeous plants everybody !!

I've got Iris Paradoxa flowering in the garden - with possibility to give it some summer cover when needed.
I'm trying it outside and will have to see if I have the same result next year...

[art600]

WOW 

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Gorgeous plants everybody !!

I've got Iris Paradoxa flowering in the garden - with possibility to give it some summer cover when needed.
I'm trying it outside and will have to see if I have the same result next year...

Well grown, Luc!

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

This winter I lost ~80% (may be even more) of my Oncocyclus
Janis

Janis,
The irises you give me during so many years, grow here in Belgium very well.
I will help you to rebuilt your collection!

Hendrik

[BULBISSIME]

Well grown Miriam and Luc !
Rafa and Janis, I'm also here to save part of onco species, so I will help you to rebuild your collection, as I think it's the only way to save them : to share them !

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Well grown Miriam and Luc !
Rafa and Janis, I'm also here to save part of onco species, so I will help you to rebuild your collection, as I think it's the only way to save them : to share them !

Indeed Fred! The only way to save them is to share them.
Hendrik

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Very nice display Hendrik, Hans and Alisdair  
This is what I know about Iris gileadensis: Iris gileadensis is not Iris atropurpurea. The distribution of Iris atropurpurea is limited to the Mediterranean coast line. Iris gileadensis is Iris haynei (dark forms) from Jordan ( Gilead is an area refers to the mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the present-day Kingdom of Jordan).

Here is the twin-brother of Hans' Iris damascena
I thought it is pretty similar to Iris hermona, but they are very different both in leaves and flowers.

Very beautiful damascena Miriam!
You can see that they grow in the environment of their homeland.
Hendrik

[arillady]

I too am thoroughly enjoying the photos which are amazing.

Rafa if you want to see any of your onco paintings on a cover of an ASI Yearbook or two just let me know.
 
So sad that you have lost so many of your oncos Janis and Rafa but heartwarming to read of the offers of replacements from other members whose irises have fared better.

You don't know how lucky you are to be able to bring in such irises without all the red tape and hoops you have to jump through here in Oz - plus of course the deep pockets and luck you need here.

Arils here are coming away nicely with lots of fresh new leaves. The long range weather forecaster is predicting cold and dry April and May here this year so that possibly means frosts. I better get their gravel covers thicker before it comes. Ants which have made their homes under some of the arils have been dusted and the small snails will get treated too.

A couple of new seedlings have appeared this week in pots. Must be the cold that triggers some of them. Atropurpurea is of course the first to show germination.