Plant Swap Iris

This is the first plant received from a neighborhood Plant Swap Brunch that has performed well. Last spring a few bearded iris rhizomes were received and planted in the spring. They were tended to all summer, and this year are blooming well. Not knowing the variety, a search of the internet iris culture turned up a lot of similar varieties, but nothing matched perfectly. There was always something that did not match - a ruffled petal, a light blue stripe, an orange fall.

The size is surprising- leaves up to 24 inches (61 cm) tall, and flower stalks up to 5 feet (1.5 m) - clearly the tallest thing in the garden. The location receives a small anount of shade, although iris love full sun.

The spring Plant Swap Brunch for the neighborhood took place on Saturday. My garden gave up some purple asters, white dragonflower, numerous calendula and green nicotiana seedlings (sprouting from last year's plants.) In return, a white-tipped hosta and white shasta daisy plants were received.

For The Record:   • Growing in heavy soil, mostly full sun, some shade   • Slow release organic granular fertilizer applied   • Somewhat taller flower stalks that expected Garden Calendar:   • Blooming: dutch & bearded iris, allium, columbine, perennial geranium   • Early tulip bulbs lifted