Hi Andrew, I think the poor summer foliage might depend on the species the Iris cultivars come from, What about ensatas and the eye shadow Iris? Asiatic and American as well as African Crinum species might give you height at the margins of a pond or even in it. How fantastic to grow some of the tropical waterlillies. I think some of the bigger Dieramas might do but they get tatty in the winter, bannas or Cannas? some Moreas are pretty big and like water also Cypella? and South Americans - Neomarica?? Sisyrinchium palmifolium? Best of luck Peter (UK) On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 10:05 PM, AW <awilson@avonia.com> wrote: > I'll consider it, Peter, now that I have a better idea about what they look > like in summer. I had originally planned on groups along the margin > providing height all year to contrast with waterlilies (hardy and tropical) > and 'surface' genera. There are plenty of taller water species but I had > hoped to include irid members since there are bulbous irid species near the > pond (Watsonias, Crocosomias, Dietes, etc.). Maybe there are some South > African waterplants that could serve the purpose. Watsonia tabularis is > tall, at least for part of the year, likes moist ground but is hardly a > water plant. > > Andrew > San Diego > > From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] > On Behalf Of Peter Taggart > > I think they sometimes dry off during summer in the wild too, -and prefered > water depth depends on the species involved. I only grow fulva and x > fulvala > though, but "dural White Butterfly" is a pretty fantastic variety which > would make a good contrast to Black Gamecock. > Peter (UK) > > On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 9:20 PM, AW <awilson@avonia.com> wrote: > > > Ahah! That is not something I have ever seen in any of the books I've > > read about them. Sounds like the books only deal with the plants in > > all their glory. Thank you so much. > > > > Andrew > > San Diego > > > > > > From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org > > [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] > > On Behalf Of Tim Chapman > > Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 12:10 PM > > > > Here in Louisiana they are pretty much shot in the summer. You might > > get some to stay evergreen, but you shouldn't see much active growth > > if at all in the heat of summer. They often look very ratty if they > > don't go dormant. > > > > > > Tim Chapman > > > > On Aug 14, 2011, at 1:50 PM, "AW" <awilson@avonia.com> wrote: > > > > > In the last issue (Summer) of The Bulb Garden Margerite English > > > writes about various kinds of irises, including Louisiana irises. > > > These beautiful plants are not ones with which I have much experience. > > > Starting las year I acquired several, planted them out in a pond > > > where they grew slowly but apparently quite healthily all summer and > winter. > > > This year, in April and May the display was superb. The variety was, > > > I believe, Black Gamecock. Each day there were tens of blooms open > > > on these plants and this went on for well over four weeks. I was > > > most impressed. After the blooming ended the plants produced no new > > > growth and the existing foliage turned yellow. The plants, while not > > > mushy at > > their roots, show no signs of active growth. > > > > > > Could Marguerite, or anyone else here, care to comment on this? > > > > > > The plants were planted in wide containers with the tops of the > > > roots about two inches below water level. I did try lifting them > > > above the water level after yellowing took place. It made no > > > difference. After consulting with Dennis Kramb and indirectly with > > > other people knowledgeable about these plants it appears that the > > > climate, the water depth andwater temperature were all in the right > > > ranges. They received full sun all day after March and full sun part > > > of te day earlier in the year. I have tried applying a fertilizer to > > > attempt > > stimulation of growth. So far, nothing has succeeded. > > > > > > The only explanation I can offer is that the plants just bloomed > > > themselves to death. They had been quite healthy before blooming and > > > acquired the yellow pallor thereafter. > > > > > > If anyone has a better suggestion to offer I would appreciate hearing > it. > > > > > > Andrew > > > San Doego > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >