2006 NEWBIE IRIS Giveaway !

Hi Wanda, I'm a newbie as of June 16th, I would love one if you have any left.

Thank-you,
Roxanne

Hi Wanda! Are you overwhelmed with the requests? If so, that's okay. But if not, I would love an iris as well! Any color would be fine. I'll name it "Wanda".

Hi Wanda, I'm a newbie who registered in March 2006 and would love some irises for the postage. Thanks for your generous offer!
Jane

I'll send packs out to two of you lucky people today & dig more tonight. Digging some for a trade with Maxine, so colors will be varied.

Is there anything more glorious than iris in the spring?

Hi Wanda,
Newby here. if you still have Iris's left , I would love any color you have.

You gardens are simply beautiful! Thanks again for your generosity Wanda!

wandasflowers, you are so awesome! may the iris gods and goddesses continue to smile down upon you and yours :-)

God has already Blessed me with more iris than I need--that's why I keep sending boxes out!

Daxo80 was over here last night helping me as I dug some for her & Maxine. Extras go into the Iris Newbie boxes after they dry. A bit more of digging & I'm done for this year. Got all your requests. Iris need to dry & ship out in a few days.

Dug a bunch of Full Tide last night among others.

Wanda,
NO, I'm not requesting ANY irises! But what I AM doing is expressing my gratitude (and appreciation for) such a gracious and kind act of 'the true spirit' of gardening that you have shown here! I rarely post in this forum due to a host of other commitments and my own gardening efforts, etc. BUT, I strongly feel your thoughtfulness (and back-breaking work) deserves a round of applause and thanks from ALL DG irisarians! Your efforts have not gone un-noticed!
THANKS,
Leon

I'm glad you posted about how to plant them, as I think I've done mine too deep, but I did take the mulch away from them. I interplanted them with echinacea, coreopsis, and assorted salvias. Wanda, do you suppose that will be dry enough for them? It's their first year, so just getting established. Are daylilies good companions?

Amen brother Leon! Thanks Wanda!

Hello Wanda,

I wanted to write and Thank You from the bottom of my heart!
The mail lady had a box in her hand today and I nearly knocked her over in excitement!
I was gardening today which was my day off so it was perfect timing.
I just got done looking up the surprises in my box and am in LOVE :)
I couldn't find Full Fiesta though and was wondering if you might have a picture of it?
I will put a check in the mail to you tomorrow for postage.
I sincerely appreciate your kindness and hope that someday my garden will be big enough to pay it forward to other new gardeners.
thank you again Wanda,
Kim

The check is in the mail. Honest! It is! I'm sorry it took so long. No excuse. I was just being natter-brained.

Are the leaves supposed to die back after you plant them? I planted them in damp soil because it had just rained the day before, and I haven't watered them since because from what I understand you're not supposed to. But the leaves are steadily dying back and turning brown. I'm beginning to fret over my poor babies. I'm a bad iris-mommy. :-(

The iris blades often die back during the transplant or even when left alone. Don't worry about it. The root has enough energy to send up new leaves and roots. Do not water and make sure they get nice and dry with plenty of sun.

Leon, just trying to get rid of some extra iris here and addict others with my passion. Just a few iris in the garden can make spring a wonderful experience. All I ask is that all of you share with your friends and family in a few years.

I'm getting down to the end of my digging--got to make room for a couple of DG trades!

It's Fall Fiesta --don't you hate my handwriting??? Photo up above August 6

My iris do the best with other plants of equal height or vertical plants like phlox and lilies. I plant mine with good distance away from daylilies so the iris can stay dry & have free flowing air in the summer. I mulch alll the plants except for the iris. I do not water. If you are in an area where you need to water, planting with other drought plants like you mentioned : coneflowers, salvias, coreopsis etc works too.

This is an iris bed in daylily season. can you see the iris blades?

This is Colorado. They'll get plenty of sun, and plenty of dry. ;-)

Although it has been raining on and off this month. My lilac loves it.

Same view of bed in May this year. Daylilies and other perennails are barely showing.

Wanda,
Thanks so very much for the box of irises that arrived today. I look forward to many beautiful blooms next spring.
I'm so glad that Fall Fiesta was in my box!!!! I was hoping it would be! And, also King Tush was another favorite of mine. I'll think of you many times in the months to come.
Postage will go out with the postman tomorrow.

thanks again,
Louise

Thanks again from me too Wanda. Your box of goodies really made my day! Sending you a virtural {{{hug}}}.

Justfurkids Carol
http://www.justfurkids.com/TNmove.html

Hey Wanda,

Received my goodies today. I loved the Lagniappe. I'll send the postage tomorrow. I'd say thanks but that would bring bad luck, so I'll say Merci Beaucoupe. lol Planting good thoughts of you along with my flowers.

lilbit

I'm hopeful, Wanda! I think I have the daylilies far enough away so that their water needs won't hurt the iris.

4paws, noting that I am NOT an iris expert, when I grew them in zone 9b, they enjoyed nearly as much water as my daylilies with no problems as long as the soil drained really really well. The ones I had sitting a-top clay did NOT like the water as much and I had some problems, but the ones in the "good stufff" sitting up on little hills were ok. Especially when the temps started going over 95*F during the day and staying above 85*F during the nights... I currently have some in my raised veggie bed at the edges. Since I hand water, I can give the tomatoes a good drink and skip the irises :-)

Thanks, kmom. It does get very hot and dry here in the summer, though it does cool off quite pleasantly at night. What I plan to do, once the perennials are settled and don't need the extra water, is set up drip hoses around the plants that need more, like the daylilies. I have incredible soil and excellent drainage, so I think the only change I need to make is set them up on the little hills, to make sure I've not put them too deep. They will be so gorgeous!

(I sure love playing in the dirt!)

dldbrou, my great-aunt Victoria used to say the same thing about saying thank you for plants....do you know the origin of the thought?

Wanda, your description of Conch Call certainly surpasses the photos. I couldn't tell it was pale pink! :-)

4paws,

I do not know the orgin, of the saying. It's just one of those things that you are told all your life and you believe it. I could ask my husband's elderly aunts whether or not they remember. I'll let you know cause I like a good mistery. Merci Beaucoupe is my way of getting around saying Thank You. I figure not everyone speaks French, so they might not know what I am saying. And to be even more sneaky, you can say it really really fast, so that if they do speak it they might not understand you. Lol In this area, if you don't know this phrase, you must be from mars. Heehee

What adds to the mystery is that you are in LA and I was raised in upstate NY. My great-aunt was first generation immigrant (Polish).

Hello, Wanda...
I would love to enjoy your generous offer for iris.

I am new to DG...this is my first official contact with a *real* person.

I will follow up in a D-mail..

Thank you.

I'm glad all the iris boxes are arriving in good condition. I have more dried on the porch and ready to ship.

joytoy, gotcha! Welcome to DG--you will find it is a fun place. Anymore Newbies out there? If I have NEVER sent you iris, you qualify! I have a few more boxes ready to address.

Hello Wanda, I am not a newbie at DG, but I have never been involved in any of your free iris giveaways. If I qualify for some of your irises, please send them. you have D-Mail. Cecil

Hi Wanda,
I am not brand new to DG, but have never been a part of your giveaways either. I just bought 3 iris plants at Walmart and would love to be included. I have a huge space I am trying to fill up with daylilies and some iris, but the money is drying up fast! LOL
Sherry (Sherrygirl)

Wanda,

I just received your package. WOW! Is all I can say. What a wonderful and generous woman you are to do this for us newbies. I'm sure angels are watching out for you!

I'll make certain to get the postage off to you tomorrow!


Thank yo so much!
Kristi

Hello Wanda,

I just wanted to thankyou here for all your generocity. I got my package last week and sent out the postage immediately so that others can enjoy your iris too. The cards are a wonderful treat. I'll make sure your iris grows healthy so that I can share them with others. A little of your garden must be all over the nation by now! Thanks again, Andrea

Wanda, I think I may be a little late - I'm a new subscriber (end of May 06). I would love to have some of your irises for postage if you have any left. If you're out or worn out by now I definately understand. I'll send you a d-mail just in case. Thanks, Michelle

I planted Wanda's iris last week - my first and only. Then after reading about how to plant them, I decided I hadn't done it right, so decided yesterday to dig and replant. Well, dig this - the Rose Garland was already rooted, with at least an extra inch of roots! Poor girl got disturbed anyway, and everyone got a little hill to live on and a super deep soaking. Now, to let them alone to grow.

Wanda,
I joined as a subscriber in June 2006. You may be all out by now. I found this thread too late. Your garden photographs are beautiful.

Oops. I didn't do hills. And I didn't soak. :-(

i am a new daves subscriber this year and would like some iris for postage. thanks. my address is in the exchange. barb

Plenty of iris still to send out, but I'll stop digging this weekend. Newbies--be sure to damil me your addys.

mamjack--please send me a dmail with address. it's how I keep track of the requests.

I would love to have some of your beautiful iris for my garden and also to plant for my mother. I have already sent you a d-mail. I am not picky on color but my mother does love pinks, lavenders and coral type colors... mostly anything in the 'pinkish range' LOL

Thank you so very much for your wonderful offer. I am reading on irises right now. West Texas is plenty hot and dry. My lavender plants are happy and I plan to put these in the same areas because they both love hot and dry.

Tammie
Odessa, TX

I'd like some of your irises too, please! I just joined today just because I saw this post! I'm so shameless! I'll send you my address. Thanks!

We are ALL shameless when it comes to irises :-)

Here are some of my irises. I love all of them!