Evelyn, I'm not a doctor, and I'm only saying this because I'm worried about you (as all of are) but you really need to listen to your body and take it easy.

If nothing else it is very hard to plant irises while in hospital.

Evelyn. Another trick is to plant things too close together whilst they wait for the permanent garden bed to be created.

Evelyn, can you arrrange to have a teen-ager help you with the harder tasks, such as digging? High-schoolers in my area, home for summer, like to make some money. I put one of the school's football players to work pulling weeds!

I know of a lady in my area who put up a help wanted sign at the local college and gets help from college kids too.

Barbara, Lilli, Debra, Robin and Jan for caring!

I am so much better today. It was a bit cooler as well, and I was able to get to the point (finally) of planting the next row. The humidity was up to 60%, but the temperature only got up to 80°, so it was a lot better for me. Still, once it got up to 80°, I went inside to have lunch and then I took a nap. I rarely do that, but since I have been getting up so early, I was actually able to sleep. I used to lie down before, but rarely slept. Instead of weeding that I had planned on doing, I did some laundry and indoor chores. (Oh, BTW, there were about 10 raindrops!)

to all of you!

Someone said it was cloudy in town this morning. No rain here... Just hot.

Linneaj said:With my recent orders, I was more careful putting the rebloomers in a bit moister area and trying not to put incongruous colors side by side. They are arranged by height with Sibs on the ends and a few JIs poked in the middle. I have started putting the French iris in one spot. I now have 3 areas of Fabian. A neighbor dumped a peony and several noIDs on my porch. I think they may go out back in the proposed poppy garden. Otherwise, the gardens are done intuitively.

Can I ask what are French Iris?

I have 1100 sq. Ft. Hill garden in front of my house. I am going for a purple/ coral domination broken up with some whites. SO, I planted early and late bloomers hoping to extend the color interest. Orange Reprise, In a Flash, Eleanore Roosevelt etc, with mid season Backdraft in purple/ peach bit one inbetween. Wish me luck..... as I read your great design thoughts, I am reminded of the " bonus" plants that come with our orders. Love the surprise, but then where to put them? I may start a small bed just for them!

duplicate entry deleted.

It took the longest time for me to order Golden Panther because I wasn't convinced it would harmonize with anything else that I had. Now that I have it, I have it in a separate small garden, flanked by Sharp Dressed Man and Hollywood Nights. And I am still not convinced it's the best combo.

I have looked in vain to find photos online that show it in what I think is a good combination with other flowers. The best I have found is this



But I can't even tell what that blue companion plant is, and it certainly isn't another iris! Does anyone know what that blue flower is?

Does anyone have photos showing it with other iris that you think form a dynamite combo with Golden Panther?

Henhouse said:Most of the folks I know who have large collections of Iris do some sort arrangement.. Whether it's by hybridizer, bloom season, color, or just stick the tall ones in back....

I tend to be a little obsessed with arrangement and how the colors go together. I printed up pictures of every Iris that's still in a pot. Then I separated them by bloom season, and then by height (I told you I was a little OCD).. So this is what I'm playing with. How about the rest of you?

That coffee table, BTW was a 350 year old Maple from the Pacific NW. I had a friend, who's a consulting arborist, who told me he was glad someone put the tree out of it's misery... then proceeded to tell me all the diseases that were killing it He was also the one who counted all the rings...

Sherry ~ What a great idea! This will give me something to do while I await my fate from the orthopedist. I cannot physically go out in the garden right now. Too difficult to walk and too many snappings and poppings. I am going to ask the doc if he can remove the "Rice Krispies" out of my joints. Ahh...he'll probably want to do another knee replacement along with a hip replacement. (I've already had the errant knee replaced before, I hope I won't have to go through that again!) People tell me a hip replacement is a lot easier....we'll see.

Evelyn, Are you anywhere near the Nevada City fire? We've got fires to the North and South.. not close, but it's really smoky. Hope you stay safe.

I had Golden Panther with Red Dirt Road, Oil Painting, Stop the Traffic, Italian master, Mango Queen, Tobacco Chew, Love the Sun, Chocolate something.... It's toward the back in this picture.

Sherry ~ There is smoke in the air, but we are far from the fire. I suppose it will depend on which way the wind blows, if it does. Thank you for asking.

When I'm not in so much pain, I will be better able to concentrate on rearranging the beds, on paper and computer. I like the idea of them blooming at the same time as mine are all scattered about.

Sherry said, "I had Golden Panther with Red Dirt Road, Oil Painting, Stop the Traffic, Italian master, Mango Queen, Tobacco Chew, Love the Sun, Chocolate something.... It's toward the back in this picture."

That looks (in my "mind's eye") like a beautiful combination.

Thank-you Evelyn.. It was nice.. I've changed it some since then.. Bottle Rocket replaced Golden Panther, and Tijuana Taxi and Who Did It are in that bed now replacing others.. Golden Panther didn't do well for me, but neither has anything else in that spot, so I think it's a drainage issue, and no fault of of the ones that I grew there.

Sherry, is that clump in the foreground "Oil Painting"? I think that one is especially pretty and contrasts well with Golden Panther.

Yes, Oil Painting... It does exceptionally well here.. Possibly my favorite Ghio introduction.. It always makes me smile when it's in bloom.

Yes, Oil Painting... It does exceptionally well here.. Possibly my favorite Ghio introduction.. It always makes me smile when it's in bloom.

DaisyDo said:It took the longest time for me to order Golden Panther because I wasn't convinced it would harmonize with anything else that I had. Now that I have it, I have it in a separate small garden, flanked by Sharp Dressed Man and Hollywood Nights. And I am still not convinced it's the best combo.

I have looked in vain to find photos online that show it in what I think is a good combination with other flowers. The best I have found is this

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Golden Panther')
• Uploaded by Calif_Sue

But I can't even tell what that blue companion plant is, and it certainly isn't another iris! Does anyone know what that blue flower is?

Does anyone have photos showing it with other iris that you think form a dynamite combo with Golden Panther?

I think something bright with beards that are a similar colour to Golden Panther looks good. For example



Also blends in hot colours look nice with it


I have no idea if these flower at the same time at Golden Panther. There is probably something similar that does.