I once saw a quote, but I can't remember who said it.... I love quotes, don't you? Maybe one day I'll be famous for my own quotes! Who knows? ha ha ha!!
OK, enough of that.....
Anyway, I once read a quote that said,
"Those who dream in the daytime accomplish more than those who dream at night"
So all you fellow daydreamers... don't ever stop!
My dream, as shared in the magazine article in my last post, has been to have my own iris farm and a web site, and this week some of that dream is coming true.
Front Range Iris.com was born last weekend. It kinda just happened as I was playing with a popular business card printing company, and they offered me a free website for one month.... nothing is really free you say? While that may be true, I have gotten some free experience in starting a web site...
eh? eh? nudge::: nudge:::: &:-)
We'll see how long it lasts, but in the meantime, I am learning some new things and that is always a good thing. So check it out if you haven't all ready... any and all comments, suggestions, criticisms, and all that are more than welcome. uh oh... here comes another quote...
"With the advice of many, your plans will succeed"
...and I remember who wrote that one, King Solomon in the book of Proverbs! Such great advice, and tons of great quotes. &:-)
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
I'm published!
I have been blessed to meet some great people on a popular social networking web-site this past year or two. One gentleman, Kelly Norris, is the editor of IRISES, the quarterly bulletin of the American Iris society. Last fall, Kelly approached me after reading some of my posts about my 'remodeled' front yard and my ongoing love for irises, and asked if I would like to write an article for an issue if IRISES about my iris garden. I was very flattered of course. (Someone is interested in MY iris graden??) I wasn't sure, but he gave me a deadline should I decided to write something.
Last April, my article was published. Since the article is not available to the public unless you are a member of the American Iris Society, I've decided to post a copy of it here. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed the journey out of my comfort zone.
My lovely daughter scanned these pages and distributed them to other family members, bragging about her mom..... isn't she sweet?
After this venture, and during one of the many iris oriented conversations with her this last month, she teasingly said "They should call you the Iris Whisperer"! What a great idea! .....thus, The Iris Whisperer's Blog was created. I wondered about what to do with it for some weeks..... two blogs about irises? Why not! &:-)
Last April, my article was published. Since the article is not available to the public unless you are a member of the American Iris Society, I've decided to post a copy of it here. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed the journey out of my comfort zone.
After this venture, and during one of the many iris oriented conversations with her this last month, she teasingly said "They should call you the Iris Whisperer"! What a great idea! .....thus, The Iris Whisperer's Blog was created. I wondered about what to do with it for some weeks..... two blogs about irises? Why not! &:-)
Thursday, May 24, 2012
I'm always interested in someone elses ideas or experiences. Especially when it concerns gardening and Irises! I just ran across this web-site entirely by accident, but I'm glad I did. I found it enjoyable to read about homemade fertilizers etc, mostly because I don't care for chemicals. I hope you enjoy it too!
http://www.gardenguides.com/91193-homemade-fertilizer-bearded-iris.html
http://www.gardenguides.com/91193-homemade-fertilizer-bearded-iris.html
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Iris Rhizome sale in progress
Hi Iris Lovers! Here are a few more pics of irises that I have for sale this year. If you've purchased from me before, I hope your babies are growing well! Send me a pic if you can! I have three ads on Craigslist again, and I opened up an Etsy store this year called what else... FrontRangeIris. &:-D They made me put it all in one word tho... don't know why... still learning about Etsy.
Anyway, I have pretty much the same irises on Etsy and Craigslist that I'm posting here. As they bloom, and as I buy more new ones, I'm finding that I'd better thin out more to make room for all the new ones that I ordered!!
On to the beauties...
As usual.... $5 per rhizome &:-)
I have about five (5) - Sopra il Volcano a Border Bearded.. 24 - 28 inches tall.
.JPG)
Anyway, I have pretty much the same irises on Etsy and Craigslist that I'm posting here. As they bloom, and as I buy more new ones, I'm finding that I'd better thin out more to make room for all the new ones that I ordered!!
On to the beauties...
As usual.... $5 per rhizome &:-)
I have about five (5) - Sopra il Volcano a Border Bearded.. 24 - 28 inches tall.
Five Rhizomes of Just Teasing - a rebloomer, but not guaranteed to rebloom...
It hasn't done so for me, but I've learned this past year that they need different care than other irises.
... more info on that to come...
Five rhizomes of Champagne Elegance- a parent of Just Teasing
Five rhizomes of San Juan Silver
.JPG)
rhizomes of Shore Patrol
Not Glamour Shots, Glitter Shots!
An iris is not seen unless you see it in the sun.
Angels Awe
Artist Pick
Champagne Elegance
Coloradoan
Crooked Little Smile
Gladys My Love
Hi There Gorgeous
Indian Pow Wow
Los Coyotes
San Juan Silver
Old Fashioned Girl
Thin Blue Line
Thornbird
Wake Water
Monday, May 7, 2012
May 2012 - very early bloom season!
What a crazy Spring! All irises are blooming a month early, but I'm NOT complaining! I have many irises to thin out again, and have several available on my Etsy Store. Here is the link, or you can go to Etsy.com and search the stores for FrontRangeIris.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FrontRangeIris?ref=seller_info
These are just some that I have. My collection has grown to over 230 varieties! I also have a Webshots album by the same name, so I have more to sell that just what I have posted on Etsy this year. I just couldn't afford to post more. So check out my Webshots album as well. You might find something more!
&:-)
I like to post a few basics about growing irises, just so we don't have search a past post...
Here's some info about Fertilzer.....
My husband comes from the Pacific Northwest and LOVES Miracle-Gro. It took me a few years to get him used to the idea of NOT putting it on my Iris! Iris do not like Miracle-Gro.
Here's a little Fertilizer/Chemistry lesson for today.
No... stop that, I hate Chemistry, but I love my iris. &:-)
When you buy fertilizer for your garden/flowers, there are usually some numbers on the side of the box or bag that look like 10-10-10, or 24-8-16, etc... some are balanced and some are not. Also on the box/bag there are other numbers (if you can't find the three number sequence) under a title called GUARANTEED ANALYSIS.
This is a breakdown of the major 'ingredients' of your fertilizer. Let's use our Miracle-Gro example. It says 24-8-16 on my box. This means that it is 24% Nitrogen
(this is the first chemical on the list under Guaranteed Analysis) It looks like this:
Total Nitrogen (N).....................................24%
3.5% Ammoniacal Nitrogen
20.5% Urea Nitrogen
Avaliable Phosphate (P2O5).....................8%
Soluble Potash (K2O)..............................16%
This is where we get our three number sequence 24-8-16
Now, Nitrogen is pretty commonly called Nitrogen.
Phosphate is also called Phosphorus, which is what Iris love. If you visit any Iris web-sites, don't become confused... ask me how I know.. ha ha! Phosphorus is Phosphate and vice-versa.
Potash is Potassium, but is usually called Potash.. I thought I'd throw that out there just in case.
Ok, the Chemistry lesson is over.
The reason why Iris do not like Miracle-gro, is because it is high in Nitrogen. You'll get tons of leaves but your rhizomes will be susceptible to bacterial soft rot during warm weather. I can promise you that more Iris are lost to rotted roots than anything else. Another cause of root rot is over watering. Iris like to be dry.
Phosphorus can promote strong roots, solid rhizomes and strong and plentiful bloom stalks.
When buying fertilizer for my Iris, I buy a balanced, slow release one, like the 10-10-10, and I also apply Triple Super Phosphate in the early spring,( This one is 0-45-0 ) and work it in into the ground about 4-6 inches away from the center of the plant. When planting a new rhizome, I work in a few handfuls of bonemeal. This contains Phosphorus too.
Another 'trick' that has been handed down is to throw in a couple of handfulls of Rabbit Pellets (food) and mix it into the soil before you plant. I'm not going to pretend that I know all about why irises like this, but I think that it adds a bit of quick organic nutrients to your soil, and I do this for all my new plantings.
Here's one of my favorite Standard Dwarf Bearded irises.... Giggles And Grins.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FrontRangeIris?ref=seller_info
These are just some that I have. My collection has grown to over 230 varieties! I also have a Webshots album by the same name, so I have more to sell that just what I have posted on Etsy this year. I just couldn't afford to post more. So check out my Webshots album as well. You might find something more!
&:-)
I like to post a few basics about growing irises, just so we don't have search a past post...
Here's some info about Fertilzer.....
My husband comes from the Pacific Northwest and LOVES Miracle-Gro. It took me a few years to get him used to the idea of NOT putting it on my Iris! Iris do not like Miracle-Gro.
Here's a little Fertilizer/Chemistry lesson for today.
No... stop that, I hate Chemistry, but I love my iris. &:-)
When you buy fertilizer for your garden/flowers, there are usually some numbers on the side of the box or bag that look like 10-10-10, or 24-8-16, etc... some are balanced and some are not. Also on the box/bag there are other numbers (if you can't find the three number sequence) under a title called GUARANTEED ANALYSIS.
This is a breakdown of the major 'ingredients' of your fertilizer. Let's use our Miracle-Gro example. It says 24-8-16 on my box. This means that it is 24% Nitrogen
(this is the first chemical on the list under Guaranteed Analysis) It looks like this:
Total Nitrogen (N).....................................24%
3.5% Ammoniacal Nitrogen
20.5% Urea Nitrogen
Avaliable Phosphate (P2O5).....................8%
Soluble Potash (K2O)..............................16%
This is where we get our three number sequence 24-8-16
Now, Nitrogen is pretty commonly called Nitrogen.
Phosphate is also called Phosphorus, which is what Iris love. If you visit any Iris web-sites, don't become confused... ask me how I know.. ha ha! Phosphorus is Phosphate and vice-versa.
Potash is Potassium, but is usually called Potash.. I thought I'd throw that out there just in case.
Ok, the Chemistry lesson is over.
The reason why Iris do not like Miracle-gro, is because it is high in Nitrogen. You'll get tons of leaves but your rhizomes will be susceptible to bacterial soft rot during warm weather. I can promise you that more Iris are lost to rotted roots than anything else. Another cause of root rot is over watering. Iris like to be dry.
Phosphorus can promote strong roots, solid rhizomes and strong and plentiful bloom stalks.
When buying fertilizer for my Iris, I buy a balanced, slow release one, like the 10-10-10, and I also apply Triple Super Phosphate in the early spring,( This one is 0-45-0 ) and work it in into the ground about 4-6 inches away from the center of the plant. When planting a new rhizome, I work in a few handfuls of bonemeal. This contains Phosphorus too.
Another 'trick' that has been handed down is to throw in a couple of handfulls of Rabbit Pellets (food) and mix it into the soil before you plant. I'm not going to pretend that I know all about why irises like this, but I think that it adds a bit of quick organic nutrients to your soil, and I do this for all my new plantings.
Here's one of my favorite Standard Dwarf Bearded irises.... Giggles And Grins.
Monday, March 19, 2012
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