I had spent about 20 minutes uploading pictures for this post, and lost them all I will try again after my blood pressure goes down. Maybe tomorrow!

I understand!

I've meant to send messages and emails and have forgotten to hit "send".

Sorry about that, Tom.

I have so many new ones over the past few years that given time, will probably prove themselves to be great, garden worthy Iris. But for now, these have proved themselves over several years to be no fuss, good growers, and great bloomers.

'Conjuration' has been a blooming beast.


'Notorious' is another that I have growing in questionable conditions, yet it keeps on blooming.


I really love Iris that need no pampering. 'Competitive Edge' is another that grows in crummy soil and part shade.


I love the richness of the color and maroon hafts on 'Father Rigney'


'Easter Bonnet' is like a beautiful sunrise. It just makes me smile.


'Grape Echo' gets on this list by virtue of being as close to ever blooming as any I have (April, May, June, Aug. & Nov in 2015). Good scent too.

These are the ones that have done well here in KC.












Blessings

Ok, I tried it again, hope I don't loose it all this time. I chose a dozen of varied colors and patterns that I have and have been good growers, and although most have been around a while, they are still very good looking. Also they are still available and for a very reasonable price.

I have included an individual bloom, and a clump shot when available so you can see them in both forms.

All beautiful Tom! And all too new to my garden to tell. Sure hope they grow like that for me too!

I want to add a historic to the mix. The slender form creates a nice visual contrast. And this one grows like crazy, creates large clumps within two years, and plays well with lots of other colored iris.

Quaker Lady:
and this is a two year clump! :

Doing that here, too, Leslie. Thank you for sending it to me.

Leslie, Quaker Lady almost made my list, and probably should have. Mine is not as pink as your picture.. The colors are a bit softer... Do you think that's camera or conditions? I ask, because some years ago, I remember someone saying there were two different plants out there both claiming to be Quaker Lady. It makes me wonder if I've got the right one.

Those clump shots are beautiful!

Nice selection Tom! I see you also spread it out among hybridizers.

I love the Quaker Lady clump My list keeps getting longer

Sherry - I think it may be the camera, and also all our red clay.

Yaquina Blue - gorgeous blue
More garden must haves!

Royal Birth - great substance!

Silverado that just blooms and increases so well.

Jane, your photos of Yaquina Blue and Royal Birth are gorgeous and should be added to the database

It's hard to narrow it down to just 12, there were some colors I couldn't squeeze in, and having to be no older then 30 years kept me from putting some others in. If I did this tomorrow I could have 12 more just as nice and no duplicates. It's really hard to narrow it down.

Jane, I've had Sivlerado for many years and it just hasn't bloomed. It's a huge clump but no bloom. I wonder if just got planted into an area with an island of too much nitrogen? Maybe this year.

Tom, Silverado blooms and increases really well for me in the south of France, although it's pretty hot there (not sure what the Zone rating would be, but we don't get frosts). We also have horribly sandy soil there, so have to add quite a lot of food, but it's so free-draining that rhizome rot is just not an issue.
I haven't tried Silverado in England, but even there I think we're probably about zone 8 (some frosts, but not very often, and it rarely snows). Do you have a sunnier spot to which you could transplant a piece, as an experiment? It would be worth the effort, because the colour (icy blue/almost white) is gorgeous and the blooms have great substance.

Silverado seems to do well in many climates, which makes Tom's all the more odd. I think Mary Ann has a big clump doing well in western KY ( @Muddymitts , am I recalling correctly?).

Bonnie @grannysgarden , it grows well for you too doesn't it?

Yes, it grows and increases well. It is a good bloomer though sometimes, rarely, will skip a year of bloom. ??? I thinned it drastically last year so I do not know if it will bloom this year. It is one that will reliably increase.