You have to start somewhere. I’ve worked a good bit on the structure of this new blog but have waited to actually write an entry. With the first Louisiana iris bloom of the season a couple of days ago, the time is right. The first order of business will be to report on the progress of the season. It is a late one. In New Orleans, it is normal to have bloom by mid-March, but it has been a relatively cold winter and cool early spring.
Our local iris society and the Acadiana group are having an iris show in New Orleans on April 10-11, a first here but the Acadiana group has a long history of shows in Lafayette. When we set the date, which coincides with the Spring Garden Show at the New Orleans Botanical Garden, we thought it might be too late for peak bloom. Now the nervousness runs in the opposite direction. It had better get warmer and stay that way. I’d rather not start this blog by complaining about the weather. Not that we have no experience with that in New Orleans.
I don’t anticipate that this blog will be about Louisiana irises only. They will be a focal point, but I will feel free to ramble around. Where, I don’t know. Time will tell.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
So glad you decided to start a blog and look forward to other posts. I am glad to hear about the iris show. I know my sister and I will certainly be there since we are also going to the Garden Show. Here on the Northshore, my irises are not blooming, but I am hoping to see flowers soon since I did see some blooming in New Orleans last week.
Jan
Always Growing
Hi, Jan. I’ll look forward to seeing you and your sister at the show. I only have one iris in bloom and sure do hope we get warm weather. I was at Longue Vue today and there is nothing in bloom there. The irises look great though. When you’re at the show, you might want to walk over to Big Lake (on the opposite side of the Museum from the Sculpture Garden). They put many new irises there in the past year.
Patrick
Patrick,
As always, you have done a SUPER JOB with your blog. While this speaks greatly for your talents, it also will do wonders to promote the Louisiana iris!! Thanks for doing this.
Harry
Congratulations. A beautiful piece of work. Sorry I can’t make it to the show – have a wonderful one. The only spikes showing here are in the pond in the back.
Aline
Patrick, it looks great. You have a knack. I have a few stalks coming – Harrys Edna Claunch looks like it’ll be the first to open. I’m looking forward to the show over there.
Ron
Hello Patrick. What a wonderful idea for this blog! I will be watching and reading it eagerly. Any chance you could post pictures of your iris as they come into bloom? Also, what is the name of your first bloom of the season? I would find it interesting to learn when and what blooms progressively in your area. At this time, I have scapes on Vermillion Queen and can’t wait for them to burst into bloom.
Thanks for putting this out for those of us who are fairly new to cultivating Louisiana Iris. It will be a great source of information.
Cindy Dufrene
Thanks, Aline, Cindy, Ron and Harry for the kind comments. I’m excited about this. We’ll soon find out how much I really have to say. I will post some pictures on the progress of the bloom season. My first bloom was a seeding that looked a little scruffy. I think it might have been affected a little by a freeze a while back, but maybe it is just a scruffy seedling.
Patrick