It’s iris time again and I suspect many of you, like me, have gone through a series of plant obsessions in your gardening journey. Years ago I became enchanted with hybrid tea roses; that obsession only lasted a couple of years because of all the pests those roses are heir to, and all the chemicals needed to keep them looking great. I went on to hostas, collecting as many different varieties as I could manage in what was then a shady back garden.
Then I went through a hardy geranium stage, and briefly flirted with peonies until, about ten years ago, I was browsing through one of my favorite nurseries when a tall bearded iris named Impressionist screamed at me from across the rows of plants, “BUY ME! BUY ME!” So I did and that is how I succumbed to the iris virus.
Since then, my ardor for the tall bearded irises has cooled somewhat. Oh, I still adore them, but it’s often windy here, thus many of them have to be staked, which I really don’t have time for. Iris borers love them, so I must keep a careful eye to rid the stalks of those bastards before they reach the rhizome. I have spent many peaceful summer hours calmly drowning iris borers, and since my garden is totally organic and a NWF certified wildlife habitat, I can’t spray or treat for borers. I won’t sully this diary by posting a photo of the vile little creatures, but you can see and read about them here if you like.
Fortunately for iris lovers, there are other varieties in addition to the tall bearded. From the very small miniature dwarf bearded (MDB) through the slightly taller standard dwarf bearded (SDB) to the Intermediate (IB) and Border bearded (BB), and to the graceful and my current favorite — miniature tall bearded (MTB), the spurias, not to mention the beardless irises, it is quite possible to have some type of iris blooming for several months in the spring and early summer.
So without further ado, here are some of the beauties that bloomed or are blooming in my garden this spring. I’ll begin with some of the standard dwarf bearded since they bloomed before the miniature ones this year.
|
|
|
|
As you can see, I have lots of these little irises. They are fun because they don’t take up much room in the garden and they come in so many interesting and beautiful color combinations. One of my greatest spring pleasures is the early morning garden walk-about with a cup of coffee to see what has opened during the night.
The intermediate and border bearded irises are taller and usually bloom a bit after the SDBs or a little before the tall guys. I have added more of these medium sized irises in the past few years. Here are a few that bloomed (or are still blooming) this spring.
I believe Starwoman is the only IB iris to win the prestigious Dykes medal, in 2008. The Dykes is the highest honor for an iris and usually goes to a Tall Bearded.
|
|
|
|
As I write this, the tall bearded and miniature tall bearded irises are in full bloom. I no longer buy new TBs but have many that still bloom in my garden, and I have begun collecting the miniature tall bearded. They have a smaller flower than the TBs and slender stalks and form lovely clumps of delicate beauty. And they DO NOT have to be staked.
The TB irises I am sharing here are the ones that have performed well year after year in my windy, northern climate. I have lost many of the TBs that I bought over the years; in fact, I am probably the only gardener in the whole country who has actually lost DUSKY CHALLENGER. Yes, it’s true. Reliable for years and then suddenly, this year, GONE. But as Henry Mitchell said, “Everything grows for everybody. Everything dies for everybody too.” (The Writer in the Garden).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have loved and lost many more TB irises through the years, but these pictured above have held on until now. As mentioned, I no longer buy the tall bearded, but have started collecting the miniature tall bearded. I do not have very many yet, but below is a sampling of what has bloomed this spring. Many of them are still blooming.
And now the Siberians are blooming too! This one is blooming for the first time:
|
|
|
|
|
|
I posted an iris diary last spring too, and that time I included a poll so you could vote for your favorite. This year there are too many irises for that, so instead, please tell us about any plant obsessions you may have had in the comments.
And what is happening in your gardens today?