Sunday, March 12, 2017

Dwarf Bearded Iris

As you watch the changes in your iris plants in the spring you contemplate with anticipation the appearance of buds and can't help but feel anxious on the sporadic nights when the temperatures drop below freezing.  The first bearded iris buds and possibly the toughest with respect to frost damage are the dwarf iris.  Soon we'll be enjoying their blooms and hopefully not see too much frost damage.  Schreiners recently posted an on-line a link to their dwarf iris offerings.  Hope you enjoy clicking through the pictures.

https://www.schreinersgardens.com/dwarf-iris?utm_source=FullCatalogAnnounc_021917&utm_campaign=FullCatalogLaunch_030917&utm_medium=email

Monday, March 6, 2017

Another False Start?

Last year we had an early Spring in upstate New York. That was followed by a week of hard freeze. My daffodils were fooled and what did bloom was a very poor show. I fear we may be sin the same state this year, but it may be worse.  After almost 3 weeks of weather well above freezing in February, we plunged back to bitter cold. Today, March 6, its 56ยบ.  The daffodils are about 4" high. I am hoping that the iris will not be badly affected.  A friend at the Western New York Iris Society yesterday said that she has seen damage already.  I can't bear to look at what has happened to some of my newer varieties, especially Japanese and Pseudata.

Off Season Fun

While the iris sleep I have plenty keep me busy, but this year I decided to resurrect an interest in art.  Pastels are a new medium for me.  Of course the subject is iris.


Friday, March 3, 2017

Buyer Beware

The 2017 Breck's catalog front cover features a picture of a bearded iris which is identified as 'Golden Zebra.'   Its height is listed as 10 inches.  McClure & Zimmerman also list 'Golden Zebra' and their description is similar to Breck's but they list it as an Iris versicolor which it certainly is not.  Iris versicolor is a beardless iris native to Region 2 of the American Iris Society and much of the Northeast.




The real 'Golden Zebra' registered with the American Iris Society (AIS) is 'Golden Zebra' (Sass, R. 1956) Sdlg. 51-106. TB, 34" (86 cm). Midseason bloom. Bitone. Standards very deep yellow, near orange; Falls deep yellow heavily striped brown. Sdlg. 48-175: ('Tobacco Road' x 43-40) X 'Russet Wings' sdlg.




Although Breck's 'Golden Zebra' may look good in your garden, you could never exhibit it in an AIS sanctioned show and expect it to be judged.  It is not registered with the AIS.