So, putting in an iris walk has more consideration than just what color (or colors) of iris you prefer. And, of course, there are bearded irises, siberian irises, louisiana irises, dutch irises - well, you get the picture. There's a lot of irises to choose from! Designing an iris walk would take quite a bit of research and planning.
Still, I hope one day to do just that.
I have a few different irises in my garden, but the majority of them are "Extra Early".
These are iris albicans, some call them "cemetery irises". These irises in my garden came from the secret garden in the woods close by my house. They are easily transplanted, and I just dug these up while they were in bloom, and put them gently in my garden. They should be planted shallowly, almost on the top of the ground.
These irises grow in zones 4 through 9, and are usually passed from gardener to gardener. The buds have a slightly silver sheen to them, opening to a pure white. In my garden, I love how they draw attention to the new red leaves of the 'Mrs Dudley Cross' rose.
When/if I ever create my own iris walk, I will definitely include these in the mix. They are one of the most reliable early spring blooms in my garden. I can't imagine my garden without them!
They look lovely. I've been particularly happy with my early Irises this year too but mine are a little dwarf variety. My bigger ones come out later. I think I'll definitely grow more next year.
ReplyDeleteIrises are such a pretty flower, no matter the type. And such a welcome to see after winter!
DeleteYour iris walk idea sounds charming, with the iris blooming at different times. I like bearded iris.
ReplyDeleteI like bearded irises, too. They do well here. I think next year I'll dedicate most of my plant budget to irises!
DeleteI hope you do do get to create an iris walk, it would look great like the rest of your garden :)
ReplyDeleteI really am planning one! I have just the spot for it, I think!
DeleteI think an Iris walk would be wonderful and as you walked along it would smell so good! When I was young my father belonged to the Iris Society and did a lot of hyberdizing. I think that's why gardening is in my blood. I have a lot of tall bearded iris. Last year I was absolutely amazed because one of my rebloomers (Autumn Circus) was still blooming in November.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to hybridize irises! Did he name any after you? I have just one rebloomer, and I was very, very impressed with it, too!
DeleteThey are gorgeous! I like how pure they look! Of course I have been drawn to all things white lately! An Iris walk sounds wonderful...they have such happy faces to me!!
ReplyDeleteI, too, have been drawn to whites and pastels lately. Quite a change for me, as I started out loving all things orange! :)
DeleteI love irises. They can withstand a lot of benign neglect and still put on a show for you every year!
ReplyDeleteBenign neglect - that's what they get around here! I love plants that take my style of gardening! :)
DeleteI love irises, and their flowers are over all too soon here, as soon as the hot weather comes, so I don't think an iris walk would work for me, but I'd be fascinated to see yours if you ever try it. The albicans look lovely, and they certainly are early!
ReplyDeleteI am certainly going to try. I like their spiky foliage just as much as their blooms (well, almost), so even if it wasn't in bloom but for just a short time, I think I'd still get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
DeleteI also love iris and a walk sounds like a lovely idea! Jeannine
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking more and more about one. I am going to do it!
DeleteOoh, I like the thought of extra early flowers - my patience isn't good this time of year! Irises are lovely - there are some purple ones near my driveway and they are extremely reliable and hardy but only seem to flower for about three weeks so thanks for the tip about getting several varieties x
ReplyDeleteGot to love those extra early bloomers! They make winter seem just a bit shorter!
DeleteI love iris and have a bed that started out just for them and lilies to continue the season. They make great partners.
ReplyDeleteOh, lilies, too! What a great idea! Thanks! I'm going to do that in my soon-to-be-created iris walk!
DeleteHolley, good to know they can be moved....I have some growing in the front field but I would much rather they grow in the front yard...thanks!
ReplyDeleteIf they are the cemetery irises like these, they are super easy to move - and are drought tolerant, too. Just don't plant them very deeply. :)
DeleteWe don't have an "Iris Walk" --but we do have lots of Irises in our yard. We love the re-bloomers the best. Yours are beautiful. Can't wait 'til we get some spring blooms here.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
I love irises in the garden. I think their spiky foliage goes so well with other plants, especially roses. I often forget about the rebloomers, but that is exactly the kind I need for my new iris walk!
DeleteI am an iris addict and have so many of every kind...I love the idea of an iris walk and I have them blooming from early spring until summer all over the garden...such a delight.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you were an iris addict! They are a great plant to get addicted to!
DeleteLike you, I'm an iris fan, and these are just beautiful. Do you grow iris reticulata also? They are terrific for late winter blooms, so they are definitely in the Extra Early category. Mine have been going strong since the beginning of February.
ReplyDeleteI haven't grown those, but it sounds like I need to get some! I have been looking for some early bloomers for my garden lately, and they would be the perfect addition.
DeleteHave any of the irises I sent to you shown themselves? I so look forward to seeing those first white irises in my garden but that's probably over a month away.
ReplyDeleteThey are not blooming yet - but none of the other irises in my garden are doing anything, either. These particular irises have always been the earliest to bloom - right along with the daffodils.
DeleteI love your idea of an iris walk, and you have some very pretty white ones. My favorite white is one of the re-bloomers -- the sugary white 'Immortality' that blooms in spring, then does nothing all summer, then blooms again beautifully in October! The fall show is actually better than the spring flowering.
ReplyDeleteI think that's the one rebloomer I have in my garden. I was so impressed with it last year. It will definitely go on my list to include in my new iris walk bed!
DeleteMy mother always had an Iris Garden and a Rose Garden, wherever we lived.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites were the irises. The scent always reminds me of her.
And yet, I have only one, which hasn't bloomed in two years.
Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. Or...like all the other things around here...I just need to start over.
An Iris walk sounds like a good idea. And, the deer don't eat them. Another reason for them to be a favorite.
Perhaps it's planted too deeply. But, you definitely should grow irises. I love when a plant sparks a reminder of a loved one.
DeleteSeems to be the time for Iris! I have read a number of blogs today and there are many Iris postings. They are a great flower, liked by many. Here along the shores of Lake Michigan, it will be weeks before I get any blooms. Nice to see yours. Jack
ReplyDeleteThey are loved by many gardeners. I think Van Gogh's painting of them also helps in their appeal. :)
DeleteAn Iris walk is a lovely idea, as you say apart from all the bearded Irises there are all the spring or even winter ones.
ReplyDeleteIris unguicularis has been flowering since mid-November with only a break for a couple of weeks when it was very cold. Christina
Thanks for the suggestion! This is definitely going on my must-have iris list! :)
DeleteA huge choice - I don't envy you this task!! I love the larger Iris but they don't do well here in my garden, they struggle but I have one or two.
ReplyDeleteI hope your plans go well!
Thanks! It will be fun to figure out all the different irises I can squeeze into one bed!
DeleteWhat a lovely idea. The only irises I have grown in recent years are pond irises and "reticulata", the latter in pots so that I can get close to them. Now that I have free draining sunny soil I need to think about irises to grow.
ReplyDeleteFree draining sunny soil - sounds perfect for so many things!
DeleteAren't they sweet? I love them. The only irises I grow now are a dwarf variegated one that has light purple flowers, I can't remember what it's called. I like it more for the foliage than the flowers. I've also got a clump of Japanese iris in my pond. They bloom later than all the rest. They've got variegated leaves and dark purple flowers. The flowers don't last long but the foliage is there looking great until hard frost.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting on my blog. My apologies for being away from your blog for so long. I'm so behind. :)
Variegated foliage - sounds wonderful! I will have to be on the lookout for some variegated irises to add to my new bed! No apology necessary. Blogging can be very time consuming, and we all have lives to live, too! :)
Deletea block over on Dressen a little old lawyer gentleman named TD Sansing had an iris garden with tidy grass in between to walk. It was one of the loveliest things I have ever seen in my life and just the fact that he was a man and an 80 year old one at that...I will never forget it and I miss it greatly as he is gone
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet memory. That's what I like about gardening. One flower can bring back such sweet memories.
DeleteI have Louisiana irises called 'Red Velvet Elvis' and some Siberian iris. I love how quickly they multiply. There's always plenty to give to friends. I like the idea of an iris walk. It feels so graceful. :o)
ReplyDeleteI had some Siberian irises, but re-did that bed, and I guess I lost them all. Will definitely have to add these to my list of irises to get!
DeleteVery lovely. I have neglected planting much in the way of Irises in my garden. I have some Crested Iris, but it tends to get overwhelmed by its neighbors. I've also had some Siberian Iris, but the bloom time is so short. I just planted some Japanese Roof Iris, I'll see how they do.
ReplyDeleteI hope they dazzle you! :)
DeleteAn Iris walk would be sweet. I only have one type of Iris, and I think it might be time to add more. Interesting how that one has a silvery sheen to it.
ReplyDeleteThe background of this iris is quite interesting. It has been all over the world!
DeleteAn iris walk sounds lovely, if you have room for it then go for it!
ReplyDeleteI also have only one type of iris in my garden but would like to add some more of the earlier one as those I have flower rather late. I have been thinking of planting a walk myself - a lily walk, with only scented lilies! That means chucking out some plants first though, as I have no spare room, but...I am certainly thinking about it.
A lily walk! Oh, that would be beautiful! I hope you get to create it!
DeleteWhat a beautiful iris. I like the history of it too and will have to be on the lookout. Now off to check your Secret Garden post. Wondering how you lucked out with such a pretty iris.
ReplyDeleteI would not have this iris if it wasn't for that secret garden. I think it's more often passed around than sold. I love all irises - but this one blooms so early it has found a special place in my heart.
DeleteI guess I need to expand beyond my favorite cool-colored irises. An iris walk sounds great, perhaps with some low evergreen plants in front...my designer mind is talking again!
ReplyDeleteGlad to get those creative wheels turning for you! :) Mine have been turning for a while. I have some tall, narrow trees ordered, and have some rosemary, and I think they will accent an iris walk beautifully. I really am excited about planning one out, now that I've actually given it some thought!
DeleteThe ABQ Botanic Garden has one area that's almost all irises. They seem to have wanted a huge splash all at once, though, so it looks spectacular for about 3 weeks a year, and then kind of sad the rest of the time. On the other hand, they've mixed in other "pre-historic" looking plants that work well with the foliage, which is kind of cool.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I could make the irises bloom for a long period of time. Probably it would just look good in spring, then again perhaps in fall if I get rebloomers. Still, I love that spiky iris foliage, and by mixing it with some other plants, I think it could be a nice accent area. I wish I would have looked a little closer at that area in the ABQ Botanic garden when I visited there. There was so much to see! Maybe another trip is in order! :)
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