Beautiful irises, everyone. Mary Ann, you've got some real beauties!

Tom, what's the reddish one in the background of the group shot?

I'm looking forward to seeing "your" iris bloom here this spring also, Tom ! That red NOID, especially, as reds, and browns are my favorite iris colors. I'm also pretty anxious to see those NOIDs you sent me do their thing, MaryAnn! There were quite a few others that ,although they didn't bloom last spring, made some great increase, and should put on a pretty nice show this year.I really like that, with a "new" NOID, you just don't know what bloom-time will bring...kinda' like waiting for Santa !!...Arlyn

Sorry. I missed the red being a NOID earlier in the group shot. Dang!

Yes Angie, I bought the red NOID before I even knew irises had names. Just thought it was such a pretty one. It has a really nice perfume like fragrance as well. When the red NOID and my pruple seedlings are blooming in large clumps, you can smell them just walking by. It's kind of nice. I'd sure like to know it's name, but I'll keep it anyway.
The blue star like flower is call called a "star flower" It's really hearty and a good grower. It blooms a quite a long time, and looks good mixed with the iris.
Nearly everything in that bed has been moved to other beds, and newer ones have replaced them.
Here's another shot of the red NOID

And yes, that's chives, I grow some herbs among my flowers.
Mary Ann, your Red NOID's should be coming on soon, they are always a few days behind the purple seedling. I can't wait to see your fence row pics this spring.

Well! I am SO excited!! Tonight while I was perusing the temporary bed of Irises that I acquired last year, I noticed four or five that I didn't remember purchasing. Checked my database -- and sure enough -- I never entered them. And what Irises!! Juicy Rumors! Secret Recipe! Scatterbrain! Copatonic! Omigosh -- I feel like it's Christmas -- and there's a chance they will bloom this year!!!

Blue Star Amsonia?

Tom -- I was so excited by my discovery that I forgot to respond to your question. Yes! The red NOID's are ready to bloom -- they have buds that show color, but haven't started to unfurl yet. It's so darned cold that everything is just stagnant -- waiting for that warm weather to arrive. And I'm going to have small clumps of them this year instead of individual bloom stalks!

So I guess I can take Capatonic off your list??? See, there is an upside to Sr. Moments!

Yes Debra, Blue Star Amsonia is the real name, I didn't know that until I just checked it on the data base.

Love that photo Tom, it's stunning.

Great find Mary Ann, I know the feeling when I thought I had lost my Rustler.

Before you do that, Tom -- let me check the overall condition of mine. I was so excited, I rushed in to get a pad of paper and a pen to make notes in case I missed more than that -- and really didn't look at what was going on with that plant. I might *need* another rhizome or two..........(wink).............so I'll get back to you.

Sr. moments? It's more like Sr. hours. Sr. days. Sr. weeks...........and in this case, Sr. months.

That's cool, It's one I have a quite a bit of, and am planning on ending my relationship with it to make room for others that I seem to be unable to resist buying.

Unless I have a Sr. spell, and forget before fall.

That's alright Tom. We will just have to come for a "Visit" to help you "adjust" your over crowded gardens (especially since the sunglass wearing chickens are not performing well-are they by chance somehow connected to Northwestern University?)

Blue Star Amsonia - thank you!

I was hoping I didn't just compliment a gardener for a weed that he'd been trying to eradicate for years.

Love the Red NOID! Looks a bit like Red Hawk. The color really pops in that group shot.

Well, Greg, when I program the chickens while hatching, part of the indoctrination process tells them that union and axe are synonyms.

While you're here you can adjust my over crowded brain too!

Leslie, In a day or two Mary Ann should have some more pics of the red NOID to share from this spring.

OK, glad you got thinly veiled reference. Another issue with the Big 10 (other than Maryland coming to join them; I hate this move) is that there are move than 10 in that club. They are in college, and they still can't count! Geeezz

Anyone grow 'Spartan'? That was a nice red TB which many people have. So could chick it out, I think the beards are the same.

Muddymitts said: Scatterbrain!

Couldn't have had a better name for an iris in this type of situation.