BULB: Bulbous Iris Fanciers?

Greetings.
 
Are there any fanciers of bulbous irises here?
 
I am interested in hearing from those who are growing bulbous irises  of any 
description, and having good success with them.
 
By good success I mean they settle in, and come back for several seasons,  
giving an tolerable level of satisfaction to someone with reasonable  
expectations. I sense that most folks tuck a few in as annuals and don't expect  more 
than that, and rarely get it.   
 
I've heard of reticulatas forming large clumps in West Virginia ub past,  for 
instance, but I never heard of anyone who had much luck with Mrs. Danford's  
iris, probably because of the growth habits of the bulb. 
 
Then, there have been reports of xiphiums flourishing hither and yon  for 
decades, notably in Tennessee, likewise Iris tuberosa, but I do not  think this 
is most folks' experience. 
 
I grew English irises one time and it was the most appalling mess. They  just 
rotted in the soil, I'd bought into the story that they could take a  bit of 
shade and moisture but they were not wet. When I pulled them  up, noticing the 
foliage was yellowed, there were smelly bags of  ickiness where the bulbs 
should have been. 
 
Anyway, who among us, if anyone, is growing bulbous irises  of any kind with 
good success? And to what do you attribute your success,  please?
 
Thank you very much. 
 
Cordially,
 
Anner Whitehead
Richmond VA USA    

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