"Talking Irises" TALL BEARDED IRISES--GARDENING IS NO RESPECTER OF AGE: "Garden Inspiration for the Young Gardener in Your Life"

By Susanne Holland Spicker

'NAPLES' Johnson 2001

One of my first recollections as a child was my grandmother's flower garden. I still remember the array of colors, the intoxicating fragrance and its sheer beauty. I credit her for planting the seed resulting in my passion for flowers and gardening.

   My Grandmother's flower garden in 1970, taken with my first camera--

a little Kodak Instamatic. How I wish I could turn the time back and get a 

picture of it today with a modern digital camera. It was beautiful! 

It's no coincidence she had a mother and grandmother who shared their love of gardening with her. It is easy to stimulate a child's interest when they see you having fun and enthusiastically immersing yourself in an activity you are passionate about.  

'SWEET MUSETTE' Schreiner 1986

Later, my parents continued that legacy--one that I hope I have passed on to my children and grandchildren. 

 'MIDNIGHT REVELRY' Schreiner 2005--My daughter Emily
choosing an iris she wants to plant in her own garden

Tall bearded irises were among my family's favorite flowers. I think my story is not unlike many: parents and grandparents helping to cultivate the love of plants of all kinds. Gardening is an activity that is no respecter of age--the very young to the very old can participate.

'PHOTOGENIC' Ghio 2006  'ARISTOCRACY' Keppel 2006
'SOUTHERN MORNING' Metler 2011
My granddaughters Eliza and Paige in the garden picking flowers to make arrangements. 

Some interesting facts about gardening and what it teaches:

• Patience. Waiting for plants to grow and then bloom takes time, sometimes more than a year
• Creativity. Planning a garden with a color scheme or a bed with companion plants encourages creativity
• Responsibility. Planting, weeding, watering and general care takes commitment
• A sense of accomplishment. Seeing a plant grow from a seed or rhizome to fruition gives a feeling of success
• Family devotion. When we spend quality time together by participating in a common interest, we foster love and respect

'QUEEN IN CALICO' Gibson 1980

'MARY FRANCES' Gaulter 1973

Eliza has an interest in irises. She helps water, weed and deadhead the blooms. 

                               This year she's going to start planting. 

"Children who first encounter irises in childhood have an uncanny way of growing up to be lovers of all things iris--to grow them and possibly even hybridizing them." (Pat Otterness, "Kid's Eye View," TALL TALK, Spring 2012)

'SKYHOOKS' Osborn 1980

"Research has even found that kids involved with gardening and the outdoors perform better in school and have greater confidence. We can empower our youth by involving them in all aspects of gardening." ("Make Gardening A Family Affair")

'THEATER' Keppel 1981

The American Iris Society (AIS) has a youth program. It encourages interest in irises, with emphasis on growing, and possibly hybridizing irises for our young gardeners. For more information on this program, go to AIS Youth Program.

'DREAM TEAM' Johnson 2007

In the words of Cheryl Deaton, "I hope everyone who has the opportunity to interact with our youth...will take a moment to...encourage their interests in irises. They are...the future of The American Iris Society." (IRISES "Youth View" Summer 2014)

'RINGO' Shoop 1979
Eliza has enjoyed the flower garden since she was a two year-old. Now ten,
she, with other young gardeners, may be the future of the American Iris Society

In summary, encouraging children and youth to play an active role in gardening, specifically irises--by planning an iris bed, choosing the rhizomes, planting, caring for, harvesting the flowers, and arranging the blooms or even hybridizing them--makes for an enjoyable and productive hobby.  As adults, we can plant a seed that can enhance their lives on many levels.

'BUBBLING OVER' Ghio 1992

If you have experience involving or encouraging youth to garden, I'd love to hear what you've done! 

For more information on kids in the garden here are some excellent links:
https://www.fix.com/blog/kids-gardening-for-health-and-fun/

https://spray-n-growgardening.com/

www.ksl.com/?sid=15496447

www.gardenforever.com/pages/learn-to-grow.html

TALL BEARDED IRIS, MY FAVORITE PINKS, PART TWO

by Dawn Mumford

As promised, here is the second post on my favorite pinks.  You can see the first post by clicking here.

The pink irises above are 'Elisa Renee' (Gaulter 1983). Most of our irises are in rows so we can keep track of them but a few are granted space in the landscape. 

'Elisa Renee' (Gaulter 1983) 

'Social Register' (Ghio 1981) 
This iris is a beautiful delicate pink.

'Jacaranda' (Gaulter 1981). 

This one is a nice mulberry color.

'Pink Angel' (Rudolph 1973).
This one is distinctive by its wide flaring falls.

'Rancho Rose' (Gibson 1975)

This plicata (stitched, striped or dotted) makes a nice contrast with the other pink blooms. 

                                                                                            

'Sweet Musette'  (Schreiner 1986)
I think this color combination is one of my favorites.  'Sweet Musette' always makes a great statement in the garden.  I think it says "look at me".

'Heather Cloud' (Manner 1981)
This iris has some of the colors of "Celebration Song' which won a Dykes medal in 2003.  The colors on this one are a bit more saturated.

'Paradise' (Gatty 1980)
This bloom has pretty form and a lovely delicate color.

'Extravagant' (Hamblen 1983)  
This iris has always bloomed very late in the season for us.  It has been situated near some 80-100 foot tall trees and so gets shade from 4 pm on.  We have relocated it to a sunnier spot this year and I hope that encourages it to bloom earlier next year.  

'June Krausse'  (Schreiner 2009)
This is described by Schreiner's as a vivid seashell pink.  This one is a recent addition to my garden.  

This collage includes a selection of some of my favorite pinks, which makes a wonderful desktop background on my computer: another way to extend the bloom time. 

How do you extend your bloom time?  I would love to hear from you.

Next year I look forward to some pinks that I just planted this fall.  Maybe they will make the favorite list and bump some of the others off.  They are: 'Pink Mink', 'Happenstance', 'Persian Berry', 'Fantasy in Pink', and 'Pink Swan'.

Which pinks are you most looking forward to seeing this spring?

Strikingly Beautiful Flowers

Artists and photographers have long created iris portraits: many of us are familiar with the famous iris paintings by Georgia O'Keefe. Endless combinations of line, form and color can be produced by zooming in on the iris flower. Irises are so photogenic in this respect that the temptation is to take nothing but portraits and close-ups: the striking beauty of the iris flower causes us to neglect photographing the whole plant.  


There are other challenges for the amateur photographer who wishes to capture the plant in the landscape.  Aside from focus and exposure issues, there is always the blue tarp covering the compost pile, the rusting skeleton of an old Bultaco, or more often, three-foot-high weeds looming in the background.   


Here I tried to give you some photos of the plant, foliage and all, as well as the flower.  It would be a little dull were I to take these photos today, since so few irises are in bloom, so most are from last spring.  Many of these irises are new to my garden and have yet to form true clumps.  This gives me something to look forward to next year, and this spring, I promise to take photos of the whole clump, even if the weeds are blocking the view!

Tall Bearded Iris 'Rare Treat' in Andi's garden.  Ruffles galore.

Tall Bearded Iris 'Lady Friend' which is the first to bloom for me.

Tall Bearded Iris 'Cajun Rhythm,' a late bloomer.

Tall Bearded Iris 'Persian Berry' a very early bloomer.

Tall Bearded Iris 'No Count Blues'

Tall Bearded Iris 'Spin Off' is good for the front of a border.

Tall Bearded Iris 'Classic Look' 

Border Bearded Iris 'Maid of Orange' has nice, upright foliage with narrow leaves.

Tall Bearded Iris 'Looky Loo'

Tall Bearded Iris 'Scoonchee' in Lois's garden.

Tall Bearded Iris 'Queen's Circle' in my garden (top two) and at Carolyn's.

Tall Bearded Iris 'Sweet Musette' in Wendy's garden.

I leave you with this image of a strikingly beautiful garden featuring the iris 'Sweet Musette.'  In the background, tomato cages and wheelbarrows.