Iris TIme Part II

The iris are still battling wind and rain alternately. It has been hard to get pics that are not blurry due to this wind.  Here are a few more new blooms from this week.

This little ruffly thing is called Lemon Brocade.

See the "horns" on this one? Horns are kinda unusual. It has some really subtle coloration between beige and lavender. Thornbird has won many medals in the iris world and people tend to love it or hate its look. I like it because it is just interesting, and I have the room for it.

It looks great next to this one, a deep burgundy called Superstition.

This is an oldie. Helen Collingwood from 1949.

This fella is so ruffly and  velvety looking .

This one is an old historical iris, and truly this iridescent.

Here's another handsome boy, Ringo.

I am joining

                                                                            
                                             And

Iris TIme

The iris are blooming despite cold nights and windy days. It has been hard to get good photos due to the wind. I started collecting iris over 20 years ago, and have many varities. Although they are short lived blooms and tissue paper tender, I am thrilled with their rewards.  Most of mine are tall bearded iris.

I believe this is my favorite so far this year. Favorites change constantly. It is called Heavenly Body.

This is the view out my back  porch.

They are called Breakers, and they have the best grape kool-aid smell. Each one is the size of my hand.

Here's a closeup of this bloomer.

A very simple white. It is an old iris. The older the iris, the simplier they are and are called "Historical Iris".Here is a website with a section so you can put a name to the old iris you got from your grandma.

The newer iris are taller, bigger, and usually have more ruffles. Here is Laced Cotton for example:

Thank you for looking at one of my hobbies, and I hope you come back for more Iris as they bloom!

Today I am linking to

and

It's All in the Numbers.....and Seeds!

I can't wait to spend long, sweet days in my flower gardens this summer. It's almost time. Like most  of you, I work till I can barely walk into the house, then collapse. But I am right back out there every evening, surveying every little improvement.( I call it surveying my kingdom).  Gardening is so good about giving us both immediate and long term rewards. Here's part of my little kingdom:

But until then, a great article in the February/March 2011 issue of Birds and Blooms talked about seeds and some interesting facts about them.

 The Big 3

According to Burpee, the top three ornamental seed varieties are: sunflowers, zinnias, and marigolds.

$2.75

Packets of heirloom tomato seeds average around $2.75 each at seedsavers.org

$40.00         
You can save $40.00 or more if you grow your own zinnias from seed instead of buying plants.
     
                                       

68 degrees
Most seeds won't germinate until the ground temperature hits 68 degrees. This goes for indoor seed starting as well.

5-10- not life

Cucumbers,melons and tomatoes are among the vegetables with the longest seed life, good for 5-10 years.

49 years

The is the average age of home gardeners.......

70%

BUT.... 70% of all home gardeners are women!

YOU GROW GIRL!!!

HAPPY PLANTING

I am joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.



Tour Lilywood Farms

I had the privilege to travel to Lilywood Farms before they closed to the public, after 9 years of tours, although they still sell online.  Lilywood Farms is located in north central Missouri, is set in beautiful farm country. The farm has been in the current family since 1871. The land is still being farmed, with 3 acres devoted to daylilies. The house, outbuildings and grounds are immaculate.

You can see the date the house was built.

This had been the smoke house. The grandchildren were playing in the wading pool the day we were there.

This building was the slave quarters. Missouri was a slave state.

                                           Some of the daylily fields up close to the house.

View from the front porch of the house. Notice the cornfields and then the cut wheat fields in the background.

That happy girl is me, with my big clump of daylilies!

 

http://www.lilywoodfarms.com/index.html