Great picture of I germanica Celia......

Paul2032 said:Leslie......if you want to try something that "I BELIEVE" has worked for me buy some alfalfa pellets and band your plants. I think it encourages increase. Increase=more blooms.

Band my plants?

I do have one bed section that knows how to put on a show, but since they have been here for 20+ years they know what they are doing.
A cloud of Acoma:

Sprinkle one or two handfuls around the plant and work lightly into the soil surface. Water in or pray for rain.

It is my experience that some cultivars increase more rapidly than others and getting feedback from others in your climate helps you select. The older ones seem to be hardy and increase easily. Since the newer ones are expensive, I have only one or two of each and must be patient in hoping for clumps. Generally 3 years with no rot or pests will bring a nice clump. I am space-challenged in the suburbs so mine tend to be crowded anyway. I anvy those with farms and large fields but not when it comes to weeding and dividing.

Thanks, Paul. Want some?

All the Iris in my photographs are a minimum of three years along, most more than that.

What is banding? Never heard of that....
I have a bag of alfalfa pellets that I have used sparingly around my irises.

May have already posted some of these


But last night it was late and I put it on Show your Colors Part 2 instead of here.





Can you tell I love Machismo?

Been looking through some old pics from 5 or 6 years ago. The gardens have changed a lot, but it sure is nice recalling sunny bloom filled days

Several random points......I often hear that the oldies are more hardy than our newer ones but I am certain there were many oldies that weren't hardy and are gone now. Survival of the fittest and what oldies remain were the fittest. Celia...thanks for the kind offer. I grow a few of the germanicas and have very limited room Banding? That's the term I use for putting a handful or two or pellets or granular fertilizer in a circle around but a few inches from the plant.

Great garden shots Neal, Photos help us to remember.....

Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures Susan. I'm always a little envious when I see room for what could be more iris beds.

Thanks for the info Paul!!

Oh well...guess I'll be tossing more this year. There's always tons of it.

Oh my goodness Susan -- your clumps are gorgeous. And I love the first shot from a distance -- your place looks like Iris Haven!!!

Thank you , Neal
Thank you Paul , Dancing Star is beautiful and I must have thought so last year since I ordered it in 2014. I sure hope it blooms this spring, also thank you for the information on the banding with the pellets.
Tom and Lucy, Thank you also, I ordered Circus Stripes last year to check on identifying it. Now waiting for both of them to bloom.
Celia, I would love to have some of your I. germanica (instead of throwing it away)!
and thank you everyone for sharing your beautiful gardens
Barbara

Striped Red Neglecta in foreground
Aegean Wind & Cerf Volante

Piping Hot & Wearing Rubies
Hot Streak & Cowabunga

Decadence & Loop the Loop
Mt. Cook a'Dawning & Artist's Pallette

One of my mixed iris rows



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You all are killing me with these beautiful photos!