Iris and some Irids 2008

[Casalima]

Thanks Gerd - I'm afraid my serious German reading is limited to recipes and menus! - and Hans - I'll look it up.

I see that the Members Book List page has among New Books in February "Irises - Claire Austin". Presumably recommended, otherwise it wouldn't be there 

[David Shaw]

Chloe, I don't want to actually recommend 'Irises' to you or you may feel entitled to a refund if not completely satisfied
The book is an Encyclopedia describing both species and cultivar irises with photographs of most of them. I think it is very comprhensive and it is a book I like.

[David Nicholson]

Chloe,
I have Claire Austin's book and it is quite good but a bit pricey. It really depends, I think, on what you want to achieve and the state of you present Iris knowledge.

The first iris book I bought was Irises by Linnegar and Hewitt, it is in the RHS Wisley Handbook series and cost me £7.99 and I find it very useful indeed. You can get a new copy of it from the Abe Books Web Site for £0.95 plus £3.35 post and packaging.

Another good buy is The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises by Geoff Stebbings and a new copy of this on Abe Books would set you back £9 plus £3 p/p.

Gerd mentioned Iris by Fritz Kohlein, the Timber Press edition of this, in English, is available on Abe Books for £13 plus £3 p/p

see http://www.abebooks.co.uk/?cm_ven=ggl&cm_cat=Abebooks%20UK%20-%20corporate&cm_pla=abebooks_corporate&cm_ite=abebooks%5Bexact%5D

Hope this helps a little.

[John Forrest]

Here are a few of the dwarf Irises flowering just before my trip away last week.
1 Iris Iris Katharine Hodgkin does much better in the humus rich soil beds than in  pot but is often damage by the weather or possibly birds (I often find the flowerhead cut off and laying on the soil nearby).
2 Iris winogradowii has similar likes and habit but tkes to the pot a little more readily for me.
3 Iris winogradowii a closer look.
4 Iris reticulata Cantab just seems to do the one year for me, in or out of a pot but is so cheap in the garden centres to replace each year.
5 Iris bakeriana I can only grow in a pot and I am just nursing it back after its decline but is building up strength now.
6 The photographic club I belong to are always trying to pursuade me to take a different look at the flowers than just the conventional plant portrait, so here is another look at Iris bakeriana.

[Lesley Cox]

There certainly is an English version of the Kohlein book. I have it and generally, it's a very good book, let technical that the Mathew book but that's the best of all, I think.

There's also "Iris of China" by (Jim) Waddick and Zhao. Though with a smaller range than the others. it too is very good.

There are many "gardener" books on irises (as distinct from specialist) and most will give something worthwhile, but the 3 above are essentials, for me. There's always Dykes of course, sometimes available in the later edition and at a reasonable price.

Try amazon.com and Timber Press too.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Wonderful shots John !!
You make the Iris look even better than they already are. 

[Casalima]

Thank you so much for the iris book recommendations, David, David and Lesley.

Chloë

[Hans A.]

Here two distinct Iris sisyrinchium - flowering today in my garden - first is a form of the Balearic Island, second is a turkish variant.

[mark smyth]

Hans A. which island do you live on?

[Maggi Young]

Hans, very lovely flowers... I like these very much.... I am not sure if it is correct to call them Iris sisrinchium... these used to be Gynandriris sisyrinchium but I think that now the synonym Moraea sisyrinchium is used  Unless those taxonomists have changed their minds again, of course 

[David Nicholson]

Hans, you may find this useful

http://www.badbear.com/signa/signa.pl?Moraea-sisyrinchium

[Hans A.]

thanks - You are certainly right, I am sorry - In my garden they are still running as Gynandriris sisyrinchium, but I knew this name was not correct anymore - I did not remember well - but as Moreaea for me are southafrican plants I put them to Iris  .

Mark I live on Mallorca.

John very good pics of your beautyful plants.

[Maggi Young]

but as Moreaea for me are southafrican plants I put them to Iris  .

Understandable and also quite sensible....

[mark smyth]

Every time I was on that isalnd little did I know what was there but that was in my teens. If I knew then what I know now!

[David Nicholson]

Every time I was on that isalnd little did I know what was there but that was in my teens. If I knew then what I know now!

Very profound Mark, very profound!