Juno (Scorpiris) season 2012

[Maggi Young]

Lovely to see these, Ron. So many Iris lovers around here ( you'll see the numbers that watch the  various Iris pages) that will appreciate seeing your plants.

[ronm]

Thanks Maggi.
I have been a follower of the discussions for a while now, and finally felt I had to jump in. I've so much to learn from all the contibutors here and aspire to the standards so often displayed on these pages. I've just got so many questions! Truly a fantastic resource for new and experienced, young and old, alike.

[Maggi Young]

I've seen a number of your plants in the AGS pages, Ron and I am sure you will have some good tips to share with us on your growing methods.

[ronm]

Always willing to share Maggi.
When I first started I was given some plants by an experienced grower. I offered to pay but he refused. He said ' when I lose them you can give me some back'. Never forgot him and live by his creed.

[BULBISSIME]

The best way to get new plants Ronm !!  
Congratulation, your I. narbutii is gorgeous

[PeterT]

very good plants Ron, how long have you been growing narbuti, do you protect it from freezing?

[ronm]

Thanks Fred. Interesting that its 'twin' which was planted in a seperate pot and around 2cm. deeper is just poking its nose through the grit. Otherwise both have been treated identically. Makes it difficult to answer when people ask ' when does this or that plant flower?'

[arillady]

Great to see another iris grower on this forum and beautiful plant Ron.
I am also hoping that all in the northern hemisphere do not get too much snow in climates that are not used to it.

[ronm]

Thanks Peter. Had this plant three years from a two year old seedling from a plant fair. This plant froze solid for weeks last year in its pot, and only put up badly damaged small leaves a year ago. When I came to investigate it in September there were two very nice bulbs , covered in dead black sludge. After cleaning, splitting and re potting this is the result. Conclusions .....unsure yet!

[PeterT]

You were lucky, not a common plant at a fair! They usually freeze with me, but freezing while in flower can cause the mushy flower to infect the bulb with botrytis, and they hate prolonged freezing after top growth has started. Congratulations for keeping it over Summer.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great to have you here Ron ! 
I. narbuti looks just as heavenly out here as on the other pages ! 

[ronm]

Thanks so much for the kind welcomes. I hope I can add something to what you all have built up here. Such a vast wealth of experience and a great collective of questioning, challenging minds.
The glasshouse I use for the Junos has a naturally dry atmosphere and I do everything I can to maintain that ( rightly or wrongly ), and as such never , to date, have suffered with moulds of any kind above soil level. This even extends to old crocus flowers which are notorious for causing issues. { tempting fate !!? }.

[Janis Ruksans]

I. narbutii.
This was a week ago, and has been posted elsewhere. But now I'm here I thought, why not?

Superb!   
Janis

[ronm]

Thank you Janis.

[Oron Peri]

Early this week Fred Depalle [BULBISSIME] and my self went to Jordan to look for Juno Irises.
There are not less then 5 species growing in Jordan. Seems we were the only nuts to walk in the mountains at this time of the year...
It was  too early for most of the species as rains came very late this year and the south of Jordan is completely dry yet.
Luckily!! [after 6 years for me] we have found Iris edomensis in full bloom, it is a small species but really breathtaking.
Here are some samples.