Thanks! Actually, there's an entire aviary full of chickens, peacocks, and Muscovy ducks... this particular rooster is such a pain in the butt, he got kicked out of the aviary, and now wanders the yard, looting the surrounding area of its bug population! He crows at any time of the day, and even sometimes at night... I guess he can't tell time! The best thing about having chickens and ducks is that they produce a nice amount of natural fertilizer, which helps the gardens grow extremely well! The lilies are one of my favorite flowers... the scent of some types is very powerful. We have plans to add more to the various garden beds this fall!

They need to ripen on the plant before harvesting.

You can let the seed pods mature and when they start to turn brown and split on the sides, collect the seeds before they drop to the ground. There are a variety of different ways to deal with the seeds, but you need to dry them out then subject them to cold. Some people put them in the refrigerator soaking, some put them in the freezer. I think the refrigerator works best for me, but I am not an expert on this. If you plant them in a pot and leave outdoors during the winter, some should sprout in the spring. Some will not sprout until the following year! If you are patient you will grow an iris that is brand new! No one has one exactly like it, and it will be your own creation. What will it look like? There are so many variations on color that it could be any of many possibilities. Good luck, Laetitia

I'm not a pro and I've only done this once. I waited until the pods were dry and just starting to crack open... The next spring I started them indoors then planted the two that sprouted outside after the last frost... Unfortunately I was hit by iris borers that year and they were the first to go.... Now I just pinch off all the spent flowers... Rita