Irises: The first iris bloom is six days early , 1 by Mainer

Mainer wrote:
A very sheltered spot zoned up with stone pathstones, eastern side of the house, full sun until the apple tree leaves out which it is about to do now but the iris are sheltered by the sloping hillside.

I am breaking up the clay soil with sand for drainage. The ones in the northern side of the house or in raised wooden beds are not blooming yet. They are way behind.

Here is the maltese cross in the northern part of the garden that is way behind.