Glorious Siberian Bloom!

Kathy Guest with a siberian iris bloom report for beautiful downtown East
Aurora, NY (on the sunny side of Buffalo).

I don't think you can beat siberian irises for ease of growing... and
variety.  Just in my pitiful garden, I am humbled by the sheer beauty of it
all.

MYSTIC LAGOON - a Willott siberian,  one of two that I'm aware of.  A
beautiful deep blue shading to almost black at the throat.  The falls are
held horizontally and up high so that no signal shows.  The standards are
small and somewhat lighter.  The name is perfect for this very vigorous
siberian... a mysterious look fer sher.

OVER IN GLORYLAND - Hollingworth.  Another great and fitting name, IMHO.  The
flowers are huge (tet) and a perfect royal blue.  Sports Hollingworth's
trademark huge gold signals.. which are set off outstandingly by that rich,
rich blue.  Ruffled and imposing.  Reminescent of a Union uniform - royal
blue and brass.

FAIRY FINGERS - another Willott... and unmistakable.  This is surely the most
distinctive siberian form out there (some argue it's a species, actually).
 Anyway... this is a tiny white number with blade-thin, long standards and
falls.  The falls curl under, the standards curl over... and the effect is
like one of those fancy candles they sell in the mall.  Very structural.  You
should have heard them HOWL when we voted this "Queen of the Show" a few
years back.

SNOW PRINCE - Tiffiney (?  I'm going by a frankly faulty memory here).  This
creamy white is totally different from all the others I grow.  The stalks are
ramrod straight... the flowers have "antelope horn" standards and narrow
falls - which fit perfectly with the stalk.  The 2nd terminal bud is held up
close to the open flower, but politely waits its turn to bloom.  Reminds me
of a soldier with his sword at attention.  Very architectural. (Hey.. I'm
picking up a military theme here!)

SHAKER'S PRAYER - Warner.  If you don't grow this Morgon-Wood winner, my
deepest sympathy.  A very tall, very vigorous clump of blue flowers heavily
veined.  This is another iris you would not mistake for another...and a clump
can easily eat up major garden space in no time.  Like the loaves and
fishes... no matter how much I share, there's always plenty more to go
around.

PLEASURES OF MAY - Shaefer/Sacks (?)  A glorious pink number... diploid but
so sturdy, you'd guess it was a tet.  Besides for being a great color... this
siberian blooms very early and then hangs on.  Some of the most interesting
siberians being introduced today are coming out of Shaefer/Sacks.

CAESAR'S BROTHER.... tall, forgiving blue that keeps going and going and
going.  There is a consideration in SSI for creating an All American award...
that being an award for a siberian that has stood the test of time... grows
in most parts of the country... and is grown and recognized by many people.
 I should think CB would fit that award.

I know there are more blooming this morning... but I'm 20 miles away and
right now, they're just blooming in my mind  (brought in a bouquet of a blood
red double peony, Blue Kaleidoscope siberian and lemon lilies.... would bring
a grown man to his knees!!)

Kathyguest... poised to pick up all those fallen men and/or doctors
in Lackawanna
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