As May arrives, so do the beautiful blooms of the irises.
There are hundreds of varieties, both bearded and beardless. Once planted, very
little care is required for an abundance of blooms.
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| Photo from Master Gardener, Chris Janne |
When planting the rhizomes, choose a sunny, well drained
location. Amend the soil with bone meal
and a good fertilizer 2-3 weeks before planting. Bury the roots but keep the
rhizome near the surface. Space the irises about eighteen inches apart with the
rhizome facing in the same directions. Once planted the irises rhizome will
continue to grow and produce more plants. They will need to be divided about
every 3 years, cutting the new growth from the old, discarding the old and
replanting or sharing the new. Bearded irises should be divided in July or
August. Beardless irises should be divided in early spring or fall. Once the
iris bed has matured, there will be plenty to share with friends. All irises
are heavy feeders and do best when fed once a year. As with all gardening, a
soil test through the Extension Service will determine what nutrients are
needed.
The American IrisSociety has detailed information on growing irises and also an Iris
Encylopedia with photos and descriptions.
The Garden Department of the
Murray Woman’s Club is sponsoring 2nd Annual Floral and Iris Color Show,
Plant Sale and Luncheon at the
Clubhouse of the Murray Woman’s Club, 704 Vine Street, Murray, KY. Show registration is from 7:30
am - 9:30 am. You can view the show from 11:00 – 1:30 and enjoy a wonderful
luncheon and plant sale from 11:30 – 1:00. For tickets and additional
information, you may contact Linda Scott, 270-753-7944 or lscott187@gmail.com
The following are from the Dennis Dreyer Collection.
