We’re trying a few new things

Last winter, during the long dark days, we pondered the spring. We asked ourselves, what could we offer to those lucky devils who live in warmer climes who were already up to their elbows in glorious warm soil by April? A few ideas took sprout, so to speak. Read on for more details.

New product #1: Potted Iris, Ready to Plant in April:

Common wisdom recommends that bearded iris be planted in the summer months, which means that they will bloom the following spring. This year we’re offering six hardy reblooming bearded iris in biodegradable pots ready for planting in April! For best results, the threat of frost must have already passed and the soil must be soft enough to work.

By getting your potted irises in the ground now, you have increased your chances of seeing bloom this year. All the irises in this collection are also classified as reblooming iris. Under the right conditions, reblooming iris have a second bloom cycle in late summer or fall.

NOTE: Recommended delivery for USDA zones 8a or higher. (AL (southern), AR (southern), AZ (southern), CA, GA, LA, MS, NC, NM (southern), SC, TX) Use the USDA zone finder map to determine your zone.

This collection ships only in the month of April. Limited to stock on hand. Offer ends April 21, 2019.

New product #2: Oriental Lilies:

We bring you exquisite Oriental lilies! We are very excited to launch this new venture with our dear friends at Oregon Flower Inc. Over the years our business partnership with the incredible family at Oregon Flowers Inc. has become a treasured friendship. Being the flower lovers that we are, we want to share with you the beautiful, award-winning Oriental lily bulbs sourced by our dear friends at Oregon Flowers. We are confident you will fall in love with their beautiful aromatic blooms season after season, just as we have.

This year we offer two collections of Oriental lilies – one with three lilies, and another with five lilies. Each collection contains two quality bulbs of each variety. Each collection ships free. Lily bulbs will ship only in April. Last day to purchase these lilies is April 14, 2019.

Plant these exquisite lilies in a sunny spot. Enjoy the colorful summertime show of sweet scented blossoms! Read more on How to Grow and Care for Oriental Lilies

NOTE: Recommended delivery for USDA zones 8a or higher. (AL (southern), AR (southern), AZ (southern), CA, GA, LA, MS, NC, NM (southern), SC, TX) Use the USDA zone finder map to determine your zone.

New product #3: Daylilies to ship in April:

We’ve been working hard with our daylily stock. We’re very excited this year to offer our customers in warmer areas 30 varieties, including all of Bill Maryott’s spring 2019 introductions, in April.

NOTE: Recommended delivery for USDA zones 8a or higher. (AL (southern), AR (southern), AZ (southern), CA, GA, LA, MS, NC, NM (southern), SC, TX) Use the USDA zone finder map to determine your zone.

If you’re not ready for daylilies in April, not to worry. All of our 400+ varieties of daylilies are also available for shipping June through mid-September.

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Reblooming Irises: A Love Affair — World of Irises

Here at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens we love Reblooming Iris. Continue reading this lovely piece by Ginny Spoon….

By Ginny Spoon   When I first joined the American Iris Society in 1991, I learned about reblooming irises at our local chapter of AIS, the Chesapeake and Potomac Iris Society. Irises that bloom both spring and fall were the ones that I wanted most of all. That is where I met Don Spoon, who outbid me…

via Reblooming Irises: A Love Affair — World of Irises

“Summer Olympics” in your yard?

So, you’re not a world-class gymnast, or the world’s fastest sprinter, or even a sun-tanned beach volleyball player,but still you might be dreaming of an “Afternoon in Rio”, or of someday joining the Summer Olympics….We all have dreams, don’t we? Well, we’re excited for the summer games even still. Opening August 5th in Rio de Janeiro, the games inspire us all the world over. And right here in Oregon (home of several Olympic athletes, incidentally), we’re inspired to have some fun with Iris names while we await the lighting of the cauldron.

Summer Olympics, R.G. Smith 1980

Top of the list “Summer Olympics“: Aptly named for its bright golden color that often will come around in the summer or late fall in addition to the spring bloom, as it is a reblooming Iris.

Dream Ticket, Larry Lauer 2006

The US Olympic Dream Team has got the “Dream Ticket“to bring home that “Pure As Gold” hunk o’metal draped around their necks this summer.

Pure As Gold, William Maryott 1993

One for all of you aspirational types, here’s to “Dreaming of Rio“. And why not? If athletes can dream big, why not the rest of arm-chair contenders?

Dreaming of Rio, Schreiner 2008

And for all the athletes whose dreams have come true, spending the “Afternoon in Rio“, we send our joyous congratulations! Dream big, win big, and go for the gold!

The rest of us can enjoy the games, in the afternoon, on the patio, gazing at our summer gardens.

Afternoon in Rio, Schreiner 2005

June Has Busted, June Has Burst! Quench Your Tall Bearded Iris Thirst!

The summer solstice, a most propitious date — brings the promise of long, heady days of summer, reaping the success in our gardens and in all aspects of our lives. June 21st also heralds the start of our 2014 Summer Sale. You’ll find over 350 varieties of Tall Bearded Iris at deeply discounted prices. Pictured on the cover of our summer sale catalog below is a special bonus for your summer sale order. “Swept Off My Feet”, one of our 2014 introductions, is the 2014 Summer Sale bonus. Use coupon code SSC2014 to get yours. (*Limit one per customer; minimum $25 order of plants.)

What’s happening in the June garden? Depending on your location, you may have a handful of lingering Iris blossoms, or all of your bloom stalks might be sporting the papery remains of the seasons’ blooms. When all blossoms on the stalks have finished, carefully trim the bloom stalk at its base. Leave all green foliage in place. They offer an elegant vertical visual throughout the garden. You may remove any browned and dry leaves, though. Keep the Iris beds clean and free of weeds. Well-established Iris plants are drought tolerant. Newly planted Iris, though, do require a good long drink approximately every 7 to 10 days if the weather is very dry. Reblooming Iris also prefer irrigation between the spring bloom and summer/autumn re-bloom times. We recommend an application of a low-nitrogen fertilizer (such as 6-10-10) approximately one month after blooms have finished. Superphosphate and bonemeal also work well as a fertilizer for Iris.

Reblooming Iris: Just can’t get enough! Ooo!

These are for you, mom!
Best Best and Eternal Bliss (white) with Rudbeckia ©

Imagine yourself next summer, the heat of July warming your face as you gaze across your garden, colorful perennials dot the landscape… but you’re thinking back to springtime, May, when your glorious Iris were in full bloom. Nothing compares… But wait! Consider this: a second bloom season for Iris. Yes, reblooming Iris hold the promise of reliving the spring time bloom in the middle of summer!

Scanning the summer garden, speckled with the hues of phlox, cone flowers, daisies, lilies and the like, my heart skips a beat as I catch sight of a Tall Bearded Iris! A delightful surprise in the midst of the late summer bloomers. It’s one thing to take in the wash of color in a garden full of Iris at peak bloom in May; it’s quite another to find a lone flag, so seemingly out of time and place, among the rudbekia!

As with any gift of nature, there are caveats. Reblooming Iris, while so satisfying when they produce bloom in July, August, September and even into October, do not bloom on command. Their remontancy is dependent upon multiple factors: soil conditions, weather, gardening practices, to name a few. Rebloomers need extra fertilizing (low in nitrogen, 5-10-10) and water compared to their single-bloom cousins. The plant’s own genetics, of course, play a strong role as well. Varieties of Iris that rebloom consistently here in the Willamette Valley (here is a partial list) may exhibit different behavior in other locales. Just as there are varieties of Iris that do not bloom every year in the spring bloom season, so is the case with summer re-bloom.

But when it all comes together… Wow! These bonus blossoms just scream to be united with pink and red lilies, flounces of phlox, fist-fulls of Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) — anything blooming nearby. Rich summer bouquets can take shape before your eyes. Here are several of my favorites from a recent jaunt through the garden.

Autumn Jester (a Dwarf Iris) with Daisy ©

Pictured above a charming reblooming Dwarf Iris, Autumn Jester, cozies up to its little companion daisy. Wouldn’t this be lovely blooming among the snapdragons and pansies along a low summer border? Below, the pinks pack a punch. Peggy Sue mixes with the lovely lilies and echinacea for a sight so divine.

Peggy Sue with Lilies and Echinacea ©

Pure As Gold and Immortality (white) with Daisies and Thistle ©

Pure As Gold mixes with Immortality, above, continuing the white-yellow theme carried by the daisies. The hosta leaf and blue thistles provide pleasing contrast to the bunch. “Cowslip” sneaks in a bit of summer informality….

Ominous Stranger with Cedar branches and Thistle ©

Ominous Stranger, above, blends harmoniously with sprigs of cedar and blue thistles. Below, October Sky loves the phlox, verbena and hosta. Best Bet contrasts with rudbeckia.

October Sky (in vase) with Phlox, Verbena, and Hosta;  Best Best (on cloth) with Rudbeckia ©

Selecting the varieties of reblooming Iris for your garden which will be successful in your area of the country (or the world), is a matter of trial and error. The rebloom is a bonus. At the very least, you will enjoy one season of bloom in the springtime. Give it a try!

The Reblooming Iris Society offers a plethora of information on the development and care of Iris that rebloom. Start with their page offering tips for growing rebloomers, then explore the greater site for more information.

Three Dwarf Iris arranged with Daisies: Blueberry Tart (left), Forever Blue (center), and Autumn Jester (right) ©

Have you planted reblooming Iris in your garden? Tell us about your trials, errors and successes. Please include your geographic area as well.

P.S. And speaking of geographic area, take a look at our Iris order date cut-off map for information on the last date to order Iris to ship to your neck of the woods.

 

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