Showing posts with label Susanne Holland Spicker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Susanne Holland Spicker. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

2018's Top Blog Posts


2018 In Review

The last year was an important one for The World of Irises. In late October, our number of views passed one million, a significant milestone. During the year, we have had posts of all types of irises. It is useful to look back and note the most viewed The World of Irises posts. Here are the top ten for 2018.

If you missed any of these blog posts, just click on the title and it will load the article for you.

The most viewed post of the years was "Talking Irises" - THE 2018 TALL BEARDED IRIS BLOOM SEASON: A SPECTACULAR SHOW! By Susanne Holland Spicker. This was a guest post and we miss Susanne’s colorful articles as she had been on a sabbatical from writing.

Image by Susanne Holland Spicker


That post was followed by “Photo Essay: A Visit to Schreiner's Iris Gardens” By Mike Unser.

Next was Tom Waters’s important post about the complicated issues of fertilizing:  “Fertilizing Irises.” This post lead to many serious discussions and some of us have changed our gardening habits based on its information.

Tom Walter’s post about fertilizing was followed in views by Keith Keppel’s “New Color Combinations in Plicatas, part 2."

Bryce Williamson’s post about the new and yet unnamed iris species was next: "New Iris Species Azure Blue."

Next in line was Ginny Spoon's post about East Coast reblooming irises: "Reblooming Iris: A Love Affair." 

That was followed by Chad Harris’s article “Iris Ensata,Iris Laevigata, and Pseudota in Containers.”

And rounding out the top ten viewed posts of 2018 was Keith Keppel’s part 1 of “New Color Combinations In Plicatas.”




Monday, May 28, 2018

"Talking Irises" - THE 2018 TALL BEARDED IRIS BLOOM SEASON: A SPECTACULAR SHOW!

By Susanne Holland Spicker



(picture of the garden bed in 2016)  'GARDEN BRIDE' (Chapman '98) and 'BOLD EXPRESSION' (Ernst '03) are pictured, center

"I have found enduring happiness from the beauty found in the flower garden and from the joy that the love of a garden gives." 
                                                  Doris Day 
                                                                                                                                            
The 2018 tall bearded iris bloom season, although later than usual, has put on a spectacular show in the top of Utah, zone 6. One complaint, however, is that a week of above normal temperatures reduced the  bloom time of the stalks as they sweltered in the heat.  Many later varieties haven't bloomed at the time of this post, but here are a few of my favorites as I took a stroll around the garden beds. I love these varieties because of their beauty, reliability and their fabulous colors.

(top l to r) 'PERSIAN BERRY' (Gaulter '77), 'PLUM PRETTY WHISKERS' (Spoon '03), 'PRIVATE EYE' (Johnson '10), 'EYE FOR STYLE' (Blyth '06), 'MING LORD' (Blyth '06), 'QUEEN'S RANSOM' (Van Liere '12), 'ROMANTIC GENTLEMAN' (Blyth '02) 'OXFORD COUNTESS' (Blyth '07) I love this bed--it has some of my all-time favorites!


  'LEANNA' (Meininger '97)  A favorite plicata


'LENTEN PRAYER' (Schreiner '98), 'TORONTO' (Johnson '01), 'APHRODISIAC' (Schreiner '86), 'GIGOLO' (Keppel '84), 'NAPLES' (Johnson '01). Color galore--this bed has it!

'DAUGHTER OF STARS' (Spoon '01)  Always among the top three to bloom--it was the first tall bearded iris to bloom this 2018 season.


 'DARING DECEPTION' (Johnson '12) Stunning--breath taking beauty!


 'FLAMINGO FRENZY' (Johnson '12) The unusual colored beard is fabulous on this blue-pink beauty


 'EDITH WOLFORD' (Hager '86) Always a garden visitor favorite


 'ABSOLUTE TREASURE' (Tasco '06), 'DESIGNER LABEL' (Ghio '03) Both are exquisite


 'MIDNIGHT TREAT' (Schreiner '06), 'THORNBIRD' (Byers '89) A visual treat--unique


'CENTER ICE' (Ghio '10), 'GITANO' (Keppel '07), 'WINNING EDGE' (Ghio '97). 'PHOTOGENIC' (Ghio '06), 'LOUISA'S SONG' (Blyth '00), 'IN THE MORNING' (Ernst '04), 'LIMERENCE' (Blyth '09), 'MIDNIGHT REVELRY' (Schreiner '05). Outstanding color!


(t l to r) 'CITY LIGHTS' (Dunn '91), 'FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES' (Ghio '07), 'PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE' (Schreiner '84), 'MILES AHEAD' (Schreiner '10), 'NO COUNT BLUES' (Schreiner '09) A single rhizome of  each of these irises were just planted last summer, and I was thrilled that they all bloomed.



'EMBRACE ME' (Van Liere '08), 'BUBBLING WAVES' (Ghio '06), 'TICKLE 
ME PINK' (VanLiere '11), 'QUEENS CIRCLE' (Kerr '00), 'PROUD TRADITION' (Schreiner '90), 'HEATHERIDGE' (Gatty '85), 'NIGERIAN RASPBERRY' (Kasperek '95), 'SONG OF NORWAY' (Luihn '81), 'CROWNED HEADS' (Keppel '97), 'EVENING TIDINGS' (Schreiner '09), 'ABOVE THE CLOUDS' (Schreiner '01), 'MAGICAL' (Ghio '07), 'RUFFLED BALLET' (Roderick '75), 'SOCIETY PAGE' (Ghio '10).  This established bed never disappoints.                                                                                                            

'CENTER ICE' (Ghio '07), 'PURPLE SERENADE' (Schreiner '05), 'GITANO' (Keppel '07), 'LOUISA'S SONG' (Blyth '00) 'FLORENTINE SILK' (Keppel '05). There are many irises still in the bud still to bloom in the coming days.

'LACED COTTON' (Schreiner '80) A laced iris that always opens up nicely


How has your tall bearded iris bloom season been?  What were your favorite blooms this year?  I'd love to hear from you!

Monday, December 11, 2017

"Talking Irises" LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING - Tall Bearded Irises With Spring Companion Plants

By Susanne Holland Spicker

I love experimenting with different color combinations in the beds. By combining a variety of companion plants, as well as complimentary, or harmonious combinations of tall bearded irises, the beds provide a nice palette of color, as well as a long bloom season by using early, mid and late bloomers that flower at the same time as other perennials in the gardens. The beds are always a work in progress--I evaluate my beds each year at this time and make changes where I want to replace older varieties with newer iris hybrids or add any favorites from my long "wish list." 


I love the colors in this yellow, pink and blue bed: Tall bearded irises 'Skywalker' (Schreiner '96), 'Tulip Festival' (Clough '75), 'Edith Wolford' (Hager '86), 'Aegean Wind' (Schreiner '08), and 'Out of the Blues' (Van Liere '10) with companion plants Singing in the Rain Itoh peony, assorted lupine, hybrid tea rose New Day, clematis Josephine, assorted pansies and petunias, and herbaceous peony Mons. Jules Ellie.





Striking colors of tall bearded irises and companion plants: 'Salzburg Echo' (Schreiner '09), 'Spiced Custard' (Weiler '87), 'Supreme Sultan' (Schreiner '88), 'Dazzling Gold' (Anderson '81),  'Taco Supreme' (Ernst '87),  'Throb' (Weiler '91),  'Flamenco' (Keppel '77), 'Mulled Wine' (Keppel '02),  and 'Tiger Honey' (Kasperek '94), with companion plants early gladiola, lupine, daylily Bela Lugosi and various daylilies and Harlem poppy.




Bold and beautiful!  Tall bearded irises 'Bold Expression' (Ernst '03), 'Dreamcake' (Ernst '02), 'Close Up' (Tompkins '02),  and 'Ringo' (Shoop '79) with companion plants rosy purple pulsatilla, Caribbean Crush verbascum, Fascination hybrid tea rose,  poppy Queen Alexander, America climbing rose, and lilac.



A favorite bed of subtle yellows and blues: Tall bearded irises 'Good Hope' (Moldovan '69), 'Absolute Treasure' (Tasco '06), 'Grecian Skies' (Brown '84), 'Edith Wolford' (Hager '86), 'Bertwistle' (Innerst '90), 'Lavender Luck' (Ernst '88), 'Wedding Candles' (Schreiner '82) and 'On Edge' (Schreiner '86), with companion plants assorted pansies, Blue Star columbine, yellow, blue and white lupine, Crystal Fountain clematis, dwarf Snow Lady daisy, Konigskind clematis, tradescantia, High Noon tree peony, Silver Beauty Dutch iris, and hybrid tea rose Sunblest.




This bed always stands out: Tall bearded irises 'Aristocracy' (Keppel '06), 'Artist's Time' (Schreiner '74), 'Ever After' (Keppel '86), and 'Bubbling Over' (Ghio '92),  with companion plants Elisabeth variegated phlox, pansies, single late tulip Don Quixote, heartleaf bergenia, Jacob's Ladder, bleeding heart, and assorted pansies.


I love these rose and apricot colors together: Tall bearded irises 'Discretion' (Boushay '78), 'Naples' (Johnson '01), 'Mystic's Muse' (Schreiner '93), 'Magharee' (Blyth '86), 'Aphrodisiac' (Schreiner '86), and 'Role Model' (Denny '88), with companion plants assorted lupine, and Itoh peony Singing In The Rain.

Do you like experimenting with your flower beds? What are some of your favorite combinations?  I'd love to hear from you!


Sunday, September 10, 2017

AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY 2017 AWARDS 'MOOSE TRACKS' Walther Cup

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join with us in congratulating Lynda Miller as The Fred and Barbara Walther Cup 2017 American Iris Society Award recipient, for 'MOOSE TRACKS' (MTB). This award is for the most Honorable Mention votes in any iris category. 

 'MOOSE TRACKS' (Lynda Miller 2015) Photo by Salmon Creek

This exciting miniature tall  bearded iris (MTB) is described in the AIS Wiki as follows:

'MOOSE TRACKS' (Lynda Miller 2015) MTB 18-20" Mid-season bloom. Standards medium gold, veined smokey plum; style arms gold, smokey plum accents; falls black veined over white becoming solid maroon-black at bottom of petal; beards dark gold. Salmon Creek 2015. Ben Hagar Cup 2015, Fred and Barbara Walther Cup 2017.

'MOOSE TRACKS' (Lynda Miller 2015) Photo by Salmon Creek

Thank you, Lynda, for this delightful little beauty!

For a complete list of all the American Iris SOciety's 2017 Awards, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/

Interested in miniature tall beardeds?  Please visit the Median Society's websit

Saturday, September 9, 2017

AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY 2017 AWARDS THE PAYNE MEDAL JAPANESE IRISES

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Join with us in congratulating Donald Demaz as the recipient of The Payne Medal, American Iris Society 2017 Awards, for "OH SO PINK' Japanese Iris.

 'OH SO PINK' (Donald Demez 2010) Photo by Cascadia Iris Garden

This voluptuous Japanese iris is described by the AIS Wiki as follows:

'Oh So Pink' (Donald Demez 2010) 30" Early bloom. Standards deep pink; style arms pink tipped deeper pink; falls deep pink, lighter around edge, yellow signal; ruffled. Donald Delmez 2010. AM 2015, The Payne Medal 2017.

Thank you, Donald, for this spectacular Japanese iris.

Interested in Japanese irises?  Please visit The Japanese Iris Society website for more information.


Friday, September 8, 2017

American Iris Society 2017 Awards The Eric Nies Medal for Spuria Irises 'Line Dancing'

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join with us in congratulating B. Charles Jenkins by Comanche Acres for the American Iris Society 2017 Award for outstanding Spuria Iris, 'Line Dancing'.

'LINE DANCING' (B. Charles Jenkins by Comanche Acres) Photo by Comanche Acres

This striking Spuria Iris is described by the AIS Wiki as follows: 

'LINE DANCING' (B. Charles Jenkins by Comanche Acres 2010) SPU 40" Early mid-season bloom. Standards lightly ruffled dark purple; falls dark purple, small yellow signal patch at style arms that changes to white rays radiating over 2/3 of petal; summer dormant. Comanche Acres 2010. AM 2015, The Eric Nies Medal 2017. 

Thank you Charles and Comanche Acres, for a stunning Spuria Iris.

If you're interested in Spuria Irises, please visit The Spuria Irises Society website.




Thursday, September 7, 2017

American Iris Society 2017 Awards 'Judy, Judy, Judy' The Morgan-Wood Medal

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join with us in congratulating Robert Hollingworth for outstanding Siberian Iris 'Judy, Judy, Judy,' the winner of The Morgan-Wood Medal, The American Iris Society 2017 Awards.


'JUDY, JUDY, JUDY' (Robert Hollingworth 2010)  Photo by Robert Hollingworth

This exceptional Siberian iris is described by the AIS Wiki as follows:

'Judy, Judy, Judy' (Robert Hollingworth 2010) SIB 35" Early mid-season bloom. Standards medium red-violet, style arms light blue; falls white, with medium red-violet dots merging into outer plicata band. Ensata 2010.  HM 2013, Walther Cup 2013, AM 2015, The Morgan-Wood Medal 2017.

Thank you, Robert, for a stunning Siberian iris, a well-deserved honor.

'JUDY, JUDY, JUDY' (Robert Hollingworth 2010) photo by Robert Hollingworth

Interested in Siberian Irises?  Please visit "The Society for Siberian Irises" website.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

AIS 2017 AWARDS THE SIDNEY B. MITCHELL MEDAL 'FOGGY DAYS' (PCN)

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Join with us in congratulating Joseph Ghio as the American Iris Society 2017 Sidney B. Mitchell medalist for his stunning Pacific Coast Native Iris 'FOGGY DAYS'.

'FOGGY DAYS' (Joseph Ghio 2007) Photo by leonineiris

Pacific Coast Native irises (PCN), or series Californica (CA) are tricky in many places in all but the far western area of the country in the native range, where they grow with graceful, dainty flowers usually one to two feet tall in most colors and patterns.

The striking Pacific Coast Native iris (PCN) 'Foggy Days' is described by the AIS Wiki as follows:

'FOGGY DAYS' (Joseph Ghio 2007) 10" Mid-season through late bloom. Standards white tinted blue; falls white lined blue-violet overall to distal edge, dark blue-violet signal. Bay View 2007.  HM 2010, AM 2014, The Sidney B. Mitchell Medal 2017.

Thank you, Joe, for yet another award winner!

For a complete list of the American Iris Society 2017 Awards, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

THE 2017 MARY SWORDS DEBAILLON MEDAL "OUR FRIEND DICK" for Louisana Irises

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join us in congratulating Ron Killingsworth as The Mary Swords Debaillon 2017 Medalist for Louisiana Irises for 'OUR FRIEND DICK'.


'OUR FRIEND DICK' (Ron Killingsworth 2009) Photo by Ron Killingsworth



The AIS Wiki describes this lovey Louisiana iris as follows:

'OUR FRIEND DICK' (Ron Killingsworth 2009) LA 38" Mid-season bloom. Standards pink violet veined darker; style arms yellow edges light violet; falls dark violet veined darker, white halo, golden steeple signal tipped dark violet, slightly ruffled. Plantation Point 2010. AM 2015, The Mary Swords Debaillon Medal 2017.

Thank you, Ron for an outstanding Louisiana iris!

Interested in Louisiana Irises?  Please visit The Society for Louisiana Irises website.

Monday, September 4, 2017

"Talking Irises" DISPLAYING IRISES Using a variety of flowers, vases and arranging styles to beautify our homes

By Susanne Holland Spicker

     (Irises from l to r) 'EXTRAVAGANT' (Hamblin'84), 'JUMP FOR JOY' 
(Hager '99), 'CELEBRATION SONG' (Schreiner '93), 'POEM OF ECSTASY' 
             (Hager '97) with giant allium, ruffled poppy, roses and lupine make
              a colorful floral piece to beautify and bring the garden inside


I have found growing tall bearded irises to be very satisfying. The beauty they bring to the garden beds, the excitement felt when a new cultivar blooms, or the magic that happens when the rhizome planted a few years earlier is now a clump can't really be described--and displaying irises inside brings that beauty and thrill into our homes.

 Tall bearded iris 'LULLABY OF SPRING' (Schreiner '87)
with peony, lupine and columbine


The graceful blooms enhance any home or office, as the flowers lend themselves well to a variety of aesthetically pleasing displays. Here in zone 6, TB irises start to bloom when the late bulbs and the early flowering perennials are in bloom, making it easy to use a wide variety of companion plants in bouquets.

Early blooming tall bearded iris 'GLOBAL CROSSING' (Van Liere '12) 
with late blooming spring tulips, bergenia and English bluebells
and early blooming tree peony, clematis, and lupine  

'SUPREME SULTAN' (Schreiner '88) Photo at the home of Dawn Mumford

Dawn Mumford proves that a lone iris stem can be spectacular to behold in her magnificent display of 'Supreme Sultan'. 

'JESSE"S SONG' (Williamson '83)


A simple arrangement is also beautiful, using just one variety of 'Jesse's Song' in a tall, crystal vase, using the entire stem for height.



A variety of vases, containers, and arranging styles provide a myriad of ways to add interest in iris displays, as seen here in the collage of some of the ways Dawn Mumford has used in her home, as she arranges blooms from her flower garden in these lovely iris florals. For more about Dawn and her amazing iris garden, please visit ("Talking Irises" MUMFORD TALL BEARDED IRIS GARDEN - A LOVE AFFAIR).

Debbie Hughes uses space and greenery to make this stunning focal piece with TB's

Karina Gonzales makes a bold statement with this beautiful arrangement from her flower garden

Pictured below are a few of the favorites I've made using a variety of color palettes.
Tall bearded irises top to bottom: 'QUEEN'S CIRCLE' (Kerr '00), 'CLASSIC LOOK' (Schreiner '92),  'DUSKY CHALLENGER' (Schreiner '86),
  'ALTRUIST' (Schreiner '87) with various Dutch irises and lupine

'LONG EMBRACE' (Van Liere '10) with Pink Hawaiian Coral peony

'QUEEN'S CIRCLE' (Kerr '00), 'PROUD TRADITION' (Schreiner '90), 
'NO COUNT BLUES' (Schreiner '09) with lupine and 'snowballs'


Iris Societies around the globe give the opportunity to enter irises in floral displays. If you're interested, contact your local iris society for details. The following pictures from the Utah Iris Society show how creative one can get when choosing a vase, container, or prop for displaying irises. The variety of form and symmetry/asymmetry of the arrangements show how versatile a floral display can be. NOTE: Names of entrants and irises used weren't available at the time of publication. My apologies to those individuals and my congratulations for their beautiful displays.

Utah Iris Society, 2014 Awards
Utah Iris Society, 2014 Awards
Utah Iris Society, 2014 Awards 
Utah Iris Society, 2014 Awards 
Unlike a show where the display is being judged at a precise time and the blooms are at their prime, irises for arrangements needing to last up to a week or more should be chosen with the future bloom in mind. 

Some tips to remember when preparing and arranging flowers:

  • Pick stems early in the morning, before the sun is out, or, if necessary, late in the evening, when their sugar content is at it's lowest level. 
  • Cut the stem and then re-cut under water. This will keep the channel in the stem open for water to get to the bloom and keep it hydrated. 
'EAGLE'S FLIGHT' (Schreiner '86) 
with assorted purple alliums, lupine and 
Coral Hawaiian Pink peony in bud or just opening stage
  • Choose stems that have buds showing color, or ready to open. 
  • Keep in draft-free areas, out of direct sunlight. 
  • Use a floral preservative, changing the water every day or two, if possible. 
  • Deadhead spent blooms when necessary. 
  • Keep in mind where future blooms will open to insure a pleasing display, as shown in these examples

Day 4 of the arrangement 

 A formal display of early blooming TB's.  Plicata 'LEANNA' (Meininger '97) 
and luminata 'DAUGHTER OF STARS' (Spoon '01) go well with beardless 
Siberian Iris Caesar's Brother, peony Yoshina Gawa, giant allium and lupine.  

 Beautiful true blue 'BABBLING BROOK' (Keppel '66), and
white, flounced and lovely 'MESMERIZER' (Byer '91), with dutch iris, 
peony, allium and lupine.

 'JESSE'S SONG' (Williamson '83)
The first iris to bloom this particular year with the late daffodils and tulips

Simple sprays ready for the grave site on Memorial Day. 
Voluptuous 'WEDDING BELLE' (Keppel '07), plicata 'EPICENTER' (Ghio '94), 
and velvety dark self 'SPECTACULAR BID' (Denny '81)

The complimentary colors of blue 'ABSOLUTE TREASURE' (Tasco '06) 
and luscious coral 'SOUTHERN MORNING' (Metler '11) 
with English bluebells and lupine

A harmonious informal spring bouquet of tall bearded irises, from left bottom to right: 'JENNIFER REBECCA' (Zurbrigg '85), 'SWEETER THAN WINE' (Schreiner '98), 'LATIN LOVER (Shoop '69), 'RASPBERRY WINE' (Schreiner '01), 'CLOSE UP' (Tompkins '72),
'LADY FRIEND' (Ghio ''81), 'CUPID'S ARROW' (Ghio '90)

There is no limit to what you can do when preparing a display of your irises. From the smallest miniature bearded irises to the tall bearded irises, or the stately Japanese irises, and every other iris variety, with hundreds of thousands of color combinations, companion plants, vases, and containers or props, formal arrangements, a stem in a vase, or a spring bouquet--the possibilities are endless!

Do you like to display your irises at home? If so, I'd love to read your comments and see what you are doing with your iris blooms.