As to the difference. I purchased two more B.I. last year and they both bloomed this year. The one I had last year had two lovely looking fans but no stalks. The ones that bloomed paled in comparison to the one that bloomed the year before. They were not as color intense, had a smaller flower and overall less substance. I was able to get pollen and that was more my goal this year anyway. I hope they will perform in '13 more up to what I have seen in '11. A number of my iris were smaller than what I expected and that was the ones planted last season for the first time. That month less to prepare might have made a difference, too and very little moisture.
K