The Gardening Thread

*****

Good afternoon folks. Your's truly will be filling in today for KT who is out on medical leave. She is doing well and hopes to be back soon.

Here is another photo of today's opener. It is a Wild Iris. And we can thank Hrothgar for submitting such beautiful photos.

Which brings me to the following. Everything you want to know about iris' but were afraid to ask.

The tall, beautiful iris flower, named after the Greek goddess who rode rainbows, comes in many magical colors. Despite its divine origins, this beautiful flower is rugged, reliable, and easy to grow. Learn to plant and care for irises for long-term success in your gardens.
About Irises
More than 250 species make up the genus Iris. The most familiar irises are the tall bearded irises (I. germanica), which reach 2 to 3 feet tall. Their distinctive six-petaled flowers have three outer hanging petals (called falls) and three inner upright petals (called standards).

We have a few here at Casa Misanthrope. Bulbs were from my fishing buddy's wife. They seem to be a tough bullet proof type of plant. Just my .02 worth.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian (ONT Cob Emeritus) at 12:05 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 First!

Posted by: Farmer, with his own historical take at May 03, 2025 12:08 PM (55Qr6)

2 It's iris season here in the midsouth.

Posted by: Emmie celebrates the Audacity of Trump! at May 03, 2025 12:09 PM (Sf2cq)

3 Beautiful! Although that’s far from a “wild Iris”, that’s a heavily cultivated variety. (All of the multi colors are)

Posted by: Tom Servo at May 03, 2025 12:10 PM (3xZyM)

4 Iris are VERY bullet proof. My dad planted them at 3 different homes we lived in and they ALWAYS came back. Even later in his life when he was trying to start something else in the flower bed, they ALWAYS came back. I can hear him cursing even now....

-SLV

Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter at May 03, 2025 12:12 PM (e/Osv)

5 You scream, I scream, we all scream for Horticulture!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 03, 2025 12:14 PM (JkO4W)

6 Fabulous flowers. Hardy & so many colors! Locally, they may bloom from late March, early April through late May, early June.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at May 03, 2025 12:24 PM (NFX2v)

7 I’m at the Tulip Festival in Holland, Michigan!

Waiting for lunch at the Sushi place.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at May 03, 2025 12:31 PM (m76nq)

8 Those photos are gorgeous. Our area has huge stands of
irises at the moment, at least in the longer established yards. On the way home from the farmers market this morning we passed a somewhat shaded yard with a Rhododendron in full bloom. It must have been there for decades. One of the nicer aspects of driving along the older residential neighborhoods.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 12:32 PM (yTvNw)

9 I call my residence "Domaine LMAO."

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at May 03, 2025 12:33 PM (LPS7w)

10 Enjoying our aspagus bed's first picking. This was transplanted from the farm 11 yrs ago when it was sold. My Dad helped his mother plant the original bed when they moved there in 1947.

As for other veggies I have to fix the raised bed the pup has been digging in. It's not feasible to fence it off, any dog repellant suggestions?

Posted by: Farmer, with his own historical take at May 03, 2025 12:39 PM (55Qr6)

11 I transplanted my irises from Colorado. Here, they get less sun and more rain, so the instant a bloom opens, the whole stem falls over.

Maybe they "transed" when I transplanted them and now they identify as ground cover.

Posted by: Emmie celebrates the Audacity of Trump! at May 03, 2025 12:39 PM (Sf2cq)

12 That is a lovely iris featured today.

Thanks for subbing for KT, MisHum!

Posted by: Emmie celebrates the Audacity of Trump! at May 03, 2025 12:41 PM (Sf2cq)

13 As for other veggies I have to fix the raised bed the pup has been digging in. It's not feasible to fence it off, any dog repellant suggestions?
Posted by: Farmer, with his own historical take at May 03, 2025 12:39 PM (55Qr6)

Dog have tender paws? Get a cat repellant mat. Little plastic spikes on a roll.

https://tinyurl.com/3wyrywxe

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 03, 2025 12:44 PM (0eaVi)

14 I love irises. We always had many different varieties in our yard when I was growing up.

Unfortunately, while irises are bullet-proof, they are not deer-proof, so I don't grow them in my yard out here in the country. Instead, we have a lot of lantana and salvia.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at May 03, 2025 12:45 PM (FEVMW)

15 8 Those photos are gorgeous. Our area has huge stands of
irises at the moment, at least in the longer established yards. On the way home from the farmers market this morning we passed a somewhat shaded yard with a Rhododendron in full bloom. It must have been there for decades. One of the nicer aspects of driving along the older residential neighborhoods.
Posted by: JTB
=====
Our azaleas have quit blooming but our rhododenrons have started and yes, they are about 40-50 years old and massive.

Sun azaleas aka Indian hawthornes are also blooming.

Posted by: whig at May 03, 2025 12:45 PM (ctrM5)

16 Afternoon all.
I thought that Iris should be named Purple Ice.
The peony I planted last year has produced a single flower. Plant looks healthy but just one flower. Sigh. I'll see if I can get a picture worthy of the garden thread.
I also potted the purple hydrangea plant I ordered and repotted my aloe into a gorgeous ceramic planter. The root ball was pretty tiny and the planter pretty big so hope I didn;t kill it in the process.
End of gardening report.
beautiful day here.

Posted by: sharon(willow's apprentice) at May 03, 2025 12:47 PM (t/2Uw)

17 We've got our sights set on iris in the future. In the garden right now we have a Blackwater (very deep purple, almost black) and a Nero's Wine (a beautiful merlot). Schreinersgardens.com is full of iris pr0n - check it out!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 03, 2025 12:49 PM (w6EFb)

18 As for other veggies I have to fix the raised bed the pup has been digging in. It's not feasible to fence it off, any dog repellant suggestions?
Posted by: Farmer
=====
An old trick is to take fencing and put over the bed. Prevents the dog from digging much but plants can grow through it. We have a similar problem with squirrels eating our crocus bulbs.

At places where deer eat plants to the ground in winter, I have seen shrubs wrapped in something like chicken wire to prevent deer from killing the plant by gorging on it. We have had to do similar steps to protect some of our cherry laurels.

Posted by: whig at May 03, 2025 12:51 PM (ctrM5)

19 Once upon a time, we had a clump of iris at the corner of the house and it had to be moved. Tim dumped them into a 12" pot and forgot about them. A year or so later, I divided them and ended up with more iris than I had room for.

Nowadays I have plenty of room!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 03, 2025 12:51 PM (w6EFb)

20 Who doesn’t like purple flowers, even if they have no sense of smell?

Posted by: Eromero at May 03, 2025 12:52 PM (UYYJi)

21 As for other veggies I have to fix the raised bed the pup has been digging in. It's not feasible to fence it off, any dog repellant suggestions?
Posted by: Farmer

I second the suggestion of placing a bit of fencing over it - works for the cats, and gives the plants a chance to grow to the point where they are no longer an attractive nuisance to pets.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 03, 2025 12:53 PM (w6EFb)

22 4 Iris are VERY bullet proof. My dad planted them at 3 different homes we lived in and they ALWAYS came back. Even later in his life when he was trying to start something else in the flower bed, they ALWAYS came back. I can hear him cursing even now....

-SLV
Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter
=======
We have some transplanted irises, nandina, and a peony from my wife's grandmother's house. The original plant beds there were planted in the 1950's and yes they are tough. My wife remembers being yelled at by her grandmother when using a riding mower to mow her grandmother's yard. So these are precious family reminders to her every year when they bloom.

Posted by: whig at May 03, 2025 12:55 PM (ctrM5)

23 There is HIPS, historic iris preservation society. They put out a good publication and there is a yearly sale where you can buy bulbs. Dues are cheap.

https://historiciris.org/

Posted by: Notsothoreau at May 03, 2025 12:56 PM (cvWHI)

24 23 There is HIPS, historic iris preservation society. They put out a good publication and there is a yearly sale where you can buy bulbs. Dues are cheap.

https://historiciris.org/
Posted by: Notsothoreau

Thanks for that. A neighbor gave my wife some irises and those have turned out to be aggressive in crowding out other plants. So we gave those to my wife's friend who has just bought a new house needing something for a mass planting.

Wife and I might find some replacements for those from that site. We normally hire some local students for muscle to dig, move plants, etc. nowadays but darn it, they always graduate requiring some new ones.

Posted by: whig at May 03, 2025 12:59 PM (ctrM5)

25 NST, thanks for that, I just checked out the website and it has glorious color photos. And that is just in time to identify her grandmother's iris variant.

Posted by: whig at May 03, 2025 01:01 PM (ctrM5)

26 Off to walk the doggies as rain has passed. Hope all of y'all have a wonderful week to come.

Posted by: whig at May 03, 2025 01:02 PM (ctrM5)

27 The iris in bloom now is one I moved. I ran out of space and had to leave some plants behind. I threw some in trash bags and they traveled on the floor of the car. I did manage to plant them, but it was the dogs favorite place to lay. Some of them were throw aways from someone's yard and I did buy some Indian Chiefs. Also, I bought some at yhr sale last year. They are on a planter and look like they will bloom. I love irises.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at May 03, 2025 01:02 PM (cvWHI)

28 thanks for subbing MisHum!'

multi colored marigolds went into jiffy pots as well as cast into large clay pot today.

We'll see if the squirrels and rabbits leave them alone..

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 03, 2025 01:02 PM (ujvdQ)

29 Just asking for opinions. It seems that flowers and shrubs have been more prolific and vibrant this season. Same with the locally grown veggies at the farmers market compared to last year. I know these things can vary from year to year but I like to think they are reacting to Biden and his cohorts in crime being gone.

My observations are real. The political comment is a possibility.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 01:03 PM (yTvNw)

30
My occasional Red Thumb report:

I gave up on the bouganvilleas. I think some growth buds froze or something, because they were living but they hadn't grown an inch since they were planted, like two years ago. The gardener put in some little purple things that look half-wild, like things that live in the forest and support a niche species of insect that lizards feed on. They look ugly enough to win a fight against cold and darkness. Let's see how it goes.

For ages, I've been trying to swat some fallen little branch off the edge of my roof and I could never get it. The gardener cleaned the gutters for the first time in (ashamed to say), and he got that branch off. Except it's a baby pine tree that was growing in my overstuffed gutter. He packed dirt around it and planted it in my front yard. We'll see how that goes. Can I kill a pine tree that took root and grew 6 inches in my gutter? Seemingly all it takes for a plant to fail is me wanting it to thrive.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 03, 2025 01:07 PM (Mo04G)

31 We have 2 colors of Iris, dark purple and a lavender/yellow

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 01:08 PM (ypFCm)

32 Had a pineapple couple weeks ago, as a experiment have it in my mini greenhouse.

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 01:09 PM (ypFCm)

33 Good afternoon, greenies.

I've planted masses of daffs but no irises. I should remedy that.

I've been planting flowers around my yard and at my garden plot. Also planted a Kraken Skorpion hot pepper plant. Don't know what got into me -- I don't like super hot peppers. Maybe I can give them out to kids at Halloween.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 03, 2025 01:16 PM (kpS4V)

34 planted a Kraken Skorpion hot pepper plant. Don't know what got into me -- I don't like super hot peppers. Maybe I can give them out to kids at Halloween.

Are they big enough to hide razor blades?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at May 03, 2025 01:26 PM (M4r8b)

35 There are iris all around our yard. Various colors. They need to be divided this year, they are so crowded!

And I know to simply put the extra into yard waste bin... all the neighbors have *more than enough* of their own irises.

It's like zucchini in August, LOL

Posted by: JQ at May 03, 2025 01:51 PM (rdVOm)

36 10. Posted by Farmer.

Coffee grounds can be used as a natural deterrent to keep dogs (cats, rabbits, racoons) out of certain areas like gardens or lawns but they're not a deterrent to my stubborn old dog. (She's still determined to hunt voles.)

But we still get the used grounds from DD & spread them around perimeter of the lawn and the little garden because it does discourage some others. Something is better than nothing.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at May 03, 2025 01:52 PM (NFX2v)

37 It has been up to 55 degrees here, so it technically is summer, I suppose. No frost at night. That's a bit early, so I have the greenhouse good to go with tomatoes, peppers, cukes, various herbs, and my lavender plants.

I started yesterday cleaning out the various strawberry beds that were here when we bought the place. She didn't use very good soil but I'm loathe to dig up the plants and replace the dirt, so I will top dress and fertilize and see how they do this year.

The hascaps are just now budding. I need to find recipes for them since I've never grown them before.

Next week I'm picking up blueberry bushes from a homestead that overwinters them before selling, to be sure they will thrive. I need to find a good place for those shortly.

This week I'm getting a yard of topsoil and some peat moss to improve the unplanted beds, and then I will commence to planting root crops and peas and all that jazz.

It's more of a mini farm than a garden I suppose. It will feed us nicely for the year I think.

Posted by: tcn in AK at May 03, 2025 01:57 PM (a4NoL)

38 I'm growing spicy peppers too, Commissar.

Jalapeno is the favorite: not very hot but so flavorful. Just needs a little kick to up the heat when I make poppers, so got Habanero plants at the nursery.

Why plural? Because a single plant was $3.99, but a pony-pack of 4 was $4.49. They were about the same size, go figure. I call that extra fifty cents "insurance against a black-thumb event."

Posted by: JQ at May 03, 2025 01:58 PM (rdVOm)

39 Probably going to cut down how many plants I get, garden in 25 years is getting too much shade.
Couple tomatoes, hot peppers and cucumbers might be it.

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 02:01 PM (ypFCm)

40 >>>@34 planted a Kraken Skorpion hot pepper plant. Don't know what got into me -- I don't like super hot peppers. Maybe I can give them out to kids at Halloween. Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at May 03, 2025 01:26 PM (M4r8b)
================
Greetings ... If you make a hot pepper jelly with these -- and blend it with seedless raspberry jam -- you'll could pour it over a block of cream cheese and serve with some sturdy crackers ... A second option would be to blend the hot pepper jelly with cranberry sauce and brush it onto grilled chicken wings.

Posted by: Kathy at May 03, 2025 02:07 PM (qpw89)

41 I had decided to quit providing the local wildlife with a salad bar last year thus stopped gardening except for one fair sized flower bed. Turns out I can't even get things to grow in that, without a fulltime onslaught on everything in it. Quite the variety of plunderers visit that bed and not much escapes their tender ministrations.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at May 03, 2025 02:07 PM (hKoQL)

42 Next year, will simply plant more seeds. Cannot afford to buy many plants.

I don't really need a greenhouse, just a few grow-lights and shelves. And waterproof mat. And some more pots. That's all I need.

And a place for all of it.

That's all I need...

Posted by: JQ at May 03, 2025 02:08 PM (rdVOm)

43 IronGrampa--

I've seen more than a few backyard gardeners use chainlink dog kennels for their gardens.

Sun gets in. Critters stay out. Well, big critters anyhow. Suppose they may be lined with chickenwire as well?

Posted by: JQ at May 03, 2025 02:12 PM (rdVOm)

44 Those irises (irisi?) are awesome. If my wife weren't already married, I'd tell her she should get her bridesmaids dresses inspired by them.

Posted by: tankdemon at May 03, 2025 02:13 PM (7q/HU)

45 It's not feasible to fence it off, any dog repellant suggestions?

Subsonic .22 with solvent trap.

Posted by: Fast Eddie Felson at May 03, 2025 02:15 PM (tEsXg)

46 There's no apostrophe in "yours."

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at May 03, 2025 02:15 PM (XMwZJ)

47 Thanks for sharing, Htothgar.

Posted by: tankdemon at May 03, 2025 02:15 PM (7q/HU)

48 Or, if you love the dogs, a pellet gun.

Posted by: Fast Eddie Felson at May 03, 2025 02:16 PM (tEsXg)

49 From a book I'm reading:

“Aspidistra, little herb,
Do you think it silly
When the botaniser’s blurb
Links you with the lily?”

Posted by: Ciampino - cats woke me up too early at May 03, 2025 02:19 PM (sPQoU)

50 I planted all my herbs yesterday, and some veggies. I have some peppers I want to get in but I need the right soil. I never have had much luck with them in the past, but I think its because the soil was too akaloid, and they like more acidic soil.

My cousin's husband is the head of agriculture at Kentucky State, and he tipped me off to a new breed of Habanero with the flavor but not the heat. They are less hot than a jalepeno, and only available as seeds right now. I got some of those to try to grow, too.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 03, 2025 02:20 PM (2VST1)

51 I've had deer, woodchucks, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, crows and who knows what else raid me, not interested in the expense to withstand the pests any more.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at May 03, 2025 02:23 PM (hKoQL)

52 Maybe not in yours...

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at May 03, 2025 02:25 PM (dg+HA)

53 We hung a bunch more flower baskets off the porch again this year, my brother Jonathan is big on flowers as a decoration. We've been working pretty hard on making the house look nice this year.

I wanted to get the flower beds up front dug up and readied this year but its... kinda expensive

Not sure if we will ever get the project done.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 03, 2025 02:25 PM (2VST1)

54 Understood, IG!

Gardening = labor + expense

At some point in life, you're just *done* with it all.

Posted by: JQ at May 03, 2025 02:25 PM (rdVOm)

55 54 Understood, IG!

Gardening = labor + expense

At some point in life, you're just *done* with it all.
Posted by: JQ at May 03, 2025 02:25 PM (rdVOm
Maybe a Victory Garden, then?

Posted by: Eromero at May 03, 2025 02:38 PM (Mxjiy)

56
Planted three trees today (two pears and a kumquat) and set up soaker hoses to keep them watered.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 03, 2025 02:41 PM (QnmlO)

57 *Any* produce from my garden, counts as "victory" LOL

Posted by: JQ at May 03, 2025 02:42 PM (rdVOm)

58 JQ Minus expenses

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 02:50 PM (ypFCm)

59 Iris is beautiful and easy. Drop the bulb in soft ground, step on it to push it deeper and done! The problem I always had and which made me pull out the iris bed is keeping weeds out. Its just impossible. Mulch doesn't help and weed barrier is iris barrier. Its a shame because I had some here that my grandma planted that were such a pale yellow they almost looked white and some that were such dark purple they looked black. Wonderful combination and always fun when someone noticed that they were purple and yellow for the first time!

Posted by: Madame Mayhem (uppity wench) at May 03, 2025 03:00 PM (2J/Lj)

60 Pet thread up!

Posted by: NR Pax at May 03, 2025 03:02 PM (lXCUP)

61 We are unfortunately overrun with creeping charlie. I hate that shit but simply can't eradicate it completely.

Posted by: Madame Mayhem (uppity wench) at May 03, 2025 03:04 PM (2J/Lj)

62 My volunteer apple that I pulled out of the flower bed by my Dad's foundation has finally bloomed this year. It is a very late bloomer, and seems to hold its leaves late into the fall, later than all the others.
I have no idea what sort of tree it is a seedling from, so hopefully this year I will have enough fruit to figure out if I have it for fruit or for just because.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2025 03:42 PM (D7oie)

63 My friend, who is an Iris "unofficial expert) says to feed them on the sugar holidays, which in case you eat sugar every holiday, that is not it, only Valentine's and Halloween.

Posted by: BonnieBlue at May 03, 2025 05:24 PM (i5G1e)

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