Dwarf Purple Iris

I have had a chance now to look at both the german purple and the dwarf purple and they are very similar. The colour is the same but the dwarf flower is much smaller. The white veining does not come as far down the fall as on the german purple and the beard itself is completely white on the dwarf. The beard on the german purple is blue and lavender. Still waiting for Calgary purple to show up.

Front Garden

Being an avid gardener, I hate to admit that my front garden is a mess... and I really mean a mess! I have done nothing with it since we moved in except for going on a rampage last fall and chopping down all of the bush that was off the front deck along the path. We never spend time in the front yard so the back was always my first priority. Turns out, after 8 summers, it has been my only priority. Since I had dug up so many plants for our planned move, that now have to go back in, I decided that this year I will get some control over the front gardens. I have put in three new plantings in the last few days and I have the rest roughly planned out. I am hopeful that next year there will be beautiful garden photographs to post that are all taken in the front yard. Wish me luck because I have decided that next year is going to be the season that I don't move anything. So much has been moved over the last 2 years that nothing has had a chance to reach its' mature size. Next year, nothing moves unless it is way overgrown or dying. With luck, that will mean nothing moves once I am done this fall.

Garden Record Notes

It would seem that between my notebook, my maps and my blog journals, I have once again lost complete track of my garden. No time to figure it out now though. Still things to lift and plant. Was a busy day in my garden despite the cool weather and wind today. I planted the Knautia 'Mars Midget' in the Bird Sanctuary at the start of the rock edge behind the chiminea. Planted another patch of German Purple Iris beside the first that went in that same garden next to the new 'Henry Hudson' Rose. Planted the last patch of German Purple Iris left to go in at the Saxifraga 'Purple Robe' in the Sun Gardens. Put four of the Geranium cuttings into pots to root. Lifted 'Kari Fruit Salad', 'Babylon Purple', 'Baron Katie' (all dahlia), the yellow Calla 'Flame' and several of the Calla 'Crystal Blush'. I would have got them all but it appears I have lost track of a couple for the moment. Time to read my notebook. Planted my new Explorer Shrub Rose 'J.P. Connell' which is a yellow climber from Judy, in the Bird Sanctuary top level towards the house from the yellow/purple Columbine. It needs something to climb. I need to remember that.

Beautiful Gardening Days

The dogs took turns following me around the garden today, mostly finding shade to lay in that was close enough to keep an eye on me in case I did something exciting. I planted some of the Calgary Purple Iris in the Sun Gardens to the shop side of the variegated Dogwood. The rest of the Calgary Purple are going in the Front House Garden tomorrow. I should be done all of the Iris tomorrow unless I find more to dig than I have on my list right now. That is always a possibility once I start digging in the Nursery. I also started to clear out the front bushline along the sidewalk across from the deck. I think it was originally a couple of trees and some Juniper that was rediscovered today. We have decided to clear it out until we can figure out what it was originally or until we get down to something we like. There is the added problem of landscape fabric which seems to run all under that area. I have been cutting it out as I dig but it would be nice to just go right through the whole area and get rid of what is left of it. I hate landscape fabric and curse the unknown person who put it down every time I find more. My Dahlia 'Ferncliff Fuego' is budding up as is 'Wine & Roses' so it looks like I will see at least 2 more in bloom this year. Late frost would mean even more because there are a lot of them starting to form buds now.

Iris Catalogue Complete

The Iris Catalogue is complete and posted on Flickr. There were seven Iris blooming here this season. I actually had eight different Iris but the maroon from Linda did not bloom this year and I have decided not to include any Iris that did not bloom here this year. I will add them next year. Of course, my Iris count has more than doubled since blooming season. I should be adding 10 next year! How exciting is that?

Note August 2, 2010 - Judy was here for coffee and we updated the names for the Iris that came from her. Princess Street German Purple were growing at Princess Street when Sharon moved in. Judy divided them. Ron Brooks Double Blue and Bessie`s Pale Yellow were divisions gifted to her. Rae Street Blue and White were divisions Bill got from a lady on Rae Street, who's garden was on his walking route. He admired them, she divided them. Finally, Dr. Charles Wattrall Dwarf Purple were left in Judy's office at the College while she was on vacation. When she returned, Sharon told her Dr. Wattrall had dropped off a bag of plants for her. Turned out to be a bag of the Dwarf Purple. Luckily, gardeners find each other! All updated on flickr.