Re: CAT / How does a newbie buy specific irises?

Hi Steven,

>1. How do I purchase irises of varieties like these?

Neil has already referred you to the AIS website "links" page where you 
will find links to many commercial iris growers' websites.  As mentioned, 
bearded irises ship from most commercial sources beginning in July 
(though a few start shipping in June). The growers will start accepting 
orders for next shipping season as soon as they have their 2004 
catalogs/websites prepared, which can happen anytime after the first of 
the year (some growers may not have their new catalogs/sites ready till 
April or May).

>2. Assuming these would be purchased by catalog, how do I get on the catalog
>mailing lists?

You will find addresses on each individual grower's website where you can 
request a catalog that will be sent out as soon as it's available.  A few 
growers provide free catalogs, but most charge a small catalog fee that 
is refundable with your first order.

>3. Are these catalogs individual? Or is there some single "Iris Catalog"
>where most varieties can be purchased?

Each grower is an individual commercial entity with their own stock, 
pricing, and policies.  Since you are only interested in a few iris 
varieties, you'd be better off trying to find a single grower from whom 
to place your order.  Shipping fees alone can cost anywhere from $5-10 
per order, depending on grower.  It'll get quite costly to add that much 
shipping cost to an order for only one or two irises from several 
different growers.  It may be very difficult to find the irises you have 
listed from a single grower, however - especially the Spuria.

If you are thinking of giving these irises as a gift before next summer, 
do as Neil suggested and order a gift certificate from the grower of your 
choice.  The grower will send a copy of their catalog when available, and 
your wife will be able to choose whichever irises she prefers.  That'll 
give her all winter to explore all the iris sites online and figure out 
exactly which irises she wants to grow.  I always request iris gift 
certificates for Christmas, and I LOVE spending the next few months 
deciding which irises to order!

Have fun!

Laurie


-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/shadowood/irisintro.html
USDA zone 3b, AHS zone 4 - northern MN
acidic clay soil

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