Re: Deep freeze

If the central (terminal, mother rhizome) fan and embryonic (not
noticeable) bloom stalk inside that fan on a bearded iris has been
damaged by a sudden deep freeze, the fan will develop a somewhat
'pinched' look and will seem to slow way down in growth compared to
growth of side shoots/increase.  That terminal fan will be highly likely
to develop rot in the rhizome eventually, though it may not hit till
after bloom season.  I usually don't doctor for rot - rarely spreads to
the increase (though I once lost a whole clump of SONG OF NORWAY), but I
thought I would pass this observation along for those who do doctor and
others who are looking for evidence of how much damage they've had.

Sorry, John, I'm photographically illiterate - no pics.

Also wanted to share early results of 'protection' experiment - I put a
triangle of cola bottles full of water (not hot, just regular hose
temperature) lying on their sides around a couple of irises that got
nailed during last year's late freeze and piled about 3 inches of coarse
creek sand on top of the rhizomes.  One had Reemay for the 2nd two
nights of the 3 coldest.  These two plants show no sign of even the
slightest injury and the one that spent the night under Reemay has grown
noticeably in comparison to its neighbors under Reemay but without the
water bottles or sand.  Now isn't that the kind of garden beauty we've
all envisioned?  A garbage dump of old recyclables covered with bed
sheets?

Linda Mann east Tennessee USA
trying to concentrate on the GORGEOUS sea of Lamium purpureum and ignore
all those flopped over, slimy dark green iris leaves.  Even on a fan or
two of VANITY!  Phoo.
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