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Re: I. virginica

Hi Mark and All,

About 20 years ago I ordered I. virginica. It grew reluctantly, survived the winter but did not bloom and died the second winter. Ordering seeds from SIGNA gave me seedlings which also disappeared the second year. I could not understand why my Iris virginica var. shrevei grew so well in this climate. 

 Finding iris blades between cattails in a wetland near our home (while living in Northern Illinois) I had dug a fan and planted it at the edge of the property where the drainage from the forest preserve kept our soil moist, but forgot about it. 3 years later I saw blue flowers from the window, where no flowers should have been. Back in 88 I could not find this Iris in any book. By that time the wetland had been drained and  filled in and the Illinois Highway Dept. had built garages (illegal in the State of Illinois, I found out later!) 
When I asked my friend Virginia about this Iris, she told me: 'Call Florence Stout, she is the secretary of SIGNA and she will know!' It's a small world! I had just met Florence the week before at a daylily meeting! Florence became my iris mentor and I joined SIGNA. This lovely Iris is responsible for my obsession.

Liselotte

Iris virginica var. shrevei

Iris virginica var. shrevei
 

Iris versicolor

On Oct 8, 2011, at 2:45 AM, Mark A. Cook wrote:

 

Robert,
     Iris virginica is native to parts of Florida.  Check out this map:  http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3428   Note the large almost triangle shaped county in the south center of the state that is shaded green, showing that Iris virginica is present there.  Look north and notice a large landlocked county.  Putting the cursor over it will show it is Marion.  To the west are Citrus and Levy Counties, both green, showing Iris virginica is there, but not ‘vouchered’ as being in Marion. 
     I live in Marion County in a spot that if I go north or west, I go into Levy County.  South puts me in Citrus.  The land here is high for Florida standards, and I have to grow my Iris virginica in tubs.  The part of Marion County in that part that juts to the west above Citrus County becomes low and boggy there.  I have been that way and seen Irises growing wild, but am not sure what type they are.  One time, I started to investigate, but saw 15 feet worth of “I am changing my mind” laying there basking...
 
Mark A. Cook
b*@bellsouth.net
Dunnellon, Florida. 


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