TB, SIB, & SPEC: garden standouts

Our weather has been typically strange with the result that a bit of 
everything seems to be in bloom right now and we have the opportunity to 
show a number of species side by side.

Most of those visitors that have made the effort to corral me for a tour 
haven't been disappointed.

DARK AURA (virginica X versicolor) commands attention with its black stems. 
The exotic blooms are a bonus. We already have a waiting list for this one. 
Most people are willing to cater to it but it's surprisingly undemanding.

CLOUD BALLET (TB) with its pristine white and intricate lace hypnotizes.

SILENT SCREEN (TB) stole the show in the lower garden. Huge, silvery, and 
ruffled beyond belief. SILVER FOX, planted next to it didn't stand a chance 
of being noticed. (Absolutely beautiful, Walter!)

And for those who like the garish.... CITYSCAPE is a must. Difficult to 
show next to anything but clear white, orange, or near blacks, this 
brilliant orange-gold with hot red-orange beard is a knockout.

Siberian season is underway. Old favorites SKY WINGS and MAGENTA MOMENT 
pull most people away from the main walk for a closer look. DANDY'S 
HORNPIPE, a '99 intro from Sacks and Schafer is unlike anything seen here 
before. The wide range of colors overlap for the intricate effect of fine 
tapestry. One word of caution... the amount of ruffling slows the buds' 
opening down to a crawl here. Patience is a necessity but well worth the 
effort.

The other most noticed iris is a setosa. The color is a cool light blue 
with a violet cast and a bright golden signal. She's opened her last bloom 
today and has broken all records for a non-stop show. This 2 year old has 7 
stalks, the largest of which carries 3 branches plus the terminal for a 
total of 8 buds on this one stem. From seed collected by Duane Buell, this 
Alaskan native is a winner.

Christy Hensler

THE ROCK GARDEN
Newport, WA, USA zone 4b
http://www.povn.com/rock/




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