Irises: Exhausting...looking at several pics to choose an Iris, 1 by

wrote:
SusanLouise:
I go through that ever year when I order from Schreiners. I have about 129 different varieties of the bearded Irises. I order online with the help of their large catalog that I get every year. I go through the catalog and mark what I want. Then go on line to check their photo. I then pause a few days, sometimes longer. Eventually I limit the numbers to what I really want. I wait for their 50% off sale. If you by $80 worth, you pay $40. and get a free bonus which usually is one of their newest variety. I look for the unique, and different from what I have.

Schreiners is located in Oregon. Their rhizomes are huge. I live in Wyoming so mine do not get that large due to a shorter growing season. However, they bloom beautifull for me. I have bought Irises from other companies, such as Cooley's but tend to stick with Schreiner. I sell Irises on Ebay so have to be sure when I buy them that their name is correct. I keep a stock garden in my back yard for what I sell and all are numbered on a chart in Excel on my computer, backed up by a hardcopy

The reason the same Iris looks different in color is due to many reasons. First, the camera setting. Then light intensity, (sun or shade) how color is displayed on your computer screen. Computer screens are like TV's, not all display color the same. Sometime the climate where an Iris it is grown can make a difference to a certain extent. I don't choice only by photo, I read the description offered. When I take closeups of my Irises, it is never in bright sunlight. It bleaches color. An overcast day, or in the shade, gives more saturated color. I also use a white photographer's umbrella to shade plants if there is no shade or overcast when a new Iris is blooming.

dmac085:
You are correct that Irises growing in different parts of the country produces different size rhizomes. It depends on how long the season is. Here in Wyoming, our growing season is shorter than other parts of the country. My Irises evenually produce large rhizomes but by that time, it is too late to divide them. Deadline in WY is early September so they will have time to get established before winter. Further west, like Oregon etc. Iris rhizomes grow much larger. Ofcourse, size of rhizomes also depends on variety.

Caption: A section of my Irises growing in my front yard along the sidewalk. Neighbors love to see them bloom, and they welcome me home. When they are done blooming, my everblooming roses are large enough to bloom. These Irises produce my stock plants when crowded enough to divide.

I think they are one of my addictions. Others are Sempervivums and Sedums