Iris reticulata 'Purple Gem'

Its gorgeous. Mine are only just poking through the earth.

Yes - so are mine, Dawn - the porch is open at the front, but obviously a bit sheletered - enough for the Irises in the pots to emerge, anyway! :-))

I think I need a porch Spritz. Looks like yours have just had enough protection to bring them on.

It must be enough to protect the plants from the worst of the cold, I suppose :-))

Scrumptious....my first iris is very loth to flower........

Patience, Alice! :-)))

Like Dawn mine are just showing a bit of leaf.

Well - it's the same with most of mine, except the ones in the porch! It must be a couple of degrees warmer in there, even though it's open at the front.

I bought loads of these this year Spritz, influenced by your good-self...such beauties..:>)

Mmmm, lovely :-)))))))))))))))))))))))

Just gorgeous!

I like these they are so beautiful , mine are shooting up but it will be some time before they bloom .......

its lovely......

Thanks - they are a bit fragile, but worth planting for their beauty! :-))

It is so lovely :o))

I've got Katherine Hodgkin (correct name ?) flowering today :-))

Almost - I had to check her spelling. She's Kath'A'rine. That's the lady I had in a pot in the greenhouse. I shall plant the bulbs out soon.

mine are only up by about 2" and wont open up for ages. thnaks for sharing yours spritz.

You're welcome. I shall be able to look at yours when mine are finished. :-))

Beautiful colour

Ooh I love this dark beauty Barbara!

Thanks - so do I! :-)

brilliant,gorgeous colour..:o)

:-)))

fabulous sprtiz
I went to th halls at westminster for a meeting and got chance to nip around the february show there Jaque Armand has a wonderful display of spring bulbs with loads of different iris it was a really shot in the arm that spring is nearly here
really cheered me up
the snowdrops were amazing
I didnt have my camera so I cant share it with you all sorry:(

Hi Vicky - nice to have you back in the UK. That must have been a real pleasure. What a shame you didn't have your camera!

I know we ment to take it but we had so many other things for the meeting to remember we forgot it!!!
My friend had her iphone and I asked her to take a pic for me so we will see if she comes up with it :)
its snowing here I thought we would have missed it being in usa
is it snowing with you spritz?

Wow! that is a stunner, Spritz!

Thanks, Lori - nice to see you! :-)

Vicky - let's hope. No, our weather is damp but milder today. We actually hit 10 degrees (in the rain!) More rain forecast. The fields are like swamps. YUK!

I was at a meeting again all yesterday in Malvern
It was really snowing there the day before when we arrived
but yesterday it was ok but very very wet like you say everywhere but much warmer.
I know its getting milder as when I got back I was showing a friend around the nursery in the dark!!! (by torch light) an I commented on the weeds in our new heuchera show beds we starting to show Ughhhhh
I havent planted them yet It will be a full time job if i dont get some bark on them soon lol

Weeds! How come they are hardy - and some of my plants have really suffered? Not fair! :-((

I know its like all the bad stuff makes it through and all the lovely things get beatten up:(

True, sadly. :-((

plants like solidago come to mind... they are weedy and colonizers, very hardy and resist controls... some plantsmen finally decided to work on them and now they are in the catalogues... for years it was blamed for "hay fever" as it bloomed at the same time as the less visible ragweed...(the real culprit) and has been used for centuries as a dye producing plant. It is an organic source of many shades and tints of yellow and green depending on the mordant used. So perhaps we will find uses for some of those weeds? or perhaps we can accentuate their decorative properties? meanwhile... we slog it out with them! I have a large bed that has been colonized by solidago...I don't intend to get rid of it completely but find controlling it a bit of a challenge!

I think that's true - but if you had some of the nasty little weeds that are not even ornamental, but can take over a bed, then you'd be pulling faces as you pulled them out, wouldn't you! Especially when they're laughing under a beautiful Salvia that looks dead. :-((( Boo hoo!

Awww... so sorry.

It came through last winter fine - not this time. Bye-bye Salvia. :-((

such a rich colour, and velvety

Thanks - it was! I do hope they come back up next spring. :-)

any salvia I have planted in my garden never made the winter thro...of if it did the month of April took it out! I plant it as an annual.

I've been amazed at how mine have bounced back, Lori. I'd never have believed that the little sticks with one or two leaves on them could have regenerated as they have - and I even have one in flower! I'm sorry about yours, though, of course. :-((

Sometimes, we just have to bite the bullet and admit defeat - I'm almost at that stage with Lavandula stoechas. I'm going to be pleased if they do make it, and shrug and replace them if they don't.