Slumming in the Discount Stores for Irises

I've read with great interest the chastisement of a member of the IRIS-L
for purchasing iris rhizomes at Wal-Mart discount stores.  I'm assuming
that this was all in jest and good rib-poking humor.  For what I am about
to admit, I am sure that I will suffer mercilessly at the hands of those
who shop at the better places for their irises.:)  (For the record, most of
my irises have come from well respected iris growers/sources.)

I must confess that today I gave into a struggle with iris virus fever and
purchased two rhizomes of SNOW QUEEN (a siberian iris) at a discount store
named BIG LOTS.  I probably ended up paying more for these now than if I'd
waited until this fall and purchased them from a catalog, but I just
couldn't help myself between the spring bug and my chronic iris virus.
Also I've been wanting SNOW QUEEN ever since I saw it blooming in Clarence
Mahan's garden.  I remembered that it looked so elegant, yet understated.

Meanwhile in the garden here we have had gorgeous spring summer weather for
the  last week with highs this weekend in the upper 70's to low 80's
(Far.).  My beardeds are growing great guns, the Louisianas have grown at
least a foot taller, the Japanese irises are up and going, and my siberians
are just beginning to peak out.  Seems about time for an iris killing
frost!!:)

I do have a question about a bearded iris that I have named BLACKBEARD.  I
noticed that several of my fans of this one seem to have dark
coloring/smudges on several of the leaves near the tips.  I feared some
sort of mildew, but it doesn't rub or wash off.  It almost looks as if it's
coloration in the leaves (similar to the blackish coloration in I.
virginica fans).  Anyone have any guesses as to what this is or if this is
typical coloration for leaves of BLACKBEARD?

-Donald


Donald Mosser
Member of AIS, HIPS, SIGNA, SSI, SLI, SPCNI, and IRIS-L
dmosser@southconn.com
http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/5570

North Augusta, South Carolina, USA
On the South Carolina and Georgia Border
USDA Zone 7b-8
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