I only added one type of new bearded Iris this year called 'Decadence'. I haven't seen it bloom yet, so I hope it looks as good as the pic on the label.

I also planted some more of the variegated iris. I'm not sure how Iris enthusiasts feel about those, but I like how the leaves look for most of the season.

Otherwise, I've been moving some around all year long hoping to get them into more sun. I want lots of flowers next year!

I've just about got all the iris I "need", but did trade for a few this year. I got tall bearded Polish Princess, border bearded Jungle Shadows & Lunar Frost, then SDBs Nerida's Wings, Tantara, Snickers, & Sun Doll. I traded for a few new ones last year that didn't bloom this spring, so I will have several to see in the spring. Our local iris society has not had their iris sale for the last 2 years, I really miss that. I always could buy a few from that, & they often had a few quite new ones I could try.

I planted a couple of NOID's that are historics of some kind. There are a lot of them all over town, and I am sort of collecting them together. I'd really like to know which of the "pioneers" brought them and when. Some are historics, but later I think, maybe from the fifties. I have seen Helen Collingwood around town, or a white topped bitone of some kind,
that I'd really like to get a couple of rhizomes of. I also had an odd one pop up that maybe was a seedling that bloomed finally.

That may be a seedling, but looks a lot like Olympic Challenge to me.

Well, it does look like that iris in color. The reason that I think it is a seedling is that the only orange iris that I have is a NOID given to me by a friend. It looks like the picture below. Another mutual friend had received some rhizomes of the same iris from her before she passed away. This mutual friend gave me some rhizomes of another iris that I think is Eleanor Roosevelt or Black Magic. The above iris came up in the ones she gave me, and she isn't a named iris buyer, so that is why I think it could be a seedling. But then I read somewhere that the orange iris don't make seeds from bee pollination. So I don't know. But I like orange iris, so I am happy to have another one whatever it is.

Orange is NOT my favorite color & I don't have much of it in my garden....but I like it in daylilies & iris. Especially iris, it seems such an unexpected pop of color.

Yes, for me, Orange and Black, are very un-natural colors for Iris. I grew up with the Classic Purple flag, probably Iris pallida that everyone grew in their yards. Even today as large as my Iris gardens are, I do not have any Orange or Black iris rhizomes planted. Someday perhaps I may grow an Orange or Black Iris, but not yet. I don't find them attractive at all. I only grow "Historic" Iris, and have yet to find any Orange or Black (which are not truly "Black" at all) iris that qualify as "Historic" but I'll keep looking.

maximus, I have an old dark iris, that I would call black. I don't know the name, but I would call it black and it is an older iris judging by the form of it. Historic, but not ancient as iris go. maybe it is Licorice Stick? It is the dark one in the photo. Orange though, is another matter.

I agree about the orange, Nancy. I also like the pop it gives in May and early June.

Nope - No such thing as a "Black" colored Iris. It is deep, dark Purple. The hybridizers have been unable to date to create a truly Black Iris.

But the more I look at the photo's of the Orange irises above, I find that I truly do like them. I may try one next year.

maximus, If you want an orange one that is historic, I looked around and there is a sort of lighter one called Orange Chiffon from 1968. It was on the Nancy's Iris website. But it is likely to not be as bright as the more modern ones. And yes, my "black" iris is a deep dark purple. But most of the time it reads as black in the garden. No one in my family grew iris as I was growing up, so it is all new to me, and no color seems strange as a result.

littlebit, you are right. To try to id from a photo is not likely to work. I really think this iris is a different one than than the first orange one, because the form is so different, and the standards and falls are less alike in color. But the second one was really struggling in the photo, and the bloomstalk was very short like my irises do when they get cold temps while the stalks are forming, so it really could be the same I guess, just stressed out. I am hoping it will bloom again next spring with more helpful temps so I can see it not stressed and decide. It would be fun to look up the ones that you planted if you look up your list!

sandyslopes, I like the variegated leaf iris. I would like more, but I still have to see if I have the sunny spot for them.

Oh boy! The Iris "Orange Chiffon" is glorious! Good selection indeed! Thanks for the recommendation. It is a lovely, light-colored Orange Iris from 1968 and I will add that one to my Wish List! Thanks again.

I planted the following (mostly) historic iris this year (all from trades or postage): Frank Adams, Christabel, Gay Parasol, Pink Lace, Wabash, Queen of May, Helen Collingswood, Grudun, Cornation, Quaker Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, NOID Pink, and Soft Jazz. The Helen Collingswood is not looking too well, but the others are all showing some new growth.

aseedisapromise, I like that dark iris. I have a non-historic very dark purple (Badlands) but would like to add a historic dark purple to my collection. I will have to watch for Licorice Stick, or just add it to my "want list" :).

Hello Karen. One of the iris you sent me a while back is blooming. Here is a pic of it. Could you maybe id it for me? Thank you. It is beautiful. None of the others have bloomed yet.

WillowSpring, you have a lot of the same Irises I have planted this year ----

Wabash, Coronation, Helen Collingwood, Frank Adams, Queen of May and Quaker Lady are all in my iris garden. They are all growing and doing very well.

Willow Spring, there are a few dark historic iris besides Licorice Stick. Tuxedo has LS as a parent, and it is also dark. Also Interpol. There are red-blacks, too, like Study in Black.

Thanks for the suggestions. I also found Edenite as a parent for Study in Black. I guess it's not too early to be starting my wish list for next year's planting! :)

Southern, here are a few possibilities for your reblooming plicata.

Duke of Earl - Byers'86
Earl of Essex - Zurbrigg'80 RE
Earl of Leicester - Zurbrigg'84 RE
Lady Essex - RE

I transplanted SDBs into a new rock garden. I finished transplanting a portion of a Siberian Iris collection of roughly 150 varieties into a new growing field. Lined out dwarf siberian iris seedlings into a new bed for future introduction. When I retire in a few years I will sell iris to supplement our retirement income. Transplanted some Siberian Iris into an experimental demonstration garden. Purchased some sibs from Joe Pye Weed's Garden: Olive Emerson, Sugar Sprite,White Amber, Sunfisher and Countess Cathleen. Collected seed from seedling crosses. I'm into iris!

Woah! I guess so! Will be happy to see lots of photos later of blooms if you have time.

I have decided to add Siberian Iris to my Iris gardens - I have chosen 2 Pink Iris and 1 Yellow - "Pink Haze", "Sprinkles" and "Tree of Songs" from Joe Pye Weeds Flowers, a spectacular Yellow Siberian Iris. I already have planted "Sparkling Rose" and a dark purple Siberian (NOID), so I'm looking forward to adding more Siberians to my garden this Spring.

Oh gosh, I think I added well over 200 over the past year.. I was gifted a bunch of Joe Ghio's hybrids, and also picked up a lot at our club's sale, as well as orders to several growers. My gardener says I've got the Iris virus... you think? Especially looking forward to Ginny Mitchell, Tidal Raves, Tango Amigo, Bronze Heart, Adoree... just for starters..

Wow! Out of all that it seems something ought to do well. I hope the ones you want to see are the ones. I wish I could see it all when they bloom!

The past couple of years I've had about 50% of the new rhizomes bloom. I'm hoping to up that percentage by improving the soil and fertilizer application.
I just planted this bed in October. There are about 85 in there.
I just removed the lawn from this patch and hope to get it planted before Christmas. I still have over 150 in pots :)

What a pretty setting, even in winter. Sounds like you have your work cut out for you, though. It will be so beautiful in the spring!