Re: O.T. confession time:)
- Subject: Re: O.T. confession time:)
- From: J* C*
- Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 13:46:55 PST
From: "Jan Clark" <janclarx@hotmail.com>
Most of my secrets have been dealt with already. Hiding the order. 'Oh
my, what a lot of extras', using my own cheque book, private iris-talk
E-mail, etc.
Some suggestions:
Add up the total amount you spent on irises, and subtract the figure
from the full catalogue value (including the gift irises). This way you
work out how much you have 'saved'. Then purchase more irises, to this
value. These are 'free'. If you also get these at a cheaper than
catalogue value rate, work out how much you have saved again, and buy
some more! (This is how my husband justifies his expenditures)
Leave check stubs blank. The amount will be in the statement, but who
can remember what that was for? Besides, I'm the only one in the house
who fills in the check stubs, so it can't have been one of mine.
Mix the expensive order with the ones you got free from a friend. A good
friend won't tell, otherwise she/he won't get a division next season.
When a comment is made about the number of irises in the garden, remind
the spouse that irises multiply rapidly. If they're interested enough to
notice all the different names on your tiny labels, you may have the
makings of a second irisarian in the family. Comments like "They're very
pretty, pity they don't bloom for longer" means your spouse wishes for
you to purchase a whole heap of rebloomers.
If you're seriously worried about expense, pot up some divisions and
have a street stall, even better if they're flowering.
Personally, my greatest expenditure is for soil to grow the irises in.
Of 2 1/2 acres with scant topsoil, about 1/2 acre is mixed garden, lawn,
etc. There are plenty of places for new irises, if I bring in more soil.
A gift of 2doz. "shrub tubs" has been put to use for those pumilla spot
IB's I want to hybridise, and some of the reluctant growers. This allows
them 12" of topsoil, and no tree root competition. It uses less soil,
and the tubs can be placed anywhere. You can also have more irises
growing in a smaller area. I have just used a whole trailer load of soil
for potting irises, including those for sale during the Castlemaine Arts
festival.
Cheers, Jan Clark, in Australia.
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