Sherry, I know what you mean by "cold sinks". I grow a lot of lantana (deer proof), and also pelargoniums (*not* deer proof ). Every winter they both take a hit, and if the winter is cold enough, I can lose the in-ground pelargoniums. Half a mile away, on a sunny, flat, and level street, the lantana is in bloom all year long, ditto the in-ground pelargoniums there. The only difference I can think of is that we are down in a dip, with hills rising on either side of us.

Yep. I can't grow lantana or Pelies here. I just treat them as annuals. The cold here seems to roll down the hill behind us, then stalls on the flatter spots around the house. I thought I'd have more marine influence when I moved here, and lost a lot of plants that I moved from Los Altos. Every place I've lived has been different... Some in subtle ways, some obvious. Soils, water quality.. everything changes from what you thought you knew. It's my constant, never-ending horticultural learning curve.

Not gonna take credit for this and will take another tomorrow. Through all the storms this just emerged in my neighbor's yard. I now know one noID I have

looks close

And it is a reblooming NoID. smiles

Either that or a very confused early bloomer!

Living on the Edge is currently blooming and Echo Location is sending up some stalks. I had Echo Location dug up and sitting under a tree for a couple of months and I just replanted it a few weeks ago.

One neighbor said some neighbors planted them 20 years ago. I think the weather tricked them, but they did bloom this past spring he said also. These odd conditions have everything screwed up honestly. Out of all the fans in the huge cluster, there was only one stalk with branches.

I'll have to check my pictures, but I think I had Crimson King bloom in January last year when we'd had warm weather all winter long. The buds are really slender on your neighbor's iris, which makes me think it's a lot older than 20 years. Looking forward to seeing the flower bloom.

That's the first thing it thought Sherry. Hopefully they survive today's rains for me to snap a pic. They're about ready to surprise us

Form on the unknown is older than 20 years IMO.

I agree, probably planted 20 years ago, but likely came from another gardener. Irises are among the most popular "pass along plants".

gemini_sage said:I agree, probably planted 20 years ago, but likely came from another gardener. Irises are among the most popular "pass along plants".

And thank you to all my Iris friends who passed them along to me this summer.

One day later we have a very beautiful purple historic. Shocked she looked this good after all the continuous downpour today. 4 other blooms to still open, maybe theyll be spared. The third pic is the river creek by my house. Was on the go, so very blurry, my flooding is real out here right now

This might be it

I was just going to suggest Crimson King. How tall is yours? CK gets about 18-20" here. I almost hit the ' - I think 18-20 feet is kinda tall for an intermediate, LOL.

IBs can go up to 27''.

Not mine, not taking credit, but it was sideways and to the eye about 20 inches. Like I said hopefully the rain doesn't destroy the next bloom so I can get a better pic. Really looks like it though.

I have to post this under Rebloomers because the stalks were up last year. Here is Buckwheat. Despite all odds and low 20 temps last night blooming away on January 11.




I also found a lot of little groups of lavender crocus in full bloom and the yellows are beginning.


I still have brown leaves on the oaks and a lot on the ground. sigh

What a lovely sight to see, Bonnie -- and in January, for goodness sake!!!