Re: CULT:Spurias for the south

Donald, I really appreciate your kind words about my Spurias.   I have pretty 
much had to grow them by guess and by golly because I couldn't get any 
information about
how to when I first became interested.   When I was pres. of the Iris Society 
of Dallas I decided that my goal would be to get people interested in 
something in addition to bearded iris.   The group in charge of ordering 
irises for our Christmas in September iris for gifts to members who had 
attended 6 or more meetings per year
decided (and I encouraged them) to order bearded, spuria, and Louisiana 
irises for the gift iris selection for the first time.   When we get more 
than we need for those gifts, the extra ones are bid on and sold.   The first 
year or two, a few of us got some very good deals on LAs and spurias, but now 
a lot more are growing and appreciating them.   We now have nice groups to 
judge at our shows and people who come to the shows are asking for them at 
the fall sales.   Also, we have had people come to talk to us about arils as 
well as the above mentioned irises.   Along the way
I have learned a little more about how to grow them.   I was told by someone 
that spurias could be grown by either leaving them dry all summer, or by 
watering them
some, as long as you are consistant in doing one or the other.   I water mine 
and do not let them go dormant and have never had problems doing so.   Most 
of mine are grown on right by the east side of the house in a raised bed.   
This way they bloom earlier than they would out in the open, and bloom in 
time for the show.   I have only lost two spurias since I have been growing 
them, so I guess I'm doing fairly well.
                                                      Pat in Dallas
                                                      Zone 7/8

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