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Feb 27, 2015 7:55 AM CST
Thread OP
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
Well -- it's the last day of the week -- and our last chance this week to get high volume recognition for every day of the week!!!

So for today let's switch things up a little bit. Today let's do Your Favorite Iris. Of course, heavy hitters like us don't have just ONE favorite, do we? So I think we can list up to 10 of our favorite Irises. Green Grin!

Don't forget -- put each Iris in a separate post!!

My first favorite is a long-time favorite -- Chasing Rainbows:

Hager, 1998

I bought this Iris in a pot, from a local nursery in 2008, not knowing what the flower looked like. Planted it when I got home. A couple weeks later it bloomed -- and the flowers were verrry tiny. I thought that I had purchased a miniature. The following year it bloomed normally, though -- and the blending of colors just mesmerized me. Still does.
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
Last edited by Muddymitts Feb 27, 2015 8:33 AM Icon for preview
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Feb 27, 2015 8:27 AM CST
Thread OP
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
Second favorite is Blue Reflection:
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Introduced by Schreiner's in 1974, I bought this in 1977 -- it was one of my first-ever purchased Irises. I didn't know, prior to that, that Irises could be purchased from a company. I thought you could only get them from people who had them growing in their gardens. When I opened that first Schreiner's catalog -- my mind was blown.
I had no idea such beautiful Irises existed. I've been an Iris Addict ever since, although for the first ten years or so I was able to purchase only one or two per year -- and some years none! Things sure have changed. Rolling my eyes.
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Feb 27, 2015 8:48 AM CST
Thread OP
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
Third favorite has to be Suave:
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Schreiner's, 1980

Another beauty picked from the Schreiner's catalog sometime between introduction and 1985 when we moved to Kentucky. I bought this one when we lived in northern Illinois, and brought it with me when we moved.

This one is a favorite for a sentimental reason -- it reminded me of an Iris that I found growing around the foundation of a long-gone house in the middle of a prairie, when I was a child. I talked my Dad into going to see it with me -- he did, and brought a shovel. Pretty soon that Iris was growing in my Dad's Iris garden. I wish I had that Iris today -- this is as close as I can get.
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Feb 27, 2015 8:57 AM CST
Thread OP
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
Fourth would have to be Copper Mountain:

Schreiner's, 1978

This is another of my very early purchases -- again from Schreiner's -- and moved to Kentucky with me.

I just love the color of this Iris, and its elegant form. It's possible that I have lost it -- it was in the section of Iris Lane that suffered a lot of rhizome loss last winter, and it didn't bloom last spring. I'm praying that there's one or two little rhizomes out there that survived but were too small to bloom.
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Feb 27, 2015 9:16 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
ok My favorite has to be John's 'Billie The Brownie.' there is no other MTB like it. Besides the name came from a radio program which I listened to as a child.
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Feb 27, 2015 9:17 AM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
I thought we did favorites on a thread Jan posted last month. ???? Have I completely gone round the bend?
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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Feb 27, 2015 9:18 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
I don't have a photo so go to the iris encyclopedia. SDB 'Soft Air'.
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Feb 27, 2015 9:27 AM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Since I added soooooooooooooooooo many last year, I have a feeling my favorites may not yet have bloomed.

That said I think most of you already know what are my favorites because you have seen them plenty of times by now. Hilarious!

Might as well start with my very favorite red: Grateful Red (Schreiner)



Until last year, almost all of my iris had come from Schreiners. This one was sent as a bonus. It stood out in the garden from the moment it first bloomed. Really large, really red blooms. Love it.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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Feb 27, 2015 9:32 AM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
And yes, Bonnie, I think we did do favorites at some point. I know we did What Are Your 10 Favorite iris from 2014 growing season.

And since Schreiner's has come up a lot in this thread, I am sure you have all gotten the email that their site is open for the year.

So is Mt. Pleasant which has spectacular Japanese, and other non-bearded as well as bearded.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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Feb 27, 2015 10:00 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 have so few irises, they're ALL my favorites but I wil restrict myself to just 10. Unless I don't... Whistling

From least to most? Naw, I don't have a least favorite. My babies are all equal in my eyes.

Ola Kala, reliable, increases and was a gift.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:03 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
Ambroisie was purchased as Pink Attraction but was later identified correctly. I so love this one and have it scattered about both yards.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:18 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
This NOID purple came as a gift, as well. We think it is Dark Dragon but it could be a lot of things, too. Excuse this bad photo. The good ones are on my phone. LOL

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Feb 27, 2015 10:22 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
Elizabethan Age was also misidentified but later correctly IDed. I will not part with this one. It is scattered about both yards, too.

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Feb 27, 2015 10:31 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
Black Gamecock is my only Louisiana and I don't know why. I love them. This one was sent in a trade with another gardener. I almost lost it to some inept fence installers who completely ignored my instructions to steer clear or die hard. It was trampled and then buried. Shesh! I divided it and spread it around. Two years later, it bloomed better than ever.

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Feb 27, 2015 10:31 AM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
Elizabethan Age looks like a luminata. I only have about six luminatas but I have several ordered. I would like to add a dozen more but the ones I want are a bit hard to find.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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Feb 27, 2015 10:33 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
War Chief. What can I say about War Chief? I fell in love the moment I saw it in bloom. It was a gift from a man who used to live up the street from me.

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Feb 27, 2015 10:36 AM CST
Name: Greg Hodgkinson
Hanover PA (Zone 6b)
Garden Photography Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Region: Japan Region: Pennsylvania
Celia - That does not look like "Elizabethan Age" to me based on how it has bloomed for me and the flower size (especially in the Falls). - Greg
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Feb 27, 2015 10:41 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
EA is a luminata and my only one. I had never heard the term before getting this one. I can see if some have increased enough to share, if you'd like.

I. germanica, increases tremendously and has been scattered about the neighborhood. LOL
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Feb 27, 2015 10:43 AM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
This time, only going to list the ones that have actually bloomed for me.

Best Bet. Might have lost it, but I love the blues
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It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:44 AM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Tentative Copper Classic. Tom is growing test plant and should have comparison data this year or next.
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It’s okay to not know all the answers.

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