Re: Iris in Houston area

From: Wjobe@aol.com

I sent this to Jim, off list, but decided to also send it to the list in case
someone else might like the information.
Leslie


Jim,
We lived in Houston for four years.  We took about 200 different varieties
with
us. Some were seedlings.  We moved there from Omaha NE. We had to cut down
about 8 - 80ft pine trees to let in light. Then we had ten dumptrucks full of
soil
brought in to raise the beds. Next, we added LOTS of lime!!   a few of the
seedlings 
bloomed, but they were nothing to write home about! The others didn't bloom at
all.
The named varietys struggled. Some died, some flourished!  Vanity was the one
that did the best.  Some just existed. Not much increase. They had sparse
bloom after the first year.
      The first year we had lots of bloom ( that was set in NE)  I was a
volunteer
at Mercer Arboretum and took lots of bloom stalks out there for all to see.
I was amazed that a lot of people there had only seen pictures of TBs. Not
very
many people tried to grow them.  I donated rhizomes to the Arboretum and the
first year they planted them in the perennial beds.  Granted, they were in
raised
beds. But, they also had a watering system!!  I had told them to keep the high
and dry.  They forgot,'dry'.  Also the other plants in the beds were too large
and
shaded them too much.  They lost all but about a dozen out of 75.  So I
donated
more. This time they made a bed on a hill with lots of drainage and no other
plants in the bed. these faired much better.  We moved that year and I haven't
kept in touch for about four years now.  It has been 13 years since we moved
there.
Even after I moved to New Mexico, I kept sending more iris. Linda Gay, the
head
Horticulturist, came to NM to visit and took lots of NM plants back. I haven't
talked to her in a couple years, so I don't know if she is still there or not.
Louisiana iris did great, of course!!  In March, they have their once a year
plant
sale. Usually the end of March. It lasts for three days. Fri.,Sat, and Sun.
She should call there and get the dates.  There are acres of flowers and
gardens to
see. 
Hope this helps,
Leslie Jobe'  in KY

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