Reluctant Dragin may be available at Bluebird Haven, but I understand that some sellers had high losses this year and last, so not sure.

It never occurred to me that vendors could have the same problems that we have........................

Thank you, Dave. I have tried to buy Bonny Blue and Reluctant Dragon from Bluebird Haven and they do not have them anymore. Sigh

Sorry, we don't have any of your losses, Bonnie.

Thanks for the thought, Lucy. I checked on Legolas and it has a tiny new increase on one side of the rhizome. That is good news. I am going to try and replace the ones I lost eventually. I did count quite a few bloom stalk beginning on a lot of SDB's and that makes me happy. The ones I planted in late June and July fared much better than the ones I planted in August and September.

I just discovered some more "loses"....but a *different* kind ! I have been working on 'assembling" my plant markers (sliding the nameplate on to the wire legs), and putting them in pails, according to which bed they 'live" in........and discovered I have some (8, to be exact) that I didn't mark the 'location" on ! So, I guess when I install all the labels.....the ones with no labels will be the ones I can't find now ! I hate it when I do things like that

Oh boy, do I ever hate when I do stuff like that. Shesh!

While frustrating, at least they only lost their names!

I discovered I did have one loss over winter, a variegated pallida that has been struggling for years. For the last couple of years it has lived in a large pot outside, which was an attempt to save it, which worked till this year. The rhizomes are soft and rotten. I was about ready to ditch it anyway, even when it did bloom it didn't do that much for me, so I'm thankful that's the one that died. And its in a really pretty pot, that something else will look much prettier in anyway!

I like how you rationalized that Neal!

Oh, I'm really good at rationalization, LOL!

Want to see what you put in the pretty pot, Neal!

Susan,

I have lots of And Away We Go so I could send a couple. I should have a Clarence too...so if it would save you postage I could probably send that one with it. I'm sorry to hear about all your other losses. I wish I had more of them to help you replenish.

Great attitude, Neal, and good when the plant that dies is not our favorite. I try to save them all so that I don't feel guilty but I rationalize pretty good too.

Yesterday I noticed my clump of Polish Princess was not doing well. I had noticed before but thought it was leaf spot, and had not looked closely. Today I dug them all up and they have rot. I cut out the really bad parts and am soaking what's left in hopes that I can save some. It was a clump of about 30 rhizomes...and I had promised to share some with Greg and Linnea...but I don't know if any of it will survive. The good news is that Rob has graciously offered to send me some mine doesn't make it.

It is certainly not a type of rot caused by too much moisture, and it didn't rebloom last year...so I'm not sure what got it. Maybe the stress of not having enough water? I'll have to re-read some of the information that was posted recently. The rhizomes were firm but the leaves began to die back, and on the ones where the rot had not progressed as much the newest inner leaf was light green and limp even though the outer leaves looked fine. This one seems to attack the leaves from the inside out, so by the time you notice it it is too late.

The remaining rhizomes are soaking in bleach. I'm not sure about whether I should try to find a fungicide to use too. I am concerned about the rest of the irises in the same bed. The Polish Princess clump was growing into the Celebration Song clump...so I'll have to watch that one carefully.

Good luck with Polish Princess, Marilyn. I find it awfully had to stop rot once it has gained a toe hold in a clump. Maybe you caught it in time. When you say soaking them in bleach I know you mean a diluted bleach water solution and that is good. I would also remove the dirt they were growing in and not use it again. Throw any green matter you have left over in the burn bin or trash so it will not get back into your garden. Also, remember to not handle other irises after handling the ill one until you wash your gloves and tools.

Thanks Bonnie! I don't hold out much hope for the rhizomes...but couldn't bring myself to throw them away without trying. The tools are soaking in the diluted bleach too. I plan to pot the remaining rhizomes so I can keep a close eye on them. I won't be replanting in that spot for awhile...I'm planning to move and rearrange the row/trench configuration in that bed. The trimmings are all in the green waste bin for recycling...maybe I should have put them in the brown waste?

Should I remove and get rid of the dirt too? Or will it be OK after resting for awhile and then being dug/disked/mixed in with the rest of the dirt in that area? I have lots of space where I can plant, so I can leave that space unplanted for a long time...a couple years or more if that would help?

I would not plant irises in that dirt again. The rot is living there..... and winning. I guess you could bake it or sterilize it by putting it in a tub with the bleach/water mixture buy why try if you have other growing space. When I have rot and I had a bit last summer, I dig, perform surgery, soak and sometimes use a soft brush to make sure rhizome is clean, dry and let the rhizome sit out to callous over the new cuts, dust with comet and plant in a fresh spot. Then I go to the place where the iris was infected and dig the dirt out and throw it in a ditch or use it to fill a dip in the driveway.

I was thinking that might be wise...thanks for the information!

Moiris said:Yesterday I noticed my clump of Polish Princess was not doing well. I had noticed before but thought it was leaf spot, and had not looked closely. Today I dug them all up and they have rot. I cut out the really bad parts and am soaking what's left in hopes that I can save some. It was a clump of about 30 rhizomes...and I had promised to share some with Greg and Linnea...but I don't know if any of it will survive. The good news is that Rob has graciously offered to send me some mine doesn't make it.

It is certainly not a type of rot caused by too much moisture, and it didn't rebloom last year...so I'm not sure what got it. Maybe the stress of not having enough water? I'll have to re-read some of the information that was posted recently. The rhizomes were firm but the leaves began to die back, and on the ones where the rot had not progressed as much the newest inner leaf was light green and limp even though the outer leaves looked fine. This one seems to attack the leaves from the inside out, so by the time you notice it it is too late.

The remaining rhizomes are soaking in bleach. I'm not sure about whether I should try to find a fungicide to use too. I am concerned about the rest of the irises in the same bed. The Polish Princess clump was growing into the Celebration Song clump...so I'll have to watch that one carefully.

That sounds more like scorch than a type of rot. But, I was under the impression that scorch is something that doesn't occur on the West Coast?