Thanks Brad! Honorable Lord with those red beards is a must have. It may be my favorite one posted here. I added Reckless Abandon to my buy list when I saw it in one of Tom's posts a few days ago. It is a remarkable iris and your picture of it is awesome. Platinum Passion goes on my 'must see in person' list but if I cannot find it growing locally I may have to grow it to see it. lol I love Scandinavian Gal. I bought Abby Chant (IB) several years ago because the picture looked more like Scandinavian Gal. As it turns out most of the color on the falls is very light blue and just the beard and small area or noticeably blue. This may be due to the extreme weather conditions we have had for the last few years. It is a VE and re-bloomer so I do like it but it can't compare with SG. I also like Golden Gaga which you posted earlier. I have Burnt Crisp on my list (the pictures of it on the AIS site are incorrect I think) and it would be lovely to grow them both.

I love the comments you post with your pictures! Seeing the pics are great but reading about the performance of the iris or how it looks in the light is both enjoyable and informative. smiles

Great Irises, great photography Brad. As usual!! I'm so enjoying the virtual tour of your garden!

Granny Thanks those are some great choices Honourable Lord is really nice in a clump I found it in Oregon and it really stood out everywhere and Reckless Abandon is as you described it remarkable, I just found some pictures a couple nights ago of a bunch of seedlings from it turns out it is a excellent parent as well beautiful new patterns in Plicata's coming from it. Platinum Passion was another new one from Australia I don't remember seeing it for sale in the States last year but that may change this year it is a unique color and lot's of Bubble Ruffles that's what I liked about it. I have lot's more to share

Mary Ann Thanks is your list growing ? You have to pick your top 5 favorites when were done.

Brad.......I hope you share seedling pictures with us when you can. Your pictures are always top quality as are your choice of subjects.

Brad -- you would not BELIEVE my list!!!

Pop Idol ( This one was new for me in Iowa this year when I first saw it blooming in his garden I thought it was a seedling but it has been out for a few years somehow I missed it I really like everything about it what a awesome blend of colors from Joe )


Out Of The Dark ( Color's only found in Iris this one seems to change colors it looked totally different in Oregon I liked it there but really liked it at home)


Terracotta Bay ( I love the form of this and have lot's of seedlings growing from it with the hopes it gives some of the same trait's it is one of my best growers, has big plants and huge flower's and bloom's late here and there is nothing else in this color)


By Jeeves ( I like the flower it has great garden impact and stands out but not many buds so it is here and gone quickly very fertile and I am working with it curious to see what kind of kids it produces there is newer version of it (Captain Thunderbolt) that may be a improvement it is on my want list)


Fashionably Late ( Gorgeous Color and a great grower I had a lot of compliments on my clump of it this year )


Chased But Chaste ( Beautiful pure white)


Haunted Heart & Popstar ( These too plants together are beautiful I want a Haunted Heart in the color of Popstar with the lines on the falls wouldn't that be Cool )


Foreign Scandal ( If you like Ruffles this is the one and it is Fertile)


Birthday Girl ( I found this one in Schreiner's fields and it stopped me in my tracks had know idea where it came from but should have known it was one of Kieth's lot's of Orange's but this one is different Recommended !!!)


Beauty Within ( It was a bonus and one of the first to come from My Beloved a very nice flower)


Magic Masquerade ( Neat color combination a good grower I will work with it this coming spring)


Bing ( another surprise this came from the Guy's at Superstition Iris via Germany it came as a bonus and I had know idea what it would look like as there were no pictures I could find anywhere of it What a nice surprise when it bloomed)

Paul I will do there is 100's of them from the 2012 trip we will have some fun with them this winter.

Mary Ann I want to see if I can add some more to it

Brad, I have Birthday Girl also. She is so frilly its hard to tell where the standards stop and the falls start. lol I saw her growing in a garden and, like you, I had to have her that day. Sometimes you can just see a clump of iris growing in a field or garden and it is love at first sight! I am trying not to make my wish list of TB's too long in order to save room for SDB's. You are not helping! OK. I will just make another iris bed.

Beautiful iris, Brad I don't just want one or two of these, I want your whole garden, everything is absolutely gorgeous.

Interestingly enough -- I already have a couple of these..........

But you're making my list grow Brad!!

Pagan Knight( One of my new favorite darker Colored flowers catalog said 40" but didn't make it here was on the smaller side so hoping next year it is taller)


Enchanted Way ( Another import from Australia that is impressive with lot's of flowers and a good grower)


Hint Of Danger ( I waited 2 years to see this one bloom and was thrilled beautiful color)


Spectacle ( Would you look at those Bubble Ruffles what a perfect name for it wish I had a clump of it)


Going Dutch ( I have to Thank Tom for this Surprise it really is a beautiful color combo and I don't have anything else like it )


Amber Essence ( This came from Dee I ordered it in Sept and is probably the latest I have ever planted any Iris here in Iowa and I remember thinking I hope at least one of them bloom and some how all of them bloomed and Wow what show it put on this year it is one of my favorite Oranges now Dee if your reading this Thank You again !!!


Magnificent Masterpiece ( Everything about this one is excellent if you like Purple based foliage on plants this one really stands out in early spring when it starts growing and I consider it a plus I get the flower for weeks but the plant for the rest of the growing season so if one excells over the rest It get's my vote)


I Must Have It ( a beautiful unique color)


Iconic ( Color is awesome and I like everything about it as well very fertile look at my pictures in the database of it from Oregon beautiful this one has great ruffles.


Italian Master ( The catalog described this as the prettiest seedling ever coming from Decadence which is really saying something and I agree it is top 5 for me of all of them in my garden very showy colors and every flower is a little different the wash in the falls changes on every one)


Hearty Burgundy ( a lot in this color but what makes this a excellent plant is all the flowers 10 to 12 buds that lasted a long time another treat from Kieth)


My Beloved ( If you had to pic one White one buy this one I have a feeling we will be enjoying lot's of flowers that has it somewhere in the pedigree it is perfect, I don't know how you could ever improve it.


Jericho Springs ( This was a bonus for me and I like the color combo)


Rippling River ( A beautiful Dark blue/purple really Outstanding in a clump beside a lighter one)

Granny I like your thinking it's better to just expand and add beds and Birthday Girl is stunning.

Vi Thanks !!

Mary Ann I am trying to help

Brad, another group of nice pictures. My mouth waters at Pop Idol, but I tried it twice, and it didn't make it. It's been one I have liked for a long time. Just have to enjoy your pics. I don't know why it lives in your garden, but dies in mine. I got Pop Tart this year, which is a bit like Pop Idol, we'll see what it looks like. I do remember seeing that nice clump you had going last year and my jaw dropping! By Jeeves is nice too, Mine sure made a bunch of increases this last summer, so I am looking forward to a nice clump this year. I got Captain Thunderbolt last year, I sure hope it blooms this summer. It has more stripes then By Jeeves. Out of the Dark is cool! It looks a lot like Foolish Dreamer that I planted last summer from Keppel. Fashionably Late, and Birthday Girl are going on my list for sure along with Iconic, and My Beloved. Oh, you will put me in the poor house if you keep posting these great pictures. And I haven't even seen the new intros yet. I better find a job to suppliment my habit!
I'm glad you like Going Dutch, I got several of Van Liere's new intro's last summer, and of course he put in a bunch more as bonuses. He's so generous. I'm waiting for the next round of pics!

Enchanted Way gets my vote here Brad. Are the falls true blue or do they have a lavender influence? Do you have a close up picture of Iconic? It is irresistible. Thank you for posting these.

Enjoyed your photos. We are working on cutting back so fewer TBs coing into our garden. Will have to order 'Black Suited' again as it was lost last year.

Tom I will send you some Iowa grown POP IDOL it will be hardy and grow well and bloom every year if it can just make it through this winter our wind chill's are -50 below tonight with actual temp of -15 they have already canceled school for the next couple days for the kids and I am afraid a lot of my tender Jap maples and Hybrid Roses are not going to wake up in the spring, cold and snow is one thing but this is just miserable outside. I hope Captain Thunderbolt blooms for you I would like to see it up close or at least some good garden photo's of it next year. I liked a couple of Iris4U new intro's last year there was one called Earthly Pleasures that caught my eye it was a Dark Brown with a big yellow beard and it won't be long until the catalog's start coming that is when you will really be in trouble

Granny Enchanted Way is more lavender in the falls and Here are a couple pics of Iconic in Oregon where I thought it looked better than it did in my house but everything looks better there in perfect growing conditions I am looking forward to seeing it bloom again this spring after it has been here for a season.



Lucy Thanks !! I cut back on quite a few last year as well need the room for seedlings but of the ones I got rid of I gave a lot away to friends so I can still go see them or at least that was the plan. I am adding a couple more berms this year to make room for growth but will still have to get rid of another 50 or so varieties.

I better start making my list.................

Buga Gera ( I like this one a lot it was a bonus and was made in Germany good grower)


Obsessed ( What a color really glows)


Italian Velvet ( one of my favorite's from Kieth really cool color combo)


Catch A Star ( Beautiful white from Schreiner's)


Magical ( A great flower with outstanding form, I have a nice clump of it but failed to get a good picture of it this year I was to busy trying to work it and I am excited to see what comes from this one, a perfect name for a Great flower if you don't have this one at home Buy it you will not be disappointed)


Amorous Heart ( a nice pastel blend with lot's of ruffles very pretty)


Catwalk Queen ( Lot's in this color combo but this one is the best so far makes big plants and blooms for a long time)


Hollywood Light's ( Great color Impact beards are awesome)


Dazzle ( I like it a lot but was not fertile not a one of the flowers had pollen but very pretty)


Ballerina Queen ( Very striking flower really glows in the sun when backlit)


Platinum Class ( a color all to itself only one other I have ever seen close to it and it's called Platinum Jubilee )


All Night Long ( One of the darkest I have ever seen almost Black hence the perfect name a smaller flower and good grower here)


Raise The Curtain ( Huge flowers nice purple color)


In the Morning ( A really nice pink and a late bloomer to close out the season)


Candy Colours ( I recommend this one for the color impact another hard to describe beauty and it blooms early here)


Rumor Has It ( This is one Outstanding Plicata it was in peak bloom when I saw it in Oregon and a clump of it in the garden would really be nice )


Seedling ( This is a project of mine in the spring was never given a name but I really like it very few good oranges with the Pink Hue in the standards like this It has made a really nice clump over the past few years and I hope to add some ruffles to it.)

Thank you for the close up of Iconic Brad. Beautiful is not a big enough word for it. I like Catwalk Queen too. Your Iris are gorgeous and your picture taking skills are wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

It will only be down to 10 here tonight and in the teens for a high tomorrow and below 10 degrees tomorrow night. That is brutal for us but I don't know how people, animals or plants will stand the cold temperatures that you folks in the north will have to endure for the next few days. Everyone in those extreme temperatures please take care. Those are seriously dangerous temperatures for man or beast......not to mention our gardens. I'll keep my fire going and listen to the wind growling around the eaves and visit this site for a reminder that a beautiful spring will come.

Is *In The Morning* as beautiful as it looks????