Just an update, there are now five stalks (two newest ones haven't opened their first bloom yet). The Iris rudskyi is almost done, but I got to use its pollen on 'Cricket Song' and it seems to be working - pods are swelling up.
I'd like to try to separate this small (no bigger than a soccer ball in diameter) clump to try to line it out for increase, but if it doesn't stop blooming how am I ever going to have the heart?!!! And I don't want to wait too late in the season and ruin any Fall rebloom that might still be on the way. Might just have to leave it alone until it's big enough that I can cut it in half, and just dig one half while leaving the other half alone.
Now I'll go back to dreaming (along with Betty and Loic) about someday having all summer bloom... :0)
Subject: MTB: Surprise late stalks on 'Cricket Song'
From: thomas silvers <tesilvers@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 13:22:27 -0700 (PDT)
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For the last three years, this iris has rebloomed in September and October - as has its sister 'Easy Smile' - both registered in December, and working on building up enough for introduction.
This year 'Cricket Song' has decided to send up three additional repeat stalks. The main flush was mostly in early May, as you can see the fat pods from those blooms in the foreground of the first picture.
The only other bearded in bloom now is Iris ruskyii which is almost always my last.
This type of repeat bloom is more typical of its pollen parent 'Clown Pants' which never has bloomed in the fall, but every other year has some repeat stalks well after the main flush.
