TB: Overwintering in pots

 <Someone on this list mentioned they were going to overwinter a bunch 
of TB outside last winter in North Dakota I
  believe, I would love to know how this worked for them.  Hope they 
are 
still here and reading this.>
 
Sandra - I overwintered a bunch of iris in pots of Baccto because I thought we had to sell our home of 26 years.  I put the pots on top of the pachysandra on the south side of my house (brick), and mulched them with Baccto also.  I did lose a few - but most of them were the last ones potted (didn't have enough time to get settled and, fortunately, some of those 'lost' had parts of the clumps left in the garden and survived and increased, so had back ups).  Most most of those potted iris survived and are doing well in their pots (I'm not putting them back in the beds until July/August).  But I'm in southeast Michigan - Zone 6a - and we're not as cold as ND (although last winter was particularly bitter).  My potted hostas and daylilies evidently are indistructable - as were my precious balloonflowers - didn't lose even one!
 
I think Arnold's practice would guarantee survival through even a tough winter (burying the pots to the rims AND mulching.)
 
Bloom report for Zone 6a:  Potted or not, my MDBs are ready to pop, and the SDBs are close behind. Looks like CHILD BRIDE and BLUE DOLL will be the first to open ;-)  Just purchased a pot of I. CRISTATA so I can have even earlier bloom aside from my crocuses and daffs.
 
Linda Bartell
Troy, MI
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