Re: CULT: I. versicolor
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: CULT: I. versicolor
- From: i*@rt66.com
- Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 10:39:55 -0600 (MDT)
Barb wrote
>To those of you who seem to be confused as to why I asked if they=20
>could grow in a pond, rest assured that I don't mean submerged like a water=
=20
>lily; I mean at the margins like a bog plant. I know these seeds came=
"from a=20
>New York swamp", but I'm afraid I don't really understand genuine swamps. =
=20
>Never seen one. So my next question is: what happens to swamps in New=
York=20
>in winter--do they dry out before freezing, or do they freeze like skating=
=20
>ponds with vegetation sticking out? I know, I should go visit somewhere=
cold=20
>in winter, but I'm not that brave. And do the iris grow in the mud/water=
of=20
>the swamp, or do they prefer higher ground near the mud/water?
>
Since my Versicolor is in my New York swamp, I'll try to explain what I=
think happens down there.
The water level is dependent on how much rain we've been getting. The place=
the iris are, next to a little footbridge, can vary anywhere between six=
inches of standing water to no standing water. I don't think it's ever=
dried out totally, but it has gotten to the point of moderately damp garden=
soil. The only thing seasonal about the water level is that it's usually=
highest in spring. This seems to be characteristic of any place water iris=
grow around here. They dry out occassionally during the summer, and are=
usually under a small amount of standing water. If there is water there=
during the winter, it freezes, and I guess it does look a bit like a=
skating pond. Except there is a LOT of vegetation sticking out. Also, since=
it's in a low spot (surprise!), any snow we do get accumulates there, and=
stays there.
Anything else you want to know, ask. I can always go and look.
Kay Cangemi
Cangemi@ulster.net
New York, USDA zone 5
