Re: Iris borer

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I would have a heart attack, seeing a big guy like that this close! Was he on your property? Our son lives in Wellington FL, surrounded by lakes and canals, lovely to look at but every so often animal control officers have to be called to remove an intruder....

Eleanor, mosquitoes that size are no fun either, how do you protect yourself? Does regular mosquito repellent work at all? 

Will try to stop complaining about the climate and what comes with it. We have NO mosquitoes at our altitude. Deer, the badger,  snow hare and voles get my blood pressure up, 

but we invaded their territory.

You had mentioned spuria iris. Sadly, I can't grow them well. I. spuria ochroleuca is hanging on, 'Belise' Is the only reliable cultivar. There is a I. notha doing o.k. and of course I. graminea seems to be the toughest one. My best bets are Iris sibirica and some of the moisture loving species. 'Ally Oups' is beatiful and would probably do well here. I only have 'Kimboshi' which is rather reluctant.

Years ago I was in a international (snail mail) robin. Tomas Tamberg inspired me to try interspecies crosses. I loved the calsibes, but was not very successful, did manage a few crosses but the plants never survived the second winter. The best luck I had with doing Sibcolors but using Tet Sibirica as pod parent and I. versicolor as pollen parent. These plants are extremely tough, healthy and vigorous. However they should be planted in parks. Iris Versata (I ensata x I. versicolor) are easy also. I have a wine colored one that has repeated every year.

Have to run, the garden is screaming for help!

Liselotte