Bois d'Arc Gardens

I ordered and paid for 5 Colorific Louisiana irises that were supposed to be shipped the end of August. While other Louisiana nurseries I ordered from timely shipped my irises, Bois d'Arc did not. Only after repeated e-mails and phone calls did I receive my irises (on 9/19). Then, the irises that were sent were so pitiful, it is amazing that they were sent at all. While 7 rhizomes were sent, together they don't even equal the size of 1 rhizome sent from other nurseries.

I planted 20+ Louisiana Irises from Bois d Arc Gardens in early October 1999. (They were a set of mixed colors plus 2 Samuri Wish tetraploid irises.) When they arrived, some had greenery on them and some didn't. The owners told me some tubers would be very large (a foot and a half long!), while others would be smaller (1-2"). I planted them all in amended clay (clay with peat moss and Black Cow composted manure mixed in), and within one week they were putting out new growth. Right now it's January 2000, and we just had a bad cold snap here in southeastern North Carolina. Of course the leaves of the LA iris are frostbitten, but that's to be expected in 30 degree F. weather! So far so good with these iris; hopefully they will bloom this summer in our hot, humid weather. (The tetraploid LA iris plants are definitely bigger than the regular LA iris- sort of like iris on steroids!)

I was looking for a supplier for Louisiana Iris, and my Fine Gardening magazine listed Bois d Arc Gardens in an article on the subject. I called for a catalog and it arrived within a week. (It's not a big catalog, but a computer generated booklet with some color pictures and great information on planting/growing Louisiana Iris.) This seems to be a "Mom & Pop" kind of place that really knows its stuff when it comes to Louisiana Iris! I wrote to their Email address to ask a few questions, and they responded within 24 hours. When I called to order, Rusty Ostheimer (one of the owners) was most patient in answering even more of my questions. They don't accept credit card numbers, but they will take a check. The order arrived in about one week and the rhizomes were in good shape. I got a variety mixture that was economically priced, and I can't wait to see the colors when they bloom! (They said they would put at least 20 different varieties in the mix, but that they wouldn't be labeled.) Bois d'Arc seems like a good supplier and they were most helpful. I'd definitely order from them again!