TALL BEARDED IRIS 2014 BLOOMS IN MY GARDEN TODAY

There are a few more irises blooming in the garden today--I have a total of 14 blooming. This will be a banner year for irises in my garden--much different than the past two years--weather-related problems caused many not to bloom because the bud got nipped by freezing temps too early in the season.  Stalks were much shorter as well. There are lots of cultivars with nice buds this year, some showing color--it has begun!

Global Crossing

Star Woman

Tiger Honey

Date Bait

Queen's Ransom

Hello Darkness

Queen's Circle

Skating Party

Daughter Of Stars

Gnus Flash

My Ginny

Summer Tsunami

Theater

Eagle's Flight

TALL BEARDED IRISES IN ARRANGMENTS

The weekly arrangement for today features two of my favorite Tall Bearded Irises that are in bloom today--GLOBAL CROSSING (Van Liere 2012), and QUEEN'S CIRCLE (Kerr 2000). Making arrangements that need to last a week and still look vibrant and alive is much different than making one that is on display for a day.  Choose blooms in bud stage that will bloom within the week, with maybe just a few that may have recently opened up.  Use your eye to visualize where those buds will bloom in the arrangement. As always, pick first thing in the morning before the sun is out, and immediately plunge the stems in water, cutting the stem again under water an inch up from the original cut.  Immediately arrange.  In the arrangement I use oasis wet flower foam, with a flower preservative added. This arrangement will last a week.  Older flowers can be pinched off, some with another bud that is in the same place, as is the case of the tall Queen's Circle bloom.

TALL BEARDED IRIS - 2014 BLOOMS

Well, the season has started!  Saturday, my first TALL BEARDED IRIS bloomed!  SUMMER TSUNAMI (Nicholson), a rebloomer, was first to bloom, followed by GNUS FLASH (Brad Kasperek), SKATING PARTY, QUEEN'S CIRCLE, STAR WOMAN (Smith), THEATER, DAUGHTER OF STARS, QUEEN'S RANSOM (Van Liere).  So, nine as of today, It was the first bloom for QUEEN'S RANSOM, but the others have bloomed before.

TALL BEARDED IRIS--FAVORITE BLOOMS

Sheer Bliss Thompkins '87

Queen's Circle Kerr '00

Rolling Thunder Schreiner '85

Rose' Gaulter '78

Ruffled Ballet Roderick '75

Sea Power Keppel '99

Silverado Schreiner '87

Rancho Rose Gibson '75

Silver Years Hager '80

Salzburg Echo Schreiner '09

Raspberry Frills Schreiner '83

NEW TALL BEARDED IRIS COLLAGES--2013 BLOOMS and COMPANION PLANTS

Change of Pace

TALL BEARDED IRISES Cherry Blossom Song, Timeless
Moment, Vizier, Change of Pace, Kitty Kay, and Artist's
Time, with lupine, tree peony and poppy

Skating Party, Poem of Ecstasy, Planned Treasure,
Grand Waltz, Electrabrite, Paint the Sky

Geisha, Monday Morning Blues, Queen's Circle,
Absolute Treasure, Proud Tradition, Silverado,
and Ruffled Ballet