SPEC: reticulata and others - observations

From: linda Mann <lmann@mailhub.icx.net>

When we had a big discussion about persistance of reticulata & kin a few
years back, some folks dug up information on native habitats of these
guys and it sounded like they occur in deep floodplain soils, maybe
sandy loam?  So I made a few raised beds out of sandy loam deposits from
under the bridge here across Stamp Creek.  The beds were about 10 inches
high, and maybe a foot wide, contiguous to my existing rebloomer beds. 
I planted a batch of bulbous early irises from.. seems like it was
Parks?  Several listers bought the same special, so that's in the
archives somewhere.  The beds were regularly fertilized with 19-19-19
(well, it's what hte store has...), alfalfa pellets, and a dash of
ground limestone.  And watered a lot, which was a pretty futile activity
last year. All that survived the pre-harvest squirrel onslaught last
year seem to have multiplied, except for Danfordiae.  At least there is
one D. still present, and it put up two of the most pathetic rumpled
blooms I have ever seen.  So maybe sandy soil and heat are ingredients
these little guys like?

Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7-8.  Weather guys said temps were 40
degrees above 'normal' the other day....Our 24 inch snow was mid March
(Blizzard of '93) and the previous big snow (~14 inches back in the 50s,
I think) was also mid-March.  Last 'average' frost date here is
mid-April tho May 1st is safer.  Looong ways till May.


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