Very nice Jodi! That hymenocallis is very lovely and your gardens sure are taking off, Wow! Of course I love the columbine and the irises, and that sage is huge! Is it your common garden sage 'Salvia officinalis'?

Jodi, thanks for another nice tour of your garden with your kitty. Love your Irises and your kitty!

Thanks for the compliments! Harry is our resident barn cat/tom cat... he keeps the mouse population at a reasonable number, though it's easy to tell he gets fed well, too! He follows me around, and thinks he helps!

The sage... I'm not sure what variety that is, though I'm sure there's a tag buried in there somewhere! I'd assume it's nothing odd, so probably just your average common perennial sage. It's about 3 years old now, and getting to be quite the clump! It's taking over that particular area of the bed, but I'll allow it to grow how it wants... it's sure pretty when in full bloom! There's Russian Sage behind it, though that hasn't really taken off yet this season.

Except for the Old Fashioned Columbine, I grew all of it from seed. Most are probably the McKenna Hybrids you see in the stores in seed packets. Once they take hold, they take off! This year, I grew some "Tequila Sunrise" Columbine, and I can't wait to get some planted out in the beds!

The Irises are positively gorgeous this year! We've got several tall varieties and some intermediates, and they're all in full bloom right now! Those were put in the autumn before last, I think, and they've really taken off!

Thanks! I'm so glad I could share all this beauty with everyone! More to come, for sure! :-)

Jodi, I am going to plant some re-blooming Irises I am getting in a few days. I was told the Re-blooming Irises will grow here so I am crossing my fingers.
Jan

Jodi, I'm sure you will love 'Tequila sunrise', It has very showy flowers. I'm waiting on 'roman bronze' to bloom. Super stoked about that one! And the sage, even with out a name, is still great.

Great photos, Jodi! You're iris are stunning. And Harry is a real charmer too!

Thank you! Jan, I think you should look into some of the Louisiana Iris types... I think they're related to the Siberian or Japanese Iris... and I believe they'll be able to take the heat of Florida. The tall Bearded German Iris is something I'm not sure about when it comes to your climate. I don't know how much of a cold dormancy they require.

The different Columbines have really proven themselves reliable perennials for our climate, so I've been trying to expand the color and variety range in the gardens. They're really quite beautiful.

Harry was dumped here several years ago... and he's taken over the horse barn and surrounding area. He's got himself a little harem of cute females, once feral, though now they're all fairly friendly and well fed! They all work hard keeping the mice away, and even though I'm allergic, I always have time to pet Harry or whichever girl cat he brings over to say hi. They're a nice addition to the yards and gardens here!

Jan, I'm going to have some seeds ready soon from my Louisiana Iris, I'll be more than happy to send you a pod if you want to try them. This is the first year I've had seeds produced, so hopefully someone can offer advice on how to plant them.

I also grow the bearded iris here in Phoenix, and they love the heat.

If you are a member of Dave's Garden, they are starting a co-op for Bearded Iris, its something like $1.50 per rhizome.

I've noticed a couple of large seed pods starting to form on some of the bearded iris here. I know nothing about iris seeds or how to plant. Last year I pulled a large pod off one plant, but it was empty, so I don't know... I normally just dig and divide the rhizomes. I'd imagine there's a forum here for iris, though... and I'd bet there's someone with a ton of great information on breeding and growing from seed.

I didn't know whether the bearded iris types could take the heat, or whether they require a cold dormancy... I'm glad to know you can grow them, then!

I've heard the Louisiana Irises do fine here.
Ryan, I'll try your seeds but I need to go to find out how to germinate the seeds. Thanks for offering.
I am a member at DG but I am going to hold off.
Some one is sending me Iris Pallida in trade. I am excited.

Jan, if you find out how to germinate them, let me know. I'm a newbie at that as well! hehe Shoot me an email, so I can mark it for trade, otherwise I'll forget to send them to you.

Thanks for sharing, Jodi. As always, it's wonderful to tour your jungle and garden. Your iris is gorgeous.
Speaking of iris, those DD brought me didn't sprout! Maybe they're not for semi-tropical regions, though.

Xuan

Lovely gardens, Jodi! Great selection of iris. (I need to try some.) I also love the sage and that cool planter. I have some pink columbine that have set seed already. I'll include that in the envelope with the other seeds I'll be sending soon. Alana

Ryan, this looks like too much work to germinate Iris seeds. I am not going to try at this time but thank you.

For best seed germination results, use a pin and poke a hole in the seeds and soak in warm water for 24 hours. The seeds will need 3 weeks warm/moist followed by 10 weeks cold/moist. Then move to warm again for germination. Some seeds need more than one cycle of warm cold, so keep seed trays for a few years. For most Iris seeds, I sow them in a pot and put out side in a sheltered location, with germination occurring in 1 to 3 years for most types. You can speed-up the process by sowing the seeds in a plastic bag with some moist medium and use the fridge. (poke hole, soak, 3 weeks warm, 10 weeks fridge, warm again - remove and plant seeds as they germinate, move ungerminated seeds back to the fridge. )

Wow, and I thought amaryllis were slow!

Jodi, as usual, you have colourful and beautiful plants around your garden. That will be a pleasant way to walk around, with surprise blooms here and there.

Thanks for sharing.

Hatta

But really, I have all of YOU to thank... for always joining me on walks through my gardens and indoor jungle, and for allowing me to share the efforts of my hard work! You're all always so appreciative, and so forthcoming with all the wonderful compliments! It makes me feel good to share all this beauty with you!