CULT: irises for north Georgia
- Subject: CULT: irises for north Georgia
- From: L* M*
- Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 18:54:05 -0400
Pat, newbie in nawth Georgia, said (to me):
<Since we are in a similar zone, I would like to hear about your
successes. What
type of cultivars have you had success with?>
I can just hear all 500+ list members groaning <g>. I was given the
honorary title of 'Rot Queen' by list members back in the early days of
this discussion forum. If you have a lot of time on your hands, you
might find a lot of useful information in earlier discussions that are
stored in the list archives, which go back to 1996 (see John Jones'
welcoming message for details). John also gives web addresses for the
archives of photos and messages in the signature line to all the
messages he posts.
I really don't know where to begin! I grow mostly TBs & am always
looking for the hardiest, most carefree in my soil and climate. My
small valley site is especially prone to severe, damaging, sudden
freezes in late winter/early spring, as well as having the usual
problems with alternating drought and downpour, heat and humidity we all
have in the late spring/summer. If you are on a hill or slope, you
won't have as much problem with sudden freeze damage. I've had best
success with somewhat older <unknown> local irises and irises traded or
given to me by local iris club members. If there is a local club near
you, that's a good place to start. I think they were thinking of
starting a cllub in the Chattanooga area, but don't know if that ever
got going of if that would be close enough for you. Some of Lloyd
Zurbrigg's older introductions have been really reliable for me, but as
you can see from my last question, I'm still trying to figure out for
sure what some of my older irises are. I've tried to post a <bloom
report> (or several) of what has done well here in spite of my climate,
location, soil, and moderate to serious neglect each year. A lot of the
newer irises are a bit to a whole lot fussier about care than some of
the tough survivors from your husband's great great grandma's time.
So, after all that blah blah, my continuing 'modern' TB favorites for
lovely reliability are DUSKY CHALLENGER (of course), HARVEST OF MEMORIES
(lousy spring bloom, spectacular fall bloom), IMMORTALITY, SIGN OF LEO
(or whatever it is), STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN, PT BARNUM (we think), plus
several unknowns. There are several 'talkers' in fairly similar
climates who might have more suggestions - Walter Moores in northern
Mississippi, Janet Natale in coastal SC, & several others I can't think
of right now..
<I only have two or three varieties and have no idea what they are, but
they are doing absolutely magnificent. .... from my husband's old
homestead farm in MS. [and] from a local nursery on sale - no idea what
they are.>
If you like the older ones, Argyle Acres and Superstition are two places
I have tried that have a good selection. Also, the unknowns from your
garden store may turn out to be some of the best performers you will
buy.
<Is clay considered soil? I have the lovely Georgia clay soil..>
Georgia clay should be terrific soil for growing irises, as long as it's
well-drained and you add a few goodies now and then.
<Are your iris pictures posted on iris-photos. >
I've posted a few - I don't have an optical zoom on my camera, so mine
aren't as crispy pretty in focus as most, but the critters are
recognizeable.
Not sure this rambling post is much help. Keep asking.
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
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