JI: In defense of...
- To: "i*@onelist.com"
- Subject: JI: In defense of...
- From: r*@dmv.com
- Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 20:49:49 -0400
> I'm not terribly fond of them from the photos I've seen. I much prefer the
> Louisianas. Japanese Irises, IMHO, are just too extravagant for me. Just
> my 2 cents. But I am growing some "wild species" forms of I. ensata from
> SIGNA seed. Does that count? :)
> Dennis Kramb; dkramb@badbear.com
In a word, NO! Now, Dennis, nobody says you have to go crazy and plant
125 or more cultivars, but face the facts. You like irises and you are
already "in too deep". Don't judge by the photos. Go to gardens where
they are grown. See them in the garden. If you want to grow irises that
really reward you for good culture, grow Japanese irises. They come at a
time when you think you've had enough of the iris season and you've seen
it all. It takes a glimpse of one stately clump, with stalks reaching
higher than any TB ever could, one solitary bloom gently swaying in the
breeze to realize that nature has saved the best until last.
I don't think it's "extravagant" to have a flower the size of a luncheon
plate perched atop a four foot stalk emerging from a clean crisp three
foot clump of foliage. As I see it, it's just plain foolish to deny
yourself such pleasures.
If you don't take care of them, they may not bloom, but more likely,
they will bloom small and short with few branches. I've seen them grown
like that and believe me, they are not "extravagant".
BTW, I was in South Carolina for a wedding over the weekend. I saw JI
blooming in gardens in Columbia, Blythewood and Rock Hill. I was able to
cut a few for table arrangements at the reception.
It's early mid season for the JI here. When I got home today, I had
about 30 cultivars in bloom, but when you look across the garden.
"Extravagant" is not one of the words I'd use to describe them.
R. Dennis Hager
on Delmarva
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