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Aug 3, 2015 4:37 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
In looking over my list of rhizomes this year, I've noticed a pattern of sorts, and I have many irises that are very similar looking, which says that I am drawn to that type/style/color pattern of those particular iris. For example, I have a lot of Reds::
* Solid Mahogany
* Ida Red
* Indian Chief
* Rosy Wings
* Dauntless
* Tickfaw (LA)
* Red Echo (LA)
* Caliente
* Maroon Damask
* The Red Douglas

Does anyone else find themselves drawn to a particular color of Iris? I also seem to have a lot of "Purples" this year. Confused
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Aug 3, 2015 5:20 AM CST
Name: Richard
Joshua Tree (Zone 9a)
Birds Herbs Irises Ponds Plant and/or Seed Trader
I kinda find my self drawn to the purples (solid colored ones), blues, and some reds. Most of them regardless of color are bearded irises and historicals. Also they all basically have the same or pretty similar leave pattern.
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Aug 3, 2015 5:33 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
Yep, I have a lot of Purples too, Richard. I don't own any blues. And all of my iris, of course, are Historicals. I'm kinda delighted with my selection of Iris this year. Smiling
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Aug 3, 2015 6:40 AM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I have years where I ordered mostly plicatas, or I find that I'm lacking a certain color, and I go overboard buying that color. Then I want lacy ones, then I want ruffly ones, then I need more selfs, pinks, whites, or reds. It's a crazy cycle for me.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
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Aug 3, 2015 6:43 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
I just found that I was attracted to Historics, and to the ones like "Dauntless" and "Indian Chief" and "Alcazar" and "Rameses", and "Quaker Lady". Then I began really wanting Brown Iris, like
"Brown Turban" and "Argus Pheasant" and "Bryce Canyon". I think now I have all the ones I want,
and all I will really have to do is just replace the ones I'm going to plant if they don't perform, but
I'll end up ordering the same Iris all over again. Yeah, it's crazy !
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Aug 3, 2015 1:43 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
For me it was the dwarfs. They come in more colors than the larger irises and the blooms come in all sizes. I have a little less than four hundred of them now so I feel like I can slow down a bit. Last year I became enthralled with luminatas and I want to collect enough to fill a luminata bed..... about a dozen or so not counting dwarf luminatas. I love pinks but true blues just call my name. This last spring for the first time I started looking at the lack of orange irises I grow and noticing the ones that bloomed and really want some more. sigh.....

What I really, really want now, besides my ever wishing for a turquoise TB, is a blue with a pink beard.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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Aug 3, 2015 1:47 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
What Irises are considered the "Dwarfs" ? . . . . Confused
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Aug 3, 2015 2:13 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
Standard Dwarf Bearded irises I call dwarfs. They are classed as medians and the MTB's (miniature dwarf bearded) are classed as dwarfs. I have about 30 MTB's but they require potting and extra care due to my climate. It is too hot here for most of them to thrive and not cold enough during the winter. However, the SDB's, nine to sixteen inches tall, require the same growing conditions as any other bearded iris and seem to be able to tolerate more shade and more water than the big boys do. I really, really like the 'little guys'.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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Aug 3, 2015 2:18 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
Thanks for the clarification. I do have one "dwarf" planted on my property. It has probably been there long before I bought the home. It is a species Iris germanica. It is quite lovely. My Avatar is a photo of it this year when it was in bloom.
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Aug 3, 2015 2:18 PM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
MTBs are also medians as are IBs & BBs. The SDBs are our favorites as well. John's grandmother grew them, but they were the pre pumila XTB type. Now known as I. lutesens they are more limited in color.
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Aug 3, 2015 2:49 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
Lucy and husband John are hybridizers, Patrick. Lucy's little avatar is one of her creations called Reddy Set. it is an SDB. She knows of what she speaks.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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Aug 3, 2015 2:54 PM CST
(Zone 9b)
Region: California Garden Ideas: Level 1
I have a pattern too.

I want everything I don't have. Whistling
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Aug 3, 2015 8:03 PM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I think I followed Rob's pattern too well this year!!! I never had any pinks but now I have several, I also have more whites. I ordered more browns last year while this year I appear to have many reds and creams, though lots of brown medians. I did not order many purple. I ended up with several last year but I am attracted to other colors more than purple.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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Aug 4, 2015 4:23 AM CST
Name: Greg Hodgkinson
Hanover PA (Zone 6b)
Garden Photography Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Region: Japan Region: Pennsylvania
Note to self: "No Purple!"
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Aug 4, 2015 4:27 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
No, I don't want everything I don't have ..... there are a lot of Iris I definitely DON'T want. I'll leave it at that. I have exactly the iris I want, and my Wish List is now down to only 5. As for "Purples", Yes, I have to many of those. What I don't have is a YELLOW Iris. I posted something on one of the threads
asking for assistance with getting a good YELLOW Iris, but I didn't get the response I was hoping for,
so I will continue to look for that elusive Yellow and see which one pokes my interest for next year.
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Aug 4, 2015 4:37 AM CST
Name: Greg Hodgkinson
Hanover PA (Zone 6b)
Garden Photography Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Region: Japan Region: Pennsylvania
Patrick - try "Ola Kala" for your Yellow. (my previous post was not directed at you but at the "Dukie" who posted before me) Whistling
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Aug 4, 2015 4:52 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
I have "looked" at 'Ola Kala' and also 'Coronation'. But I'm still not able to make a decision . . . . . . Confused
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Aug 4, 2015 4:57 AM CST
Name: Greg Hodgkinson
Hanover PA (Zone 6b)
Garden Photography Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Region: Japan Region: Pennsylvania
Coronation is shorter and is not a bright yellow. It also has pronounced PBF. It is a better grower than Ola Kala, but you can't go wrong with either. Get both!
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Aug 4, 2015 5:22 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
How Short is Short for a TB Iris ? I so dislike TB Irises that are Short. I do like my nice and Tall Irises!
I think 'Ola Kala' is a darker, deeper Yellow than 'Coronation'. I'm thinking that I'm more attracted to
a lighter yellow. 'Ola Kala' may be to bold. Like 'Southland' which is really deep and dark Yellow.
My favorite yellow, which is on my Wish List, is "Mystic Melody".
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Aug 4, 2015 5:53 AM CST
Name: Greg Hodgkinson
Hanover PA (Zone 6b)
Garden Photography Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Region: Japan Region: Pennsylvania
in my garden it stayed in the 30" range. The AIS wiki lists it at 40 inches. Seems like an issue to me. You might as well test drive it for a few years and if you don't like it, then get rid of it.

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