Cult: Big freeze

I'm really sorry about all the losses the people in the Midwest  have
suffered.  I'm just hoping that most of the irises will come out of it, and
won't be as bad as they seem right now.  We had a record freeze here in
mid-January.  It got down to 22 degrees F. by our back porch two nights in a
row and 25 degrees for a couple more.  I had seedlings germinating under a
frost protect cover and one row of sprouting seeds that I had just planted
that had no protection at all.  They all came through just fine.  I believe
Chuck Chapman said that he had left out some little seedlings once in a big
freeze.  He said they turned into little green pops cycles, but when they
thawed out, they were fine too.



In March, we had record heat, a week in the upper 90s.  On two days it hit
99 degrees F.  Temperatures above 90 degrees keeps pollen from forming while
the blossoms are in the buds.  They open with slick or shriveled anthers
that never had or will have any pollen.  I expect a very poor hybridizing
season.  Pink Champagne and a couple of my very fertile seedlings have
pollen, but even Pond Lily now has none.



My iris garden is at full bloom right now, and some of my second year
seedlings are very beautiful.  I'm taking a lot of pictures, but I will save
them for a season when all of you are looking forward to seeing iris bloom
again.



Francelle Edwards  Glendale, AZ  Zone 9

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