Re: BULB: "English" irises
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] BULB: "English" irises
- From: E* G*
- Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 13:46:23 EST
From: "Ellen Gallagher" <irisgardens@hotmail.com>
Christy wrote:
Hope not... I've been wanting to find the time to ask about English irises
I tried a few of these bulbs a number of years ago and would love to try
them again. These had been planted in the Fall and bloomed the following
Spring but died out shortly after. I had been watering but perhaps not
enough.
Does anyone raise these who can shed some light on exactly what they'd need
to make them happy? And would anyone be interested in trading off a few?
(I've been disappointed with the weaselly things offered in most catalogs.)
On Bill Shear's advice, I ordered some "English" irises from
McClure and Zimmerman in Wisconsin in '98 and they bloomed
in the summer of '99. I couldn't locate the catalog
this morning but I seem to remember reading in an iris
reference book (Bill's?), that they grow readlily in the
Scottish highlands (or is that my Cairn terrier? :).
Anyway, they do like my cold climate methinks and I planted
them in partial shade and they bloomed their tall hearts out
last year. But that was the first year..so that wasn't a
test. I watered them when I watered the Siberians planted
near them. They bloomed beginning on 6/27 (different heights
and colors bloomed days apart). They bloomed with the SIBS,
daylilies, Asiatic lilies (a few early ones), roses,
primroses, etc. They were nice but not spectacular. The SIBS
readily took the prize but I am in love with Siberians so I
am not totally without prejudice.
McC. & Z. offered only a mixed collection and all 12 bulbs
bloomed. My "bloom book" mentions light blue, dark blue,
purple (my fav.) and I thought I had two white ones but
maybe not...wishful thinking.
Water them every chance you get - they seem to respond
to our high humidity. I did plant them in slightly
raised beds with a pine needle mulch, btw. I played
it by ear.
Ellen
===
Ellen Gallagher / Berlin, NH / Zone 3
N. White Mts. in the "Great North Woods"
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