Iris and some Irids 2008

[David Nicholson]

Here's a picture of my Iris lazica still sending up flowering stems albeit a single stem at a time. I posted the first one on 4 December. Now why can't I get my Iris uguicularis to flower?

 

[Maggi Young]

David, what a stunning flower, and doing so well for you.
As to your Iris unguicularis.... why should yours flower for you, mine never flowers for me?

[Lesley Cox]

My I. unguicularis wouldn't flower until I totally neglected and ignored it and had weeds growing up, over and through it. THEN it started to bloom and still does each year, still covered in other rubbish and thriving apparently on being treated with contempt. It's never watered or given any love or affection whatsoever, which is odd as I do, in fact, love it very much indeed.

[David Shaw]

Our I unguicularis has also failed to flower this winter.Could ir be that it likes a hot, dry summer?

[Lesley Cox]

It certainly does. Maybe not the easiest thing to provide in north-east Scotland?

And although it always looks shabby, it DOES NOT like to have its old leaves removed. Many people cut them back on the premise that the rhizomes, thus exposed to the sun, will enjoy the baking but the plants doesn't appreciate the shearing at all.

[arillady]

The patches of Iris unguicularis that have done really well are those in the full sun that get backed ... uhm but one patch has a huge rock on the western )setting sun) side. I might cut the tops back but only by a third to a half but I usually don't do a thing and they flower well. The might get some extra water if they are lucky. The best patch is just behind the large patch of Urginia maritima.

[Hans A.]

Many Plants are flowering out of time and much earlier than normal - so this yellow Iris suaveolens the violet form flowerd here  in january.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

 A really nice form Hans !

[Armin]

Hans, very lovely!

[art600]

Here are two more photographed near Deskati in northern Greece
 

[Gerhard Raschun]

now in flower-indoor

[David Nicholson]

now in flower-indoor

Lovely, but why indoors Gerhard?

[Casalima]

I would be most grateful for any recommendations for books on irises - varieties and/or cultivation.

Chloë
resolved to start bringing her book collection up to date ...

[Gerdk]

I would be most grateful for any recommendations for books on irises - varieties and/or cultivation.
Chloë
resolved to start bringing her book collection up to date ...

Chloe,
there is ' Iris ' from Fritz Köhlein - 1981 Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart

unfortunately in German - maybe there is an English version published later?

Gerd

[Hans A.]

Chloe - another very good book is "The Iris"- author Brian Mathew - this is also a bit older ( 2. edition 1991?), it is more detailed than  Köhleins book - and easier to obtain.