The Heady Edge of Anticipation

I am currently at that heady edge of anticipation when all of the new iris are showing their buds, but none have yet burst forth into color. I've been very impressed by the growth shown by the plants from the Pacific Northwest growers "leftovers" co-op last Fall and more than half of them look like they will be in bloom soon.

When I moved into my current house 3 years ago the previous owners had dumped great quantities of red rock over the top of the gardens in their preparations to sell the house, for which I try not to curse them too loudly. As I removed rock that first year I found perennials, bulbs, and even a large rose of sharon that had been cut off level to the ground. I also found some poor tiny, mangled iris rhizomes. I think that they had been damaged by sitting on the surface of the ground when the previous owners scraped everything off and covered it in lava rock.

These iris I potted up and tended to, trying not to kill them with kindness since beardeds hate extra water, soil that retains too much moisture, fertilizer when they aren't in active growth, etc. By the end of last year they had finally re-formed strong rhizomes and good top growth so that I was no longer worried about their survival, but I had no idea what they were. With 100 or so varieties of bearded, louisiana, japanese, and other iris in my collection it's strange how I get attached to these poor wretches that I should probably throw out. But I just had to know what kind they were!

So, this spring, finally, a blooming stalk appears. I'm watching its progress eagerly each day. And today, while watering, I see this...

Sigh. I guess it's time I figured out what is eating the iris, eh?

And, since DG has a bug which leaves off the image when it throws an error to make you go back and add a subject line, you get to wait for the second message to see the picture!

Perhaps I should feel bad for the non-subscribers who can't see beyond the first post?

I feel your pain.... I have had similar experiences. It turned out to be a bird. Sometimes a Cardinal, sometimes an Oriole. If a bird is the culprit you may want to try covering the whole iris plant with chicken wire, the one with the small openings. It may not look to pretty but you'll be able to see what your iris looks like. Good luck!

then again, it's usually me blundering through that does that. Planted mine all too close together.

talk about anticipation. This year something odd has happened. a couple clumps that are growing so-so haven't bloomed yet. 3rd year, they are blooming - they are supposed to be Sierra Grande and Voltage so I'm all excited! both clumps opened up identical red pliccatas. ???? Now how do you go back to a grower from three years ago and say "Foul! need a do-over! " ??

Heh, now that has definitely happened to me before. It's so much worse when you've cultivated the plants for a few years before finding out--and then it seems like there's nothing you can do about it. For me it usually leads to going out and buying a bunch of new plants, though...But then, doesn't everything?

I don't think it's a bird. There are little pieces cut out of the leaves randomly all over. I'd blame slugs, but I haven't hardly seen them this year. Maybe that's because they've been busy with my iris instead of my hostas, like usual? Too early for the rampaging grasshoppers. Perhaps some kind of beatle/bug? I haven't actually seen anything munching on them, which leads me to believe it's something nocturnal like slugs and snails.

any chance in the world y'all have deer? I don't remember any there, but deer taking a nibble? they tend to spit it back out.