Iris Happenings in the far north

Hello All,

The weather here is unsettled but easing into Spring.  We had some warm
weather last week, followed by a nice rain, then hail, more snow and frosts
each night since.  Still, the daffodils are sending up buds and the Scillas
are just starrting into bloom, crocuses have been blooming a week.  I have
been busy spraying my tulips with Hinder to try to keep the deer and rabbits
away, so far it's working.  I also fed a stray wild cat this winter, hoping
he would stick around and eat the rabbits.

I've taken initial stock of my gardens and have a report.  Before joining
this robin, I had grown irises for many years and never realized they had
'problems'.  I swear, I've never seen an iris borer and rot didn't seem to
be a problem.  But.....I grew only old, old, old cultivars.

Last year I moved to my new house which is on the shore of a small lake (
actually large for here) and made my first plantings of modern irises.

IRIS PALLIDA is growing and looking good.

I have one Japanese iris, CRY OF REJOICE, that looks good but I don't know
anything about it.  I bought it at a local nursery.  Does anyone know
something about what I've got?

I planted some Dutch iris bulbs (because they were a gift with an order).
Lo and behold, they survived and are coming up.  That really surprised me.

Belamcanda chinensis (blackberry lily) was planted last year. It bloomed
late and it has survived the winter.

x Pardancanda norisii (hybrid of Belamcanda with Pardanthopsis dichotoma)
bloomed last year and has survived.  Another surprise.

The Siberians and Pseudacorus are doing fine.  So are the dwarfs.

The tallbeardeds have some troubles.

VAN GOGH went.  SPRING PARASOL is not coming back this season.  PARADISE
went to iris heaven.  ERLEEN RICHESON took TACO SUPREME and joined her
there.  CREATIVE STICHERY has severe rot and I have doubts about survival.

The following have some rot but not severe and I think they will make it.
ORBITER
HILLTOP VIEW
WAR SAILS
BEVERLY SILLS
CHERRY SMOKE
VICTORIA FALLS

The following look great.
PRINCESS KISS
CONGRATULATIONS
OLYMPIC PINK
RED AT NIGHT
EDITH WOLFORD
SKATING PARTY
OCTOBERFEST
PONTIFF
CANJUN BEAUTY
MOROCCO
ACCLAMATION
FEMINIST
PINK CONFETTI
JESSES SONG
LORILEE
PAINTED PICTURES
BLUE STACCATO
BREAKERS
PEKING SUMMER
BEYOND
ORANGE CELEBRITY
TIDES IN
GYPSY WOMAN
TITANS GLORY
RAVENS ROOST
GO AROUND
BEAUTIFUL VISION
TWICE THRILLING
GYPSY CARAVAN 
WELL ENDOWED

Sorry for the length of this list but I thought you might be interested in
what grows in the far reaches of what seems at times to be the arctic.  We
had -45 F but had lots of snowcover, not all of which is yet gone and the
ice is still on the lake.  Long sigh....

I did plant some purple Trilliums and Jack-in-the-Pulpits last week but I
haven't cleaned up the flower beds yet.  It's still too early.  You will be
proud of me tho'.  I've sent my order off for lots more irises which will be
coming here in July.

Lee DeJongh in sunny but coolish Rhinelander WI zone 3 Region 8, (I think)
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