"Talking Irises" ENJOY YOUR TALL BEARDED IRISES ALL YEAR LONG! Creative ways to preserve your iris photos

 By Susanne Holland Spicker

Tall bearded irises 'Proud Tradition' (Schreiner 1990), 'Queen's Circle' (Kerr 2000), 'No Count Blues' (Schreiner 2009)

"The gardens that make us happiest flourish because we have taken the time to make sure they feed our souls and fill a special place in our lives." (Lindley Karstens)

Tall bearded iris 'Daring Deception' (Johnson 2012)

For several years I have been taking some of my iris photos and making them into cards, posters, and photo books, adding favorite thoughts and quotes to the image. I have chosen a few to share in the hopes that they may inspire you, or just bring a smile to your face. Most of the iris images are first-time bloomers in my 2015 garden.

Tall bearded iris 'Winning Edge' (Ghio 1997)

Tall bearded iris 'Coming Up Roses' (Gatty 1992)

Tall bearded iris 'Engagement Ring' (Ghio 2011)

Tall bearded iris 'Ascii Art' (Moores 1997)

Tall bearded iris 'New Leaf' (Ghio 1997)

Tall bearded iris 'Magical' (Ghio 2007)

Tall bearded iris 'Global Crossing' (Van Liere 2012)

Tall bearded iris 'Wedding Belle' (Keppel 2007)

Tall bearded iris 'Vienna Waltz' (Keppel 2000)

Tall bearded iris 'Tickle Me Pink' (Van Liere 2011)

Tall bearded iris 'Queen's Ransom' (Van Liere 2012)

Tall bearded iris 'Devonshire Cream' (Sutton 2000)

I love the quote from A.J. Balfour:  "What a desolate place would be a world without a flower! It would be like a face without a smile or a feast without a welcome.  Are not flowers the stars of the earth?"

Tall bearded iris 'Long Embrace' (Van Liere 2010)

Tall bearded iris 'Aristocracy' (Keppel 2006)

What are some ways you enjoy the beauty of your irises through the year? Do you have any creative ways in preserving their beauty when they're not blooming?  I'd love to hear from you!

"Talking Irises" TALL BEARDED IRIS--FIRST-YEAR BLOOMS, 2014

'PARISIAN DAWN' Keppel 2006

By Susanne Holland Spicker

The 2014 TALL BEARDED IRIS SEASON was the best for me in recent memory. I divided nearly all of my irises last year, and wasn't expecting a banner year, but their increase and bloom was more prolific than I have seen for several years. The weather in the top of Utah was ideal for them to establish a good root system in the fall, and the hard freezes in late winter and early spring came before there was damage to the buds, as had been the case the past few years. The new rhizomes I planted had a 95% bloom success--unheard of in my experience with new plantings. Although I was very happy with these new irises, sometimes first-year blooms aren't indicative of what kind of plant it turns out to be. I usually need to wait a few years to know important factors such as hardiness, vigor, and dependability in bloom. These are some of my favorite first-year blooms in 2014.

'PHOTOGENIC' Ghio 2006

'GOING DUTCH' Van Liere 2009

'RHINELANDER' Schreiner 2006

'LENTEN PRAYER' Schreiner 1998

'ABOUT TOWN' Blyth 1997

'PRETTY GENEROUS' Innerst 2004

'CHRISTMAS EVE' Van Liere 2010

'DESIGNER LABEL' Ghio 2003

'QUEEN'S RANSOM' Van Liere 2012

'TICKLE ME PINK' Van Liere 2011

'GYPSY LORD' Keppel 2006

'SISTERHOOD' Van Liere 2011

'DREAM TEAM' Johnson 2007

'BUBBLE BUBBLE' Ghio 2005

'ROLE REVERSAL' Ghio 2010

'LEMON CLOUD' Painter 2008

'GITANO' Keppel 2007

'ROSY FORECAST' Williamson 2010

'WINNING EDGE' Ghio 1997

'WEARING RUBIES' Blyth 2000

'SOUTHERN MORNING' Metler 2011 

'MARCHING TO ZION' Metler 2011

'OVERJOYED' Gatty by Keppel 1994

'ADOREE'  Blyth 2006

'FLORENTINE SILK' Keppel 2005

'EVENING TIDINGS' Schreiner 2009

'GOLDEN PANTHER' Tasco 2000

'ARISTOCRACY' Keppel 2006

'RED SKIES' Ghio 2007

First-year blooms are always exciting; it's much

like  Christmas  morning  to  go  out  and  see a 

new cultivar in bloom for the first time. Time will

tell if these new irises stand the test of time

for good increase, dependability and hardiness--

I hope so, they were beautiful this year.

I'd love to hear about a favorite first-year bloom 

you've had.  

Have any disappointed you with their vigor or 

dependability?