Beardeds need full sun and good drainage. Bed preparation depends upon your soil. I like to dig in bonemeal and a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Schreiners site has lots of information.

Probably 2 months to bloom time in your zone. If so you may not have bloom this year.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.schreinersgardens.com/how-to-grow-care-for-bearded-iris

vettin, there's a Memorial Day garden fair not far from me, and a vendor sells bearded iris rhizomes. I've planted them successfully -- even had some flower the same summer.

Meadows Farms nursery (and probably Merrifield Garden Center) have bearded iris in gallon pots for $12 apiece. I almost bought Titan's Glory yesterday but decided I don't really have a good place for more iris. If you plant potted iris now, they will bloom in May. Ordering rhizomes from Schreiner's gives you a MUCH greater selection but they arrive in August and don't bloom the first year. You may see dried out rhizomes in bags at the box stores -- don't buy those, they were dug last summer and are near death.

The normal time to dig and plant bearded iris is summer. Potted iris from garden centers can be planted now, or next month. They aren't picky on timing.