Dear all, Not long ago Susan and I created an Aril Iris wiki page with pictures from John Lonsdale, Jim McKenney, and Mark McDonough. It isn't nearly as fancy as the Aril International website, but it does have the link on it to the information John furnished a number of years ago to our group about his experiences growing these plants in Pennsylvania. http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… Thanks about the answers to the rain question. It sounds like I'd have the same experience that Jane does. This year has been an outstanding year for Iris douglasiana however and Iris tenax I grew from NARGS seed is really pleasing me too. I expect there are Irises for all of us since the genus is such a large one. It's just a matter of figuring out what will grow in your climate. I keep hoping some year to see Carolyn's garden when it is in bloom. There were wonderful displays when I lived in Stockton of bearded Irises I remember well. They are not a good choice for where I live now however. They don't bloom well at all. Mary Sue