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My Obsession with Bearded Irises

November 18, 2009 by Jeanne

My obsession with bearded irises, Siberian iris, and all things iris continues to grow. Hubby bought me a beautiful encyclopedia of iris breeds that was on clearance and I’ve got that plus some other iris books out in the living room now. Each evening, I thumb through them, dreaming. Red or blue? Bicolored or solid? It’s hard to decide.

Bearded irises grew fairly well on Long Island but they thrive here in Virginia. Each spring, I see clumps and thickets blooming in glorious profusion at the edge of farm driveways, by sheds, even in ditches alongside the roads.

My goal is to plant at least one new variety each year. Last year, I planted a soft pink bicolor and a blue and was rewarded with blooms from the soft pink. The iris we moved from Huntington are thriving, so much so that Hubby remarked yesterday I may have to divide them again. I think it’s too soon and want to give them another year or two.

In the meantime, as the cold weather descends and I start cleaning up the flower garden, I’m trying to decide where I can fit in more bearded iris. Should they go by the pathway, or in the back? Near the butterfly garden, or on the edge of the woods? Like the daffodil and narcissus bulbs we planted in the orchard, I want to plant new iris bulbs each year, until the garden is covered with them.

I know it’s not time to plant them. It’s not even time to order them. But I’ve already started window shopping…

Can you imagine how beautiful it’s going to be when I get those bearded iris all along the edges of the woods?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. tina

    November 18, 2009 at

    Opportune post. I have been looking for an iris encyclopedia because I have no idea what kinds I have here (except for a few). I’ll have to check out this book for sure.

  2. Jeanne

    November 19, 2009 at

    Tina,

    Glad you liked the post. It’s not the exact book I have, unfortunately. I was unable to find mine on Amazon. But I like Claire Austin’s book, listed here.

    Have you picked out your new iris varieties yet? I’m like a kid in a candy store with the catalogs – and my sister gave me a White Flower Farm gift certificate. I’m in trouble for sure!

    Thanks for dropping by Seven Oaks –

    Jeanne

  3. tina

    November 19, 2009 at

    Nope, haven’t picked out any new iris varieties yet. I’m still trying to figure out what I have:) Have fun shopping!

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