Suzanne,
Go to the files section and read the Controlled Evolution of the Horned, Spooned and Flounced Iris article by Lloyd Austin. It contains almost everything you need to know about SA Irises. Also check out the other articles as there's almost no literature on Space Age Irises out there on the net. There's also a folder in the photos section dedicated to THORNBIRD in all its beauty/ugliness and variability.
My SA recommendations for zone 4 would be, MESMERIZER, KALIFA'S HORN, HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE, THORNBIRD, HONEY SCOOP(better than SKY HOOKS and VERY unusual in the type of freakish appendages it produces) REINCARNATION, FRENCH HORN. All good growers here and usually always produce appendages on every bloom.
Don't forget to try your hand at hybridizing as well, it's a hell of a lot of fun!
You can get most of the unusual stuff from Riverview Gardens and the more popular ones from Sutton's. So get shopping!!!!
Chris
--- In S*@yahoogroups.com, "Suzanne Stuart" <flowerpower44@...> wrote:
>
> Hi! Chris,
>
> I have one Dwarf Iris and 8 Bearded Iris. I have been lucky enough to not have Iris Borers. I am extremely interested in the Space Age Irises.
>
> I also grow and hybridize Daylilies (550 cultivars). What Irises I have do grow next to some of my daylilies and look good with them.
>
> What cultivars would you suggest, that will grow in my Zone 5 ?
>
> Suzanne Stuart
> Belfast, ME
> flowerpower44@...
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Chris Darlington
> To: S*@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 5:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [SpaceAgeRobin] unusual Iris
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi Suzanne,
>
> It's been quiet here for a long time but if you're interested in growing unusual stuff, this is technically the right place if we can get some of the experts to come out of the woodwork ;-)
>
> If you like Space Age Irises, we can probably suggest a few reliable cultivars that bloom with all of their appendages in colder climates. (Many of them do not) Mesmerizer is a great one for me here in zone 4. A very cool Space age arilbred I have growing here and love is called Kalifa's Horn. It's a mixture of genes from Aril, TB with dominant SA genes in a broken color plant.
>
> I use a general purpose 15-15-15 for my stuff, works well. Bone meal also works well.
>
> Do you have borers?
>
> Chris
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Suzanne Stuart
> To: s*@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 9:16 AM
> Subject: [SpaceAgeRobin] unusual Iris
>
>
>
>
> Hi! everyone,
>
> I am looking forward to learning more about growing the unusual forms of Iris and Iris in general.
>
> I would like to know when to divide and what type of fertilizer they like.
>
> What types will grow here in Belfast, ME (a Zone 5).
>
> Thanks,
>
> Suzanne Stuart
> Belfast, ME
> flowerpower44@...
>
>
>
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