Welcome to my Garden

1
Welcome to my Garden

• Enjoy my favorite flowers

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The Bearded Iris

• These glorious spring flowers are the orchids of
  the flower garden,
• Thrive in our climate even though we frequently
  have severe drought conditions.
• They bloom from March through May and longer.
  Some even bloom again in the fall.
• All sizes of plants and blooms can be found from
  dwarf to median to tall.

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In my Garden

• Each year, after the Iris have bloomed I evaluate
  the flowers to decide which varieties bloom the
  best for me.
• I also have individual preferences such as I love
  all the blues.
• I also like unusual forms such as the horned
  varieties.
• Lastly, my soil is sandy and watering is often
  neglected so they must still grow well for me.

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So I am persnickety about what I grow.

• That means that iris that do not conform to my
  idea of what a perfect iris should be must find
  another home.
• It also means that every year I look through
  catalogs to find ones that I like.
• Then I order what tickles my fancy.
• Lastly I have limited space so the no longer
  favorites must be given to a new owner.

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What I really like, this year.

• All American
• Touted to be the red, white and blue iris, this
  iris has red beard, blue falls, and white
  standards.
• The catalog picture shows the blue falls much
  lighter than they show here.

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Bronze Falcon

• This iris was planted last fall and has only one
  fan thus only one bloom stalk.
• It has done well, but will be removed as it fades
  rapidly to a dingy color.
• What do you think about it? Would you keep it?

7
Blue Eyed Blonde

• This is a median iris and blooms earlier than the
  tall bearded irises .
• It makes a clump very rapidly and in two years
  created a lovely show as in the next slide.

8
Blue Eyed Blonde clump

• This is a two year old clump.
• Like most iris it needs full sun in order to put
  on the best show.
• Although not the first to bloom, it is early as
  you can tell by the dated picture.

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Blowtorch

• This is one of the horned iris in the tall
  bearded class.
• The flower is more orange than it shows here and
  the horn is deeper blue.
• Getting the exact color on pictures is not easy.

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Cannonball

• Not really as red as it appears in this picture
  but if you like red it is one of the best.
• It is the only one that I keep.
• The iris at the back of the picture is another
  variety.
• Most of the so-called reds are really brown.

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Chickasaw Sue

• This small iris is another of my favorites even
  though it has a brown tone.
• It was given to me by Bonnie Lowenstein who many
  of us remember with fondness. It has a special
  place in my garden and my heart.

12
Circus World

• You would think from the pictures I have shown so
  far that blue really isnt my color.
• But even I have to admit that this really showy.
  You can see it all the way across the garden.

13
Codocil

• This iris was planted and then the tree near it
  grew enough to shade it but it still bloomed.
• I have moved the rhizome to a sunnier location so
  it will bloom more.
• I really like the contrast provided by the dark
  blue beard

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Conjuration

• This iris was a Dykes medal winner in 1998.
• It is taller than most of the modern iris
  standing 40 tall. 42 in my garden.
• It also has white horn on the end of the beard.
• The highest award given annually to newer
  introductions.

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Conjuration again

• In a large clump all the lovely flowers show to
  their best advantage.
• Far more vigorous than most iris, it should be
  used where its size is an advantage.

16
Unknown dwarf

• I obtained this little jewel from a friend who
  had it for many years. I have no idea what its
  name is.
• Perhaps it never had a name.
• It is one of the earliest to bloom, that year in
  mid-April.

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Another Blue, Marc Allen

• Although no longer found in catalogs this iris
  still blooms in my garden beside my neighbors
  gravel yard.
• It is one of my favorite blues.

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Victoria Falls

• Of all the beautiful blue iris, this Dykes medal
  winner is perhaps the most prolific bloomer.
• It is widely used as a parent of new varieties
  because of the long bloom season and high bud
  count
• It also reblooms in the fall in many areas. That
  requires fall rains or extra irrigation.

19
Moomba

• Introduced from Australia in 1986 this iris is no
  longer available in my catalogs.
• However, the bright red beard on the blue-purple
  falls give it a place in my garden for another
  year or two or more .

20
Mesmerizer

• This pure white iris earned a Dykes medal in
  2000.
• The extra flounce at the end of the beard gives
  the effect of a doubled bloom.
• It is also quite tall at 37 inches. If I could
  have only one white iris this would be the one I
  would choose.

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Dusky Challenger

• Another Dykes medal winner.
• This one in 1992.
• It blooms later in the season and has huge
  flowers which open two, three or even four at a
  time.
• It is frequently the Queen of the Show here in
  Albuquerque.

22
Electrique

• This iris was given to me.
• It has a dusty color which some people find
  attractive.
• However, it fades rather quickly to an
  unattractive greyish tone which I dont care for
  so it has already been given away.

23
Emperors Delight

• The deep color of this Iris was not easily caught
  by the camera.
• However, the computer compensated for the
  cameras failure.

24
Impersonator

• This is an older iris that has a very different
  form.
• There are six falls and no standards so the
  flower opens flat.
• Unfortunately that also means that the bloom is
  sterile so it usually can not be used as a
  parent.
• Other varieties have been developed that have
  this same form but most are less consistent than
  this is.

25
Fondation von Gogh

• This lovely flower appears to be apricot but
  unfortunately it really is a buff brown.
• It makes a wonderful display in the garden and as
  a cut flower.
• I especially like the very ruffled form and the
  delicate color contrast.

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Gorgeous Moment

• I have dabbled in hybridizing Iris from time to
  time and occasionally have an Iris I consider
  worth keeping.
• This vigorous, heavy blooming iris is one such
  variety.

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Howdy do

• One of the tallest of all my Iris is this
  magnificent white.
• This picture clearly shows the distinctive horn
  that ends the beard.
• It is one of the iris I used in hybridizing
  Gorgeous Moment.

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Harvest King

• Another buff brown iris with lots of yellow
  tones.
• I am still undecided about it.
• What would you suggest I do?
• Keep it or not?

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Stairway to Heaven

• When I Look out over the garden it makes all the
  work worthwhile.
• Every year this clump gets bigger and the flowers
  get more numerous.
• How can I let them be unwatered and unloved?

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Planned Treasure

• The first time I saw this Iris I was fatally
  smitten and as soon as the price had dropped to
  what I consider reasonable levels I had to have
  it.
• Isnt it lovely?
• Although it blooms later in the season it is
  worth waiting for.

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Indigo Princess

• Another older blue Iris.
• Notice the ruffling on the falls and standards.
• It was a great addition when growers were able to
  breed for these ruffles.

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Lacy Snowflake

• The edges of the petals of this flower are
  lacinated.
• While that adds to the flowers beauty is also
  makes the bloom slower to open as the fine edges
  hold the falls together.
• I sometimes help the petals unfold with a gentle
  nudge.

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Piping Hot

• Although orange has never been a favorite
  modifying it with the white center of the falls
  makes a pleasant combination.
• Like many of pinks and oranges it is not
  particularly tall.

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Immortality

• This a favorite Iris of people who like finding a
  bloom stalk in their iris patch in the late
  summer.
• It is the most reliable of all the fall bloomers
  and will bloom in most climates where others will
  not.

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Proud Tradition

• Dark blue and white is always a soothing
  combination.
• The orange splash on the left bloom is the
  remains of a spent bloom on Brilliant
  Performance.
• Sad that it is gone.

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All Iris are beautiful to me.

• Another of my hybrids my friend calls Ruths
  Gold.
• She wants me to introduce it. Should I?
• For more information on hybridizing iris and more
  pictures go to my web site at www.gardeningfromthe
  groundup.us or www.nmmastergardeners.org.

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Hybridization

• If you want to try your hand at developing new
  Iris varieties you need to know the parts of the
  flower.
• Simply applying pollen from the stamen to the
  style branch is all that is required.

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Seedlings are great fun

• Another seedling From the same seed pod as the
  one shown before.
• This one shows the stalk with four open blooms.
• Blooms like that win oohs and aahs.

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Getting Rhizomes for your garden.

• Many Iris Societies sell iris rhizomes at the
  correct planting time (usually in July) when the
  iris are semi-dormant.
• Rhizomes may also be obtained from Iris
  specialists nationwide. You can order on-line and
  the rhizomes will be shipped in July or whenever
  is the best time to plant in your area.

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Thats All for NowThanks for watching

• Maybe more next year.
• Pictures and all by me,
• R. Bronson