Re: Re: CULT:Vicki Ann
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Margaret,
I have had trouble growing Vickie Ann in the past. I think that the key to
that variety may be in moving large divisions. She does not seem to like to
be transplanted, even from one section of the garden to another. I had
complete success dividing my original clump into small clumps of about three
inches in diameter and lining them out for stock. It's a very pretty light
blue color in the garden but there are others in that color range that might
be less temperamental.
Concerning bloom height of siberians, the height given in the checklist is
for bloom stalk height and not foliage height. Some of the varieties bloom
above the foliage in the spring but the foliage continues to grow after
bloom and may reach heights far above the bloom height listed. Some
mentioned such as High Standards and Early Bluebird always grow very tall
foliage for me. Jewelled Crown and Coronation Anthem also grow foliage
after the bloom time that is taller than the bloomstalks.
Sibirica Nana Alba and Baby Sister stay considerably shorter but have
similar growing characteristics. The clump increases in width by leaps and
bounds due to the large number of increases that each rhizome produces.
They bloom at the proper height for me but the foliage quickly grows leaving
the
very last of the bloom below the height of the foliage. That can be a nice
feature in that the appearance of the clump at the end of bloom time is neat
because the old bloomstalks are hidden.
We all know that the Pacific Northwest is "Siberian Iris Heaven" and if
Dallas Patterson's plants are planted in virgin soil there it would explain
the extremely high foliage growth. We have had a very wet and extremely
cool summer here too and my siberian foliage resembles clumps of ornamental
grass. I have several clumps that have foliage higher than my garden fence
and it is difficult to get through my stock garden paths which are overgrown
in foliage this year.
I would assume that your cultivars are correctly named and just says thanks
for the gorgeous foliage and look forward to it turning a beautiful golden
color before long. Last year my foliage was fried to a crisp by drought and
extreme heat but the plants survived and bloomed beautifully this spring.
Carol Warner, Maryland
