Misawa77 said:Both "Alien Mist" and "Codicil" are struggling for me. I hope they both make it through the Winter. I just got Concertina this year and it is doing nicely so far!

Greg,
In November, 2015, Alien Mist and Codicil were struggling in your garden. Did the make it?

I had both of them on my want list for 2018 but then noticed your comment. Like you, I live in Pennsylvania and want to avoid poor performers and plants that need coddling to thrive.

Misawa77 said:Both "Alien Mist" and "Codicil" are struggling for me. I hope they both make it through the Winter. I just got Concertina this year and it is doing nicely so far!

@Misawa77, Greg,
In November, 2015, Alien Mist and Codicil were struggling in your garden. Did the make it?

I had both of them on my want list for 2018 but then noticed your comment. Like you, I live in Pennsylvania and want to avoid poor performers and plants that need coddling to thrive.

I have a near black Iris (really just deep purple) that was sold to me many moons ago by-(their name just flew away . . . I can't think of it - but they sell lots of plants, but of the 3 or 4 Iris I got from them, I later found out none were true to name - don't ever buy Iris from them) -that was supposed to be 'Superstition', that has a blue beard. I keep intending to post it to the thread about show us your no ID's, but hadn't got to it. This has got to be an oldie:




[Note: I ordered 'Superstition' from Schreiner's to see what it really looked like. I had also been sold another near black Iris from Walmart those many moons ago. When both had bloomed, I knew something was wrong.]

Carol, I knew that Blue J was moving down to Texas, but I somehow (perhaps naively) thought that they would be moving their nursery stock with them. Good job on calling them and getting the scoop.

Btw, I agree with Evelyn that you need to steel yourself for what you get from Blue J Iris. The roots are trimmed, but more than that, the rhizomes are really very small. I have to wonder if that is (at least part of) the reason behind the move - so they can have a longer growing season (and thus bigger rhizomes).

Polymerous said:Carol, I knew that Blue J was moving down to Texas, but I somehow (perhaps naively) thought that they would be moving their nursery stock with them. Good job on calling them and getting the scoop.

Btw, I agree with Evelyn that you need to steel yourself for what you get from Blue J Iris. The roots are trimmed, but more than that, the rhizomes are really very small. I have to wonder if that is (at least part of) the reason behind the move - so they can have a longer growing season (and thus bigger rhizomes).

Marilyn,
Yes the move was motivated by the hope for a longer growing season, according something I read. I would envision drought in El Paso. I know that iris likes to grow on the dry side, but is drought good for them?

I would like to find another source for irises because of the small rhizome size of those from Blue J, especially for cultivars that Blue Bird doesn't list. Does anyone have experience with C and T Iris Patch?They list Blue Fin, which Blue Bird does not.

El Paso. That's not just Texas...... that's really... well, Texas. From what I have read, and making assumptions about the rest , I think a daughter who lives in El Paso, and has been handling a lot of their bookeeping work long distance, is taking a bigger role in the business. Perhaps this is due to the older generation slowing down, and the daughter being settled in E.P. did not want to relocate, so.... relocate the irises. I lived in El Paso for a short period of time and it will be a real challenge to grow irises in that climate. I wish them the very best of luck.

I was born in El Paso. We moved to L.A.when I was only a few months old.

I visited my grandmother there when I was 7 years old, during the summer. Yes, it was hot.

I imagine that Blue J will have an extensive irrigation system in place.

Still looking for sources of cultivars that Blue Bird Haven does't list.

Found Nola's/Prevost Ranch and Gardens for Azure Apogee, Big Buck, and Blue Fin.

Has anyone ordered from this source?

In regard to C and T Iris Patch, I ordered from them twice since they took the AIS certificates. I only for one wrongly named iris that was supposed to be Discovered Treasure but is not. It is a very tall 42" rebloomer that is very dark purple. Wish I knew its name since it is a very hardy plant that has bloomed for a long time. I intend to send them a pic soon to help identify it. Everything I have gotten from them has done well so far. I think their website is different but you can sure find ones from bloom season easily.

Carol, check your Tree-mail.

@csandt

My garden is also in PA and Codicil grows well here. No special needs.

I have ordered from Nola's in the past. They have always sent the right plants to me. Rhizomes were average size and they grew well. I haven't ordered from them in a while.

Hi all: Agree with Evelyn. I am 60 miles north of El Paso. Though dry, we do have the Rio Grande running through. Though not very Grande by sight, it provides water for large numbers of farms, ect. We dont have any big commercial Iris Farms close so I am elated about their move here. I believe it will bless the area. I have bought a huge number from Blue J over the years. and only maybe 2 didn't make it. So I guess for me accuracy, health and actually getting what I requested is more important than huge rhizomes. Of course I do love those huge rhizomes too. I know I will still buy from them because I expect their rhizomes to be at least as big or bigger than they were and I like their service.

Want to add this side note: I did not mean to imply that there are not other great vendors, to include some you mentioned. Luckily for us, there are lots to choose from which means variety, variety

As my experience buying iris rhiomes on line is very limited, I would welcome and all recommendations.

Elsa ~ I probably told you this before, but my grandmother moved from El Paso to Las Cruces and I visited her there as well.

In 1999, my mother passed away, and I brought her ashes to the Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso. I noticed the big difference between Texas and New Mexico. Texas was so much drier, and New Mexico was greener and cooler. I can see why you are enjoying it.

As I was looking through old threads, I came across TBI Blue-Eyed Susan.

evelyninthegarden said:As I was looking through old threads, I came across TBI Blue-Eyed Susan.

A cheerful yellow one with blue beard:

That's pretty!

I actually have Blue-Eyed Susan. Funny, we had one at our society sale when I was new to irises. After looking it up on a website, not sure which one, I decided I wanted that beautiful blue iris and sought out the person who brought it to get one. Well, that website had the wrong picture and it was not a lovely blue at all so I was bummed when it bloomed. It is a nice flower thought, not a fast increaser.