Arlene, the picture you posted the other day of your home and garden could grace the front page of any good garden magazine.Very inspirational for all gardeners and great to see the Japanese iris in a beautiful harmonious situation.

Yesterday it was 32c (about 90 Fahrenheit) with a strong wind here at Nullawarre, Australia.Some of the blooms faded fairly quickly, especially the inter-specific Japanese kimboshi.I didn't even have time to take a picture, but have two more stems running up to bloom on two other pots.I've put them in a shaded spot and will post a pic tomorrow? Perhaps this cultivar requires a cooler spot to give of its best?

This NOID "pale blue-fades to white" is quite an attractive cultivar.

Daylilies were my passion for many years but then the deer came so I deleted more than a thousand plants. It's too difficult to see the buds all over the lawn. At least they don't touch any irises. Ensata Gardens has been too iffy for me. I do much better with Eartheart Gardens in Maine http://www.eartheartgardens.co... and Greywood Farm in MA http://greywoodfarm.squarespac...

They both send huge divisions and not skimpy plants...AND they bloom the same year, no waiting for two or three years to see what you ordered.

Eartheart:


Greywood:


In the past I've ordered from Aitken's and been very pleased but Eartheart and Greywood Farms are tops in my book.

Thank you, Vanozzi. I treasure comments like yours.

Your photo is gorgeous. I love the soft colors. Shade would help with the fading problem. I'm not above wheeling over one of the outdoor umbrellas if we hit excessive heat. Also, getting up early, setting up a chair (with camera nearby, of course) and watching the unfolding process as you take photos, is a great way to begin any day.

You had 90 with major winds and I went out when we hit 40 but the winds were so awful that I was back inside within five minutes.

I'd rather have strong winds in the warm weather than in cold. Brrrrrrr.

Beautiful flower, vanozzi.

So would I but that doesn't seem to be the case this December. I'll head out within the hour since the winds are down to 2 MPH. I'll be a super sissy when I can't handle that!

Great frosty garden photos Barbara!

Love the daffodil photos Sherry and thanks for the names of some that grow well in your/our area!

More lovely iris photos Arlene!

Beautiful flower vanozzi!

Tete a Tete and Thalia also do well there, and I love them too, Arlene. We put up a deer fence years ago so that I could grow everything I wanted. The deer even go after Iris here. Now, if I could only keep out the raccoons, squirrels and bobcats, I'd be much happier.

We did have a company put up deer fencing exactly a year ago and it protects all plants in that garden but I have another 29 gardens and we'd look like a fortress with every garden enclosed.

Tomorrow we'll attempt to do more ourselves. There are so many ways they can enter the property that it becomes maddening.

Thanks, Rob. We only get snow like that about every 8 to 10 years.
Barbara

For those of you having critter problems in your Iris beds -- I just read on another list that one guy was having success with cayenne pepper spray. I emailed him and asked for clarification -- he said: put a viable amount of cayenne pepper in a spray bottle and spray foliage. Might be worth a try..........

Might want to be careful with it if you have outdoor cats, though. They can get it on their paws, then paw their eyes, and transfer the pepper to their eyes.

Good point, Deb.

I was told that some of the extremely hot peppers like the Ghost pepper were developed to keep elephants out of areas of Africa. So I put some on my fence, and I haven't been bothered by any elephants!

So glad to hear that Tom...I know how pesky they can be!

Very funny, Tom.

Today I did put up deer fencing, attached to trellises at paths, and have to hope the lazy deer don't jump over it.

Good luck Arlene! I hope it works!

tveguy3 said:I was told that some of the extremely hot peppers like the Ghost pepper were developed to keep elephants out of areas of Africa. So I put some on my fence, and I haven't been bothered by any elephants!

Laughing out loud here!!!

Kimboschi, the inter-specific Iris pseudacorus x Iris ensata, opened yesterday.Not altogether wrapped in it, certainly don't like the foliage and also its infertile to us mere mortals.Perhaps it needs better conditions than those I provide. Where as, Rose Queen, which decided not to flower this season, has style to spare.
Rose Queen also gave me seed last year when hand pollinated with Geisha Gown.Not a lot of seed but seed non the less.I really like Geisha Gown and used its pollen last year and also on everything this year, also selfed it.