Cult:marking and mapping

Charlotte,

I have not noticed that anyone answered your questions so I will try to do so though there are probably people who have other, better ideas than mine.

First of all, as I receive my iris, I make a list of all the iris I received (I like to use a clipboard or shorthand notebook) and since I have made my spreadsheet sorted by CV name I try to make the list in alpha order. Then I try to get the information regarding hybridizer, year, type & color entered on that list. That helps me determine how & where I will plant them. I make two sets of labels for the plants. One set is made with a PTouch labeler on laminated tape and that attached to an Eon or Paw Paw aluminum marker. The other set is merely the plastic knives such as come with fast food or which can be purchased by the box at WalMart, Costco or other stores for very little cost and I use a fine point Paint Pen to write the name on the handle and other data on the blade. I then turn the knife over and write the other information on the handle and the name on the blade. I number each entry on the list I made and take copies of my previous row mapping pages, markers, iris, list of new iris, tools, a pencil with a good eraser and a container of water to the iris site. My planted rows are always numbered and I plant in the same direction each row such as E to W. I decide which iris will be the first iris to be planted and dig the soil out to loosen it, add nutrients stir up the soil and make my little mound on which to place the rhizome. I put a little water in the hole and then place the iris where I want it and fill in the hole, tamp soil down with my foot and add more water to the plant. I bury the plastic knife, blade side down, at the side of the rhizome, with the name on the handle above ground and facing outward. I firm the soil around it a bit. Then I place my tall aluminum marker at the front of the plant so it can be easily read as one walks down the row. I repeat this process with each rhizome. Then I get my copy of the row map and the new iris list and if I am planting three iris at the end of row four and I started planting from E to W I ascertain which iris was the last one planted before I started planting today. Let's say it was Lady Friend and that was the 12th iris in row 4. Then I check to see which is the iris I just planted next to it. I find it was Honk Your Horn and I record the number I previously assigned to Honk your horn on the map and on the numbered list I record the iris location as R4 13. I record the other two iris the same way. Then I record row 5 east to west starting with R5 1 etc.

After I have everything recorded by number I double check the information on both the map copy and the alpha list. Then I can go to my desk or table and transfer the iris names to the original map and I key in the iris names and data about the iris to my spread sheet on the computer. I generally simply insert the iris in the proper alpha spot on the worksheet instead of adding them and doing a new sort. I make sure I save the information before closing the worksheet program. I record the map information in word and save it. Periodically I print a copy of the row data and double check it against the actual garden data. Any iris that need to be removed or moved can be noted here. Rebloom information data can be recorded as well as which iris need to be divided.
I need to initiate one more column in the spread sheet to record the location there too. I have not done this and I hope to do it this winter when I am unable to be outside working in my flowers. I also want to start using the program that one of the great list members gave us so that I can also include photos of the iris beside their data on the computer.
I use the plastic knives beside my iris because raccoons have come through our yard and dragged markers away from the plants and even broken off the top of the knife but the bottom half is still in the ground and confirms that the marker that is replaced is the correct one. The sun destroys the names and labels frequently too but the knife is protected under ground and will have all the data needed to prepare a new label.
I use a simple Brother PTouch label maker and laminated tape to label the markers in front of the iris.

Patti
Arid central WA USDA Zone 5

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