Comments on: A Versatile Iris http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/ Gardening in a cold northern climate, as the trees grow, the garden is gradually transforming to a more shady woodland garden Thu, 17 May 2012 18:54:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-163 Northern Shade Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:17:05 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-163 Barbara, I hope they work well for you. Barbara, I hope they work well for you.

]]> By: Barbara http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-160 Barbara Sun, 08 Jun 2008 06:37:51 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-160 Thank you for the answer. It gives me the courage to have a try in my shadow bed under the Catalpa bign. tree. There actually I still have some roses which are growing worse from year to year. Thank you for the answer. It gives me the courage to have a try in my shadow bed under the Catalpa bign. tree. There actually I still have some roses which are growing worse from year to year.

]]> By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-151 Northern Shade Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:40:23 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-151 Barbara, I have some of my irises in part sun and some in medium shade. The ones in the shadiest exposure are in the corner of my yard on the north side of a fence which blocks most sun and also have a fence to the east blocking the morning sun. There is a pine tree right next to them, and they get some of the extended shade from the shadow of the willow on the other side of my yard which blocks the late afternoon sun. They get maybe an hour or so of direct sun and then mostly indirect light. I have been pleasantly surprised by how well they have bloomed. They have been in this location for 4 or 5 years. You can see a picture of this group from last year on http://northernshade.ca/plant-list/. I'm not sure if all irises are as accommodating. Barbara, I have some of my irises in part sun and some in medium shade. The ones in the shadiest exposure are in the corner of my yard on the north side of a fence which blocks most sun and also have a fence to the east blocking the morning sun. There is a pine tree right next to them, and they get some of the extended shade from the shadow of the willow on the other side of my yard which blocks the late afternoon sun. They get maybe an hour or so of direct sun and then mostly indirect light. I have been pleasantly surprised by how well they have bloomed. They have been in this location for 4 or 5 years. You can see a picture of this group from last year on http://northernshade.ca/plant-list/.
I’m not sure if all irises are as accommodating.

]]> By: Barbara http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-150 Barbara Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:45:09 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-150 I have some few iris (blue, yellow and a white one), but they are growing on a sunny place. Where do you have yours? How much sun do they get daily? There are some shadow spots which are still empty and where I want to plant some plants with flowers. I have some few iris (blue, yellow and a white one), but they are growing on a sunny place. Where do you have yours? How much sun do they get daily? There are some shadow spots which are still empty and where I want to plant some plants with flowers.

]]> By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-148 Northern Shade Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:52:45 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-148 Layanee, Etchings does have a fragrance, but it is not in the same class as lily of the valley, peonies, lilacs and roses. I read on garden path that her original iris had a more purplish fall, which sounds very much like mine. Layanee, Etchings does have a fragrance, but it is not in the same class as lily of the valley, peonies, lilacs and roses.
I read on garden path that her original iris had a more purplish fall, which sounds very much like mine.

]]> By: Layanee http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-147 Layanee Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:09:26 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-147 NS: Sandy over at Gardenpath has an iris which looks very much like yours. It is a regal flower isn't it. I would call it 'Etchings' because of the fine lines on the falls but then, I just made that up. Is it fragrant? NS: Sandy over at Gardenpath has an iris which looks very much like yours. It is a regal flower isn’t it. I would call it ‘Etchings’ because of the fine lines on the falls but then, I just made that up. Is it fragrant?

]]> By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-146 Northern Shade Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:37:11 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-146 Hi Gail, it is funny how some plants become more charming over time. I have a red and gold daylily that was in the garden when I moved in too. It only ever had a few blooms and I wasn't very fond of it. I actually considered off and on removing it. Then last summer it decided to put on the display of its life. It put out an incredible number of flowers over a long period of time. I started appreciating the dark rich colour of the blooms, with the gold throats and really love the plant now. I'm very glad I dithered over removing it, and can now enjoy it. Hi Gail, it is funny how some plants become more charming over time. I have a red and gold daylily that was in the garden when I moved in too. It only ever had a few blooms and I wasn’t very fond of it. I actually considered off and on removing it. Then last summer it decided to put on the display of its life. It put out an incredible number of flowers over a long period of time. I started appreciating the dark rich colour of the blooms, with the gold throats and really love the plant now. I’m very glad I dithered over removing it, and can now enjoy it.

]]> By: Gail http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-143 Gail Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:32:51 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-143 I know nothing about Iris except how much I love the old timers that are in my garden! It tickles me how we grow fonder of plants, like the plain friend who gets lovelier with knowing. I know nothing about Iris except how much I love the old timers that are in my garden! It tickles me how we grow fonder of plants, like the plain friend who gets lovelier with knowing.

]]> By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-134 Northern Shade Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:12:29 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-134 Nancy, I have to use a very fine paint brush to get all the detail that you see painted on their falls. Helen, I'll be over to see your irises. I think they add elegance too, with their flowers held high, the distinctive petal shape, and the sword shaped foliage. Amy, I appreciate plants that are easy to grow. I've probably divided this iris to more areas than I should have, simply because it was available and growing. Nancy, I have to use a very fine paint brush to get all the detail that you see painted on their falls.

Helen, I’ll be over to see your irises. I think they add elegance too, with their flowers held high, the distinctive petal shape, and the sword shaped foliage.

Amy, I appreciate plants that are easy to grow. I’ve probably divided this iris to more areas than I should have, simply because it was available and growing.

]]> By: Amy http://northernshade.ca/2008/06/03/a-versatile-iris/#comment-133 Amy Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:17:47 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=123#comment-133 I love irises. Such a low maintenance, easy to grow plant, and when they're finished flowering the leaves still look wonderful. I love irises. Such a low maintenance, easy to grow plant, and when they’re finished flowering the leaves still look wonderful.

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