CULT:winter survival

January's prolonged warm spell gave my iris beds a really bad case of leaf
spot, including the front yard beds, which for years have been generally free
of it.  Alone among my many irises, SLOVAK PRINCE and WILD VISION have been a
disappointment this year.  WILD VISION, planted last fall, is in the process
of dying.  SLOVAK PRINCE wintered well and set seed in its first full year
here last year, but this spring there is nothing left but a large, firm mother
rhizome and three sickly increases.  Both it and WILD VISION are surrounded by
other healthy irises planted at the same time and receiving the same care, so
it's neither the soil nor the placement.  Who knows?

Meantime, over the weekend, while I was in Tucson, the daffodils,
rhododendrons and magnolias all bloomed here in Virginia.  And the potted
seeds are up as much as four inches, but still with only two leaves.   I worry
about such growth.  This is much earlier than normal, and they'll be pushing
me to transplant them before the new beds are ready.   Also, we're still
getting freezes here overnight.  The weekend's balmy weather departed before
strong, cold winds from the northwest, so today is being spent indoors.

I see thickening at the base of some SDBs' fans.   It's going to be an
interesting spring, I'm sure.  --  Griff

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