An IB from Paul Black New in My Garden!

Man's Best Friend is from Paul Black in 2008, but it didn't make it into my garden until 2016.  I sure hope it sticks around. Even my husband who general doesn't care for color mixes like this said. "That is stunning."

'Man's Best Friend' Black 2008 IB

'Man's Best Friend' Black 2008 IB

IB Stars In My Garden

Intermediate bearded (IB) iris are a great choice for the casual gardener.  One established, they tend to clump nicely and bloom vigorously.  Here are some garden stars:

Despite being in a spot where TBs have not thrived, 'Outer Edge' is in its third year and going gangbusters.

'Outer Edge' P. Black 2011 IB

No, it's not just another purple plicata.  Its wonderful substance hold up to the weather and the 23" height keeps it wind resistant. The 'purple' is a wide band of a rich red-purple (I would say mulberry).
Paul Black hit this one out of the park.

'Outer Edge' P. Black 2011 IB

Another Terry Aitken Hawaiian themed cultivar is 'Many Mahalos.' An orange self (meaning standard and falls are the same color) its beards are a deeper orange. The form is more traditional.  The falls while being held up do curve downward.  It really makes the color statement more complete and, as you can see the bloom is prolific. The iris geeks would say it is floriferous. I say: lots of color, easy to grow.  The complimentary color of the allium is a plus.

'Many Mahalos' Aitken 2003 IB 

'Many Mahalos' Aitken 2003 IB 

SDB two year clumps

Here's a picture of three second year clumps of SDBs from Rick Tasco.  From left to right we have:
'Blue Oasis' (2015), 'Chocolate Swirl' (1999) and 'Feel The Heat (2015).  They have been putting on a nice display this year.

Iris Lactea

Here's a beardless species iris from China that blooms at this time of year.  Iris lactea produces an airy display of small blue blooms.

Iris Cristata

Here's a nice beardless iris for shade that doesn't get very tall.  Iris cristata is a species iris and grows wild in the eastern United States.  It makes a nice carpet.

Arilbreds from Vaughn's Garden

'Parable' T.Johnosn 2011 AB

'Parable' (2011) AB from Tom Johnson increases rapidly, has purple based foliage and puts on a good show.

'Patriot's Gem' F. Gadd 1993 AB

'Patriot's Gem' (1993) from Fred Gadd also makes nice clumps and grows well.

"Chain Reaction' 2007 & 'Free As The Wind' 2015 R.Tasco ABs 

'Chain Reaction' (2007) and 'Free As The Wind' (2015) from Rick Tasco are also good growers in upstate NY.

'Golden Compass', T. Johnson 2012 is an easy to grow arilbred median that you can't miss when it's in bloom.

A Bad Round Up

I've been waiting for this red MDF to bloom.  One of the first Black SDBs to be introduced by Schreiner's in 2014 this first short unfurling showed its potential.

'Fire' Black 2014 SDB

Alas in an effort to save some weeding time I used Round Up.  Don't tell Kyle.  Apparently some got on the leaves of this cultivar.  I only recognize this because the same happened in friend's garden. Believe it or not this picture shows two blooms from the same clump.