The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

Again and Again in December.

siris

By siris

19 comments


In December 2014 Bearded Iris ’Again and Again tried to flower, but the flower buds were destroyed by frosts. It is a remontant (reflowering) Iris. Although I had it since Septemer 2013, it did not flower in spring. I was disappointed that I had never seen the blooms before.

November 22nd 2015, a rhizome produced a flower spike with 3 buds. Two frosty mornings later and the buds were damaged.

A couple of weeks later and a second spike was opening.
Would the weather be warm enough for the buds to continue to develope and open?

I decided to pick the stem when I heard that several days of rain were forecast. It was a dull morning when I photographed the opening bloom, darker than the pictures I had previously seen.

Indoors in a vase, it opened to light yellow with white around the yellow beard and a slight blue stripe down the centre of the falls.

And a slight spicy scent.


I do hope it will flower next spring, as Iris are supposed to do.

More blog posts by siris

Previous post: 'Again and Again'

Next post: Four and twenty blackbirds



Comments

amy
Amy
 

What a lovely surprise for you Sue to have such a late bloom , you were probably right in cutting it before the rain at least you were able to see it for the first time in all its glory , fingers crossed for a second viewing in the spring :o)

16 Dec, 2015

 

Great stuff Siris - never thought it would make it!

16 Dec, 2015

 

that is a lovely and unusual colour.

16 Dec, 2015

 

that's a nice one

16 Dec, 2015

 

Thank you everyone, I was so pleased to see the flowers in real life. Last year I put the frosted buds in a vase, but they just dried out, turned brown and didn't open.

16 Dec, 2015

 

It looks beautiful.

16 Dec, 2015

 

My immorality threw up more flower spikes & the weather looks promising. Should be in bloom for Christmas.

16 Dec, 2015

 

Lucky you picked it when you did, in view of all this wet weather, it is wet, wet, wet here....

17 Dec, 2015

 

Bathgate, It must be mild in New York! You will have to post a Happy Christmas Iris if it flowers on the 25th. My reflowered Immortality finished in November. I find the petals are not that thick and all the rain made them go transluscent and then mushy.
Yes, Dd, Also I thought that picking them might tempt A&A to flower in the Spring. I have 3 rhizomes of that now, and 2/3 flowered now.

17 Dec, 2015

 

Are you still here Siris?

17 Dec, 2015

 

Such a lovely bloom & you have waited such a long time to see it. Good thing you brought it inside, these mild days do bring the rain with them.

18 Dec, 2015

 

No Dd, the second from last pic was taken in the car, the last in the hotel room.

18 Dec, 2015

 

Lucky you.....enjoy xx

18 Dec, 2015

 

Lol Bathgate, I just read your first comment again - I wonder what you were doing...

18 Dec, 2015

 

LOL, Bathgate's comment sets the mind racing, doesn't it Stera?

19 Dec, 2015

 

I must find out which temperature zone the South of England is classified as, the zones usually refer to the USA.

19 Dec, 2015

 

Here you Sirus, this is from the RHS, it is in temperatures rather than areas as that can be too variable:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/publications/magazines/the-garden/2013-issues/february/How-hardy-are-my-plants

19 Dec, 2015

 

Thanks for the info Greenfingers.
I also read from an American grower's site that cutting back the leaves of rebloomers after flowering can induce them to winter flower. I don't want that, December weather is too risky, even in the south of the U.K.

21 Dec, 2015

 

Glad to have found some helpful info for you, Sirus.

21 Dec, 2015

Add a comment

Recent posts by siris

Members who like this blog

  • Gardening with friends since
    14 Aug, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    21 Nov, 2013

  • amy
    Amy

    Gardening with friends since
    17 Apr, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    25 Feb, 2011

  • Gardening with friends since
    1 Oct, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    24 Mar, 2011

  • Gardening with friends since
    27 Sep, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    22 Jun, 2011