RE: Re: CULT: weather

Donald,
	I find this most interesting.  We went to 9 at the same time you went to 14
and although we had some foliage burn (some of it pretty severe) I found no
ill effects on the bloom.  Do you suppose the week or so difference in our
bloom time makes that much difference?
	We woke to snow on the ground on Friday morning and the freeze you avoided
last night got us.   We went down to 27, much better than the 23 they were
threatening us with.  It blasted all of the open buds but most of the stalks
that were not showing color look pretty good.  Of course we won't know for
sure until for a few days.  They are forecasting 27 tonight.  If they miss
it by as much as they did last night I will be thrilled.  I moved the two
pots of germinating seeds into the shop.  It sure was nice to see that
second pot of seedlings start to pop.  We found the second pot this morning
while we were looking for damage.  So, tonight they go inside too.  Maybe
there will be more in the morning!!
	So sorry that you will lose most of your bloom.  That is so disheartening.
We were discussing this last night on the chat and when I told them that we
have never had a bloom season without a freeze after bloom started, they
were surprised.  Our SDB's start to bloom in March and our average last
freeze date is April 9th, so we always have a freeze after bloom starts.  It
is just one of those things we have learned to live with.
	Now thinning those seedlings without seeing them bloom would be hard.  My
seedlings are my pride and joy and I would rather see them bloom than the
rest of the iris.  I might have to expand my iris growing space just so I
could keep the babies.

Good luck tonight!!

Dana


Dana Brown
AIS Region 17 Judges Training Chairperson
Director TBIS
AIS, ASI, MIS, RIS, SPIS, TBIS
Malevil Iris Gardens
Lubbock, TX
Zone 7 USDA, Zone 10 Sunset
d*@malevil-iris.com



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-iris@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On Behalf Of Donald
Eaves
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 9:50 AM
To: iris@hort.net
Subject: Re: [iris] Re: CULT: weather

>Well, at least we should be used to it by now....
>The center (worst part) of this one is aiming right for you again Donald
>(Texas), so won't hit us as bad farther east.

Used to it, even resigned to it happening more often than not, but not
liking it.  The late, very cold spell we've already had did a lot more
damage than I expected.  Most of the arilbred bloom got eliminated it seems
and the early TBs are showing weird shaped stalks and buds emerging - sure
signs of freeze damage.  I guess 14F is just going to penetrate the fans and
leave the effects if it falls after active growth has started.  I thought
I'd have more arilbreds escape and most of the TBs, but I was wrong.

We missed a freeze last night.  Only 39 instead of the predicted 32.
Depending on the forecast as to what may be in store tonight and tomorrow
night.  A freeze now would more or less effectively close the door on iris
bloom this year.  I wasn't expecting a lot from the TBs this year anyway
after the decimation by the grasshoppers last summer.  But then we had a
nice, long mild winter with some moisture now and then.  They grew all
winter and looked to be managing to perhaps get to bloom size rhizomes.
Some apparently did, but the bloom will still be lighter than normal.  Quite
a few seedlings with apparent stalks.  Want to see them.  I need their space
and I hate to discard them 'til I've seen them bloom.

Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7b, USA

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