Information on The Toronto Region Iris Society can be found at www.torontoirissociety.com

Other Sources

The Canadian Iris Society

September 24, 2009

“Iris The Summer Wasn't Over!”

Here are the last of my re-blooming Iris.

In case you haven't heard about them, they are bearded irises that usually produce a few extra blooms in the fall. They never re-flower with great profusion, which is okay because they would exhaust their ability to flower next spring.

Most iris connoisseurs turn their nose up at them, the same way daylily fanatics do with 'Stella d'Oro', but I love them and have dozens of varieties. 'Immortality' is the most reliable re-bloomer I have. Some varieties re-bloom more reliably in “the south,” so check references with your local iris society to see what varieties perform the best in your area.

If you want to keep your irises doing well it is important to clean them up before winter comes. Remove all dead and dying leaves. This will help to remove iris borer eggs. The iris borer is the larva that destroys the rhizomes of the plant. Cleanliness is always the best solution. Neglected irises always decline in vigour.

Here are 2 of the Iris Events that I attended this summer.

The Canadian Iris Society/Hamilton Iris Show and Picnic

June 7, 2009

While it wasn't a large event, it was a very good one. The show was held at Trails End Iris Gardens just on the outskirts of Ancaster, Ontario.

Threatening skies didn't dampen the enthusiasm. There was still plenty to see on the show tables.

While peak flowering time is not always the best time to purchase irises there were plenty of varieties for sale.

Trails End Irises specializes in Dykes Medal Winners. The Dykes Medal is the highest “Quality” award an Iris can receive.

A late frost in the spring nipped many of the developing buds, but as you can see this didn't prevent me from taking some great photos.

Anne & Bob Granatier should be commended for hosting such an enjoyable event.

Now that I have whet your appetite for irises here is the best way to satisfy that hunger: attend an iris society sale and auction.

Toronto Region Iris Society Annual Rhizome Auction

August 16, 2009

The Auction was held at the Toronto Botanical Gardens, and as you can tell, it was a gorgeous day. The Geranium Show was being held in the main floral hall.

The Iris Auction was taking place in the smaller upper rooms.

Early on, anxious iris buyers were taking stalk of the varieties for sale.

The Auction started first. Many of the Irises had huge rhizomes because they had been shipped in from British Columbia. Their longer growing season produces top size growths.

Here, Kate Brewitt, is showing me how huge the imported irises are. They were all selections of either award winners or cultivars that were currently under evaluation and rumoured to be the next big thing.

The prices were reasonable. The higher bids usually dropped off in the teens. I didn't purchase any bearded irises, because I have so many already, but I did spy something unusual. Iris spuria cultivars were also on auction and I purchased 'Adriatic Blue' for $10.

When the auction and the draw prizes were over, the sales began. People ran to scoop up the couple of hundred irises on the sales tables. I was tempted but restrained myself. Besides, I wasn't going to wrestle over irises like a bargain hunter at a boxing day “Blow-out Madness” event, though it was fun to watch!

I highly recommend that any gardener in the Toronto area attend next year's event.

For more information visit www.torontoirissociety.com.

Mark

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