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Aug 17, 2015 5:55 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
Now that I have my iris rhizomes for the year - I need to begin to map out where they will all go, so I'm trying to figure out what colors would look nicely next to what. I have some Red iris that I am thinking would look nicely next to Purple Iris, or Purple Iris next to Yellow iris. Any ideas ?
Smiling
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Aug 17, 2015 5:59 AM 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
unless you want purple & red together I would put the yellow between the 2 so the darker colors would stand out. We don't do color schemes, just put the irises where we have space. Seedlings are in different beds.
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Aug 17, 2015 6:12 AM CST
Name: Jen Jax
Northern Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Region: Kentucky Dog Lover Irises Peonies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I see a lot of pinks and blues together, whites and purples ( light and dark)together or creamy pale yellows, Then orange, red and bright yellows together. But it's all a preference of your own personal preferred colors. But I have also seen beds that are color specific only. ( red only, pink only ect)
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Aug 17, 2015 6:18 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
irisarian said:unless you want purple & red together I would put the yellow between the 2 so the darker colors would stand out. We don't do color schemes, just put the irises where we have space. Seedlings are in different beds.


"Color schemes" are very important in a garden. And with Iris, you can create a masterpiece if you plant the right colors next to one another. I don't plan on just putting the irises where I have space. I have a clear method to how these rhizomes are going to be placed, afterall, they are hopefully going to be there for many years.
Avatar for crowrita1
Aug 17, 2015 6:40 AM CST
Name: Arlyn
Whiteside County, Illinois (Zone 5a)
Beekeeper Region: Illinois Irises Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I pretty much do the same as Lucy.....I just put them where they 'fit" !! I don't like to put the same colors next to each other(i.e. don't plant two white iris next to one another), and like to interspace 'lights" and "darks". I'm usually more concerned on getting the taller iris to the "back" of the bed (the center, in my case), and work progressively shorter as I move to the front.
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Aug 17, 2015 6:55 AM CST
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
I have certain combinations that I like, and others that I actively dislike and try to avoid. One can plan color location when one is starting a new Iris bed -- but as time goes by, and you lose some or enlarge a bed -- it mostly does come down to an available space with eye toward avoiding unpleasant combinations, or duplications of color like Arlyn said. They're all beautiful, after all, and I tend to see them individually regardless of where they're planted.
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 17, 2015 7:06 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
I happened to see a garden Pic on pinterest.com where Purple Iris were planted next to Yellow Iris and I thought the combination was gorgeous! I also might plant some of my Red Iris next to my Purple Iris. I like that combination also. But I do agree, they are all lovely no matter where they are planted .
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Aug 17, 2015 7:16 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
Purple next to yellow or pink or red looks good to me. I once had an orange and a purple and a yellow self together, and that looked nice.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
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Aug 17, 2015 7:43 AM CST
Name: Paul
Utah (Zone 5b)
Grandchildren are my greatest joy.
Annuals Enjoys or suffers cold winters Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Garden Procrastinator Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Plays in the sandbox
Tender Perennials Tomato Heads The WITWIT Badge Region: Utah Vegetable Grower Hybridizer
I don't spend a lot of time planning ahead. Sometimes things just work out. Here are a couple of examples of combos that pleased. I'll look for more when I have more time. Can any one else add some pictures? Could be a great thread..........
Thumb of 2015-08-17/Paul2032/c5628bBrouhaha and Foolish Dreamer


Thumb of 2015-08-17/Paul2032/fb0cfcRomantic Lyric and Sea Power........


Thumb of 2015-08-17/Paul2032/76a9f6Picture Book and Center Ice



Thumb of 2015-08-17/Paul2032/a284aaDragon King and Dancing Star
Paul Smith Pleasant Grove, Utah
Last edited by Paul2032 Aug 17, 2015 7:54 AM Icon for preview
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Aug 17, 2015 7:53 AM CST
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
Love the combo of Romantic Lyric and Sea Power. It doesn't hurt that I love both of those Irises!!! Lovey dubby

Here's an accidental combination that I really enjoyed:

Enormous clump of Savannah Sunset backed by Swazi Princess with a couple of Blue Shimmer leaning into the shot....
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 17, 2015 8:01 AM CST
Name: Paul
Utah (Zone 5b)
Grandchildren are my greatest joy.
Annuals Enjoys or suffers cold winters Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Garden Procrastinator Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Plays in the sandbox
Tender Perennials Tomato Heads The WITWIT Badge Region: Utah Vegetable Grower Hybridizer
Mary Ann.......Orange and near black is a wonderful combo.......
Paul Smith Pleasant Grove, Utah
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Aug 17, 2015 8:02 AM CST
Name: Jen Jax
Northern Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Region: Kentucky Dog Lover Irises Peonies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Also if you look at a color chart the colors that are across from each other are contrasting colors. They usually make the best combinations because the colors fight for your eyes attention.
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Aug 17, 2015 8:16 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
I'm attracted to RED Iris, so I have a lot of those that will be planted in my garden next month. Red/Purple combos are great, Red/Yellow combos also work.
Avatar for caitlinsgarden
Aug 17, 2015 8:43 AM CST
Name: Sharon
McGregor IA (Zone 4b)
Muddymitts said:Love the combo of Romantic Lyric and Sea Power. It doesn't hurt that I love both of those Irises!!! Lovey dubby

Here's an accidental combination that I really enjoyed:

Enormous clump of Savannah Sunset backed by Swazi Princess with a couple of Blue Shimmer leaning into the shot....



Accidental combinations are often better than planned ones! I love your photo; maybe increase the percentage of blue shimmer and swazi princess...
Avatar for caitlinsgarden
Aug 17, 2015 8:46 AM CST
Name: Sharon
McGregor IA (Zone 4b)
I usually plant new iris wherever there is new dirt and after they bloom I can plan good combinations with other perennials and move them around...more often in my imagination than in reality! They have to bloom together so it is best to observe them in your garden rather than making plans from a catalog.
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Aug 17, 2015 8:47 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
In my garden, it will be Planned combinations. I just have to go over my list and make the necessary connections.
Last edited by Denman55 Aug 23, 2015 9:06 AM Icon for preview
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Aug 17, 2015 9:00 AM CST
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
That would be really worthwhile, Caitlin -- however, Swazi Princess died Crying and Blue Shimmer has been moved to another bed. Savannah Sunset has a new next-door neighbor -- Big Boss -- with nothing behind it. I think you weren't on the list yet when I had my big problems with Iris Lane. Unusual winter (freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw) ejected my newly planted rhizomes that year (thinning, etc.) and many died. That winter was followed by a monsoon spring which created serious erosion within the bed. The loss of Iris roots to hold the soil in place, plus the grade on that bed, allowed lots of the soil to migrate to the lower end -- burying many rhizomes that had not been uprooted by the freeze/thaw issue. Outcome -- more Irises died. Simply stated -- it was a mess. Repairs have been slow due to my back causing me problems that have not yet been resolved. So -- my sad Iris Lane saga continues. Sad

It's worth the work, though, to get it all restored. Here's a few pics from the spring before the problems ensued.

Thumb of 2015-08-17/Muddymitts/481b01 Thumb of 2015-08-17/Muddymitts/23d790
Thumb of 2015-08-17/Muddymitts/dbd462 Thumb of 2015-08-17/Muddymitts/b656dc

It really was a sight! I'm anxious to restore it to its former beauty.
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 17, 2015 9:02 AM CST
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
Paul2032 said:Mary Ann.......Orange and near black is a wonderful combo.......


Thank you, Paul. I really loved it. And it was just as pretty on the reverse side -- but I never took a picture of that.............. Sad
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 17, 2015 9:10 AM CST
Name: Celia
West Valley City, Utah (Zone 7a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Irises Plant Identifier Hummingbirder Birds
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Cat Lover Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I seem to remember someone had Thornbird and Praetorian Guard next to each other. Does anyone remember that or is it just me? Contrasting colors please the eye as well as repetitive design. IMHO, a riot of color is just as pretty as a planned, well laid out garden. Pastels and bright patterns, selfs and amoenas with bitones and bicolors repeated in a pattern is always splendid. Mine just go where I can see them best from the house.
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Aug 17, 2015 9:12 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
Some wonderful Pictures Paul and Mary Ann! Smiling Lovey dubby I'm trying to put some nice combinations together with the bed I'm re-doing. Maybe in a couple years it will look good.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.

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