Oncos in Flower...

[Hans A.]

Iris barnumae could be the last species this year - at the moment there are no buds at the other species  - but the Oncoseason here was really ok

[David Nicholson]

It looks to have been a fantastic season Hans?

[Hans A.]

It looks to have been a fantastic season Hans?

Had some problems with slugs, snails and cutworms - but this could be solved easy -and a few cases of soft rot - just yesterday I had to lift a large infected Irisclump - it just has started to bloom  - some plants I expected flowers did not bloom and seedset could be better - but in general you are right - it has been a really good season.

[Rafa]

Very beautiful Iris barnumae Hans!

Still blooming this Iris lycotis, but with extra numbers in perianthe tubes, tepals etc...

[Luc Gilgemyn]

You keep surprising me Hans and Rafa - a new stunning species every other day !!! 

[Hans A.]

Thanks a lot Luc and Rafa,
Flowering season is ending here in the south, but I hope to see some pictures of the more northern situated members ;-)
Rafa the flower of your lycotis is really strange  - this year I also had such a crazy flower on one plant.

[Maggi Young]

Friends, a Bulb Logging Chum from the States has just sent these photos through of his Iris camillae from Azerbaijan

 The grower is Jim Kee, who says he is " very computer challenged" so it is my pleasure to post this pretty Iris for him.

[Susan Band]

That is the most beautiful Iris I have seen to date.
Wet/rainy Scotland, any chance  ?
Susan

[David Nicholson]

Nice one isn't it! Just looked to see if Brian Mathew mentions anything about cultivation (he doesn't and that is usually a bad sign for British cultivation) but he says Iris camillae mingles freely with I. iberica in the wild and goes on to say that I. iberica is not an easy plant to maintain in cultivation. Lesley may grow it??

[Hans A.]

Hello Jim,
Great, to see photos of your beautiful, and rarely seen plant here.

Referring cultivation - I am sure Jim could give more details – in my opinion this “species” (sometimes suspected to be a hybrid where I.iberica,  I.acutiloba,  I.paradoxa ... are involved) is easier to grow than I. iberica and more vigorous –  comparable with paradoxa or acutiloba in growing – but  I doubt it is hard enough to be grown outside in wet Scotland. 

[Maggi Young]

Hans and All.... Jim tells me that he has been growing the plant for about six years..........
" I have had this plant for about six years carefully keeping it going. Joy Bishop recently flowered this species also and it's picture made the AGS bulletin. I contacted her and sent her a picture of mine and she replied that her plant had started to suffer and lost its roots. These Iris are a temperamental lot ."


So, experienced growers in England are having some problems with this lovely Iris, and I very much doubt it was outside.

[Hans A.]

Thanks Maggie,
I am growing two small plants of this species and till now both do well - one is just a seedling -but  faster growing than other species seedlings I have - hope to keep them alive and to post a photo here next year - Jim is certainly right - this species are very temperamental and you can loose them very quickly.  Wish me luck.

[arillady]

Hans, Luc and Rafa and Jim I have enjoyed seeing your beautiful photos.
I have grown Iris camillae for a few years now. My clone came from Marcus Harvey in Tasmania. It seems to like it here and I have sent pieces back to Marcus who lost his, to the ASI plant sale (twice) and a couple of others here in Oz. I dug it last year and kept it in a paperbag during summer and have now replanted it a few weeks back - it is the best of those that I have replanted.
Can't post any photos as the photos of the flowers last year as they were a bit ragged from insect damage - possibly red spider mite which can be a problem at times of the year. Having paddocks all round does not make control easy - I use Confidor as the only spray I will use.
We have had some welcome rain and cool weather so all plants are looking a lot happier.
Narcissus bulbs (mainly Paperwhites) are coming up everywhere.

[Rafa]

Very beautiful plant! I am also waiting to see pictures of the other clone Jim grows "f. coerulea"
he is a VERY good Onco grower!

[Paul T]

That Iris camillae is gorgeous!!!  Reminiscent of acutiloba but even better colour in my eyes.  Stunning, and added to my want list for the future. 

Great pics posted by all!!   Thanks.