Bearded Iris

Flowers Then and Now

| Flower Roberts

What a difference twelve days makes in the garden this time of the year. My busy husband sent me some flower photos this morning. I took similar pictures while I was home in early April. Let’s compare them.

Bletilla striata had only one bloom per stalk.
Chinese Ground Orchid Bletilla

I dug up about half of this Ground Orchid while I was home and filled in the hole with good soil. It has really taken off blooming since then.

The iris row was all pink earlier.
Shipshape had only one open bloom but many buds then.
Persian Berry, Shipshape and Night Affair

The pink Persian Berry is a bully. The blue Ship Shape and deep purple Night Affair hold their own better than more timid growers like Little Much.

Gibralter had one open bloom two weekends ago.
The Flame Azalea ‘Gibralter’ always amazes me. It glows in bright sunshine. This photo was taken in morning. Its deep color looks saturated here.
This was the only bloom so I zoomed in on it.
Now, this Spiderwort is in full swing.

I have read that deer do not eat Spiderwort, but something eats the one in the front yard. This one is in the now bunniless, bunny yard. Safe from whatever eats the other one.

Every day is different once plants start growing and blooming. I inspect plants several times each day during spring.

I am happy Mr. Flower and Rose are enjoying our blooms at home. I appreciate seeing my flowers from afar.

FLOWER

My Needy Garden

| Flower Roberts

I came home for a few days. I have hauled most of my small plants out of my workshop. I cannot budge the big ones. Mr. Flower will have to assist.

I hate to admit that my heart no longer loves them like it used to. I feel their need pulling me down. Thank goodness I have given about 2/3 of my collection away.

I did some weeding and trimming today. I also took photos of my garden. Here are a few.

This huge azalea must be protected by fence. Any sprout that sticks out is eaten twig and all my the herd of fifteen deer.

Little Much bearded iris

This gentle iris was surrounded and strangled by some bullies, especially pink Persian Berry. It has thrived on this bank in isolation.

Rose and I spotted a visitor as we sat in the swing. Our friend the fox trotted across the yard and headed up into the woods. I was thrilled to see it looking so healthy.

Our neighbor the fox.

My iris bed has two types blooming now. Persian Berry and Thunder Echo.

Persian Berry (back) and Thunder Echo iris

I am glad to be home, but next time I come, I will have my assistant joining me. Seeing so much to do and not being able to do it was frustrating.

FLOW and the fox

Iris in April

| Flower Roberts

The rainbow of colors has started in the iris beds.

Pink was first as Persian Berry bloomed early in April.

Persian Berry Iris

Thunder Echo was second with its deep burgundy edges and tan frilled top.

Thunder Echo Iris

Taco Supreme joined the group yesterday.

Taco Supreme Iris

Little Much has been set apart so as not to be crowded by others.

Little Much Iris

Banana Frappe burst out brightly this week.

Banana Frappe Iris

Just this morning Night Affair opened its hatch to guide pollinators to its treasure.

Night Affair Iris
Guide markings for pollinators. Brush hairs below.

These are the colors of my Iris Rainbow on this lovely April morning.

My garden blesses me over and over.

Flower

Immortality

| Flower Roberts

This iris bloomed for the first time on Easter morning.

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It will continue to bloom periodically all summer and into the fall.

It is only about two feet high, so should be planted in the middle of a bed

instead of the usual back row of hybrid bearded  iris.

It is easy to grow, elegant and deer resistant.

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Bearded iris, Iris germanica ‘Immortality’.

Flower

Divide to Multiply

| Flower Roberts

It’s time to divide your bearded iris.

Thunder Echo
Thunder Echo

Look at each grouping. Did they bloom well in April?

Are the leaves small?  Are there white spots?  Brown streaks?  Holes?

Are the rhizomes skinny?  Holes in spots?  Packed together?

Clean iris are happy iris.

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I have not sprayed mine in a decade,

because I cut and clean them several times each year.

The rhizomes like to stay dry and bake in the sun.

This can’t happen if they are crowded.

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Clean it before you move any plant. That way you don’t move problems.

This is especially true if sharing plants with friends.

They will not appreciate your disease or tenacious weed.

HERE WE GO!

Lift the group you wish to move.  I use a combo of dig and pull.  Clean each one off.

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Let it stand out for a day or two in the shade to harden off the cuts.

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Cleaned and separated.

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Trash pile from cleaning.

IF you must do the move and replant in the same day,

you may want to dust breaks and cuts on the rhizome with sulfur powder.

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To replant, dig a large basin-type trench,

so that you can reach across it in the future to clean them.

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Amend soil as needed.

The spot you choose should be sunny and well-drained.

Spread out the roots as you cover them.

I usually bury the entire roots and rhizome and then tug the rhizome to the surface.

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Pretend it is floating on the soil like a little boat, half-submerged.

My Daddy likes to tease me by looking at my iris and asking,

“When are you going to plant those?”

Mud them in. (Flood with water.)

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I always say that transplanting a plant without “mudding it in”,

is like transplanting an organ without hooking up the arteries.

When you are done, go take a shower. You will need it…and maybe a nap, too.

FLOWER

 

 

Tidy It Up in July

| Flower Roberts

I know it is hot!

Our temperatures are in the 90’s in North Carolina.

I also know that the weeds are growing fast due to our afternoon rains.

My garden is like a sauna in the afternoons, so I must work in the mornings.

I get all my tools, bug repellent, hat , bandana scarf , gloves and bucket together.

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I make a big bottle of 1/3 Gatorade, 1/3 water and 1/3 ice.

I march myself outside and refuse to come in until I have done

my proposed section of garden.

I ride my little cart or sit on a snow disc on the hills.

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Right now is time to clean up bearded iris and daylilies.

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Bearded iris before cleaning. Keep in rows for easy access. I clean mine several times per year.

My method is to cut plants down to 8 inch fans, remove stalks and totally clean out around each plant.

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If you have any plant diseases, you need to dip your shears in a bleach solution between plants.

Here is yesterday’s pile of cuttings and weeds.

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I will put fresh mulch around the cleaned up plants in several days.

I can divide and move things around later, but it is important to clean up so as not to move problems with the plants.

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MY NEXT POST will be on dividing bearded iris. Stay tuned for that.

Follow the SWEATING FLOWER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Grandma Ida May and the Iris

| Flower Roberts

We had a row of bearded iris behind the vegetable garden.
They hadn’t bloomed in years.
They were crowded and full of weeds.
Nobody had time to tend them.
My sister and I were teenagers finding ourselves.
My mama was teaching junior high. Bless her.
My daddy was keeping the power on at work.
The iris never made it on the list of things to do.

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Then Great Grandma Ida May came for a visit.
She disappeared from the house.
We looked out the back windows.
There she was, bent over those iris in her little cotton dress.
Her locket was swinging from her neck as she stooped and straightened up.

She spent hours weeding and cleaning around those iris.
Giving them room to grow.

It puzzled my adolescent self why this old woman felt the need to stand out there in the hot sun bent over those iris.

The next spring they bloomed like never before.
They bloomed again the next year, and the next.

Now I have iris in my own garden.

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Persian Berry

Thunder Echo
Thunder Echo

I guess when I’m old,  my grandchildren will see me bent over them,
helping them to grow and bloom.
The iris I mean.

Follow the FLOWER.