Louisiana Seeds? Mushroom Compost?

Just today I collected some Louisiana iris seed pods on a visit to a local
public garden/park.  Don't worry, I didn't collect everything they had.
There must have been hundreds of seed pods.  These were probably named
varieties at some point, but now it's anybody's guess. Now to my question.
If I plant them now will they germinate immediately (within a couple of
weeks) or will they just sit there and sprout next spring, only after being
exposed to cold winter temperatures?

One another note, I just dug and scooped about 5 rotten TB's.  Looks like
the snails were making a midnight snack out of my newly planted TB's (and
the flies were feeding their babies on them during the day). Clarence, in
reference to your instructions to Gunnar on rot treatment, do I leave the
powdered bathroom cleanser on the plants when I put them back in the ground?

Third note: I just purchased some of that mushroom compost that I've heard
some of you mention on the IRIS-L.  This stuff must have gold dust in it
considering the price. Is it primarily beneficial because of it's soil
lightening and moisture retention properties, or does it have other benefits
as well?  

A visitor of a northern persuasion recently described my garden soil as
"beach sand". I agree that my soil is sandy, but I've been adding all the
compost and horse manure I can get my hands on. Nevertheless, with the heat
and humidity, organic matter doesn't last very long in the Southern U.S.
I'm planning to add the mushroom compost to the planting holes of my new
Siberian irises.  Any reasons I shouldn't do this?


- Donald M. (Trying to enjoy a really wet and rainy Labor Day)


Donald Mosser
dmosser@southconn.com
North Augusta, SC, USA
Zone 7b-8
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