Brad - What do you do with the ones you decide are not keepers?

If I were younger I would love to give crossing a try.


Blessings

John -- what does age have to do with it? You're going to have Irises in your garden in two or three or four years anyway -- why not have your own hybrids????

Mary Ann - Long story. A year ago I was diagnosed with RA. It's a lousy disease that causes my immune system to attack the joints in my body. It's not life threatening and is treatable with chemo & steroids. No known cure. The effect of the disease is extreme pain. And now I'm starting to experience some side effects of long term chemo treatment. When I first found out I had it my wife and I came up with a battle plan;

1) Prayer
2) Diet
3) Medical intervention

During the Summer I felt pretty good, installed a few new garden areas. Also planted as much as I could. But since the Summer my activity ability has dropped off quite a bit. I now have to weigh my activity as I get tired real quick. We are believing for complete healing. We minister in a Prayer Room here in KC and have seen some outrageous healings. In the meantime, I have a fight on my hands.

I have a long-term friend who has had that disease for most of her adult life -- so I understand exactly what you are dealing with. You have my complete sympathy and I will join your prayer group long-distance.

It's interesting that you were diagnosed a year ago -- in the fall of the year then? And now it has popped up again in the fall? I wonder if it is a seasonal related issue? What makes me wonder about this is that thyroid problems tend to follow a seasonal pattern -- related to shorter daylight hours, cooler temperatures, etc. Which makes me wonder if there is some relationship between the thyroid and RA -- there is so much that is unknown about malfunction in the human body.

Have you researched any homeopathic remedies? I'm wondering about Bio-Magnets, for instance.....

Big hugs to you John.

Prayers for you John. My problems with garden work are plain old arthritis. Looks pretty & clean on X-rays.

My sister-in-law suffers from RA and fibromyalgia. She is such a fabulous cook and also floral designer but find both quite painful. Had to quit the designing but still has her catering business.
Prayers for relief and healing to you, John.

#3 is a stud...




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I forgot the point to my post. The reason I can't do xrosses is my fingers don't function well enough. At least they can't yet. Like I said, I believe for a complete healing. But I do have so much fun in the dirt! I love dirt. To me there isn't anything more fun then getting dirty. OK, so it hurts a lot. But you can never let pain win.

So thanks guys.

BTW, only 38 more days till BlueJ starts taking orders!! Then right after that, Mid-America.. Can't wait.

Blessings

Wow! Who knew they started that soon?? I knew some opened on Jan. 1 but most are still trying to figure out their websites and fighting with the computer! 38 days......

On the note of seedlings. One of my rebloomer's pod is still intact but no signs of drying out yet when removing a footy stocking from it. I just literally took this photo. Any advice? It bloomed in mid October and just keep swelling... Will the cold Temps affect it in a negative way?

John, I'm sitting here with a very sore shoulder - from trying to do too much recently.
I understand how you're feeling. Hope it gets better.

I have never had a 'cold weather' pod, so don't know what to tell you.

Sherry.. Thanks hopefully you try some of your own in the spring that Santa Cruz soil is good for growing Iris

Lucy.. Thank You !!! The Varigeta was my pick of those as well.

Tom.. I didn't keep any of them they just weren't unique enough hopefully more bloom in the spring for us to look.

John.. I throw them in the dumpster or burn them, most people on the west coast compost Iris but that's not possible here I worry about Iris Borer's and don't want any foliage laying around better to toss them.. I hope your health improves and you can get rid of the pain I used to have quite a bit of back issues mostly from work but the past couple years have been going to a Hot Yoga class to sweat and stretch it's amazing how much better I felt after a couple month's of doing it. I too Love to play in the dirt it keeps me sane

Gabriel.. Thanks glad you like it... I cut all my stalks off a month after the pod has set and put them in pots of sand so I can keep a eye on them as they mature instead of walking the whole garden it makes it easier when there all together.. You should be able to cut the stalk at the base and move it inside the garage if it looks like your going to get a freeze.

This was another interesting cross that produced some cool patterns was fun watching these open got a pretty good mix of both plants here.

(Boy Genius X By Jeeves) 13-81

I think #2 has the smoother color.

You have amazing creations, Brad. I know a lot of people make new irises but some seem to be better at it than others. You are one of the few that have good instincts when it comes to choosing what to cross in order to create blooms as gorgeous as the ones you have been posting. I have said it before but it bears repeating...... a garden of your creations would rival any garden populated with the creations of known and proven hybridizers. lol ..........frustrating not to be able to add them to my wish list. smiles

I have some bee pod seeds that I am anxiously waiting to bloom. I will see if trusting the bees taste in blooms is rewarding. I had one pod that yielded seeds that started growing roots as soon as I put them to soak this august. I planted them directly into the soil without giving them the cold treatment and they have fairly good growth on them already. Perhaps I will not have to wait three years to see a bloom from them. (fingers crossed icon here) I may look at my list of irises this winter and choose one, or two, to make crosses from this spring. It will take time, space and patience but nurturing the seedlings until they can produce a bloom is satisfying too.

I enjoy the photos of your irises and love the comments as to why they either did not make the cut and/or which ones will be used in future crosses. They are all beautiful but some are just awesome. I love hearing what your final goals are in an iris and the steps to achieving them.

Ditto, what Mary Ann said.. I couldn't have expressed it better.

I like stripey #6.
Brad, I know you've talked a lot with Joe, and perhaps consider him a mentor.. When you make your crosses, are you trying to think like Joe? Or are you looking at the pedigrees and have an idea of what the seedlings should look like? Or just do what I'd probably and just do and try two pretty ones together...just to see.. I don't know if you follow Iris Lovers on Facebook, but Chuck Chapman has put out some very complex posts about genetics and breeding... Sometimes a bit over my head, but interesting..

Liking 1,2,4,6, and 7. I especially like 6, needs some more ruffles, but you could work on that.

Goodness, I couldn't pick a favorite, like them all!!!