Wendy, They really prefer boggy, edge of the water conditions. And, they're a waste of productive growing space in the field. Growing them in a garden is totally different than field production. If you can have these before your competition, or before people have them growing in their own gardens, it's a good thing. It's what we have to do. These bulbs are excellent grown in bulb crates; and, the bulbs can be forced. You can plant 60 bulbs per crate. For this reason, they are also great for hoophouse production in an unheated house or moderately heated (50 degree) one. Most likely this is what your competition (or their source) had done in order to have all of those colors blooming at once. Both Gloeckner and Ednie Bulbs are very helpful with forcing information. I think Zabo Bulbs said that you can expect three years production from the bulb crates. That isn't bad considering it's about a 14 cent investment. Bulb vendors will ship prechilled bulbs through March for forcing. We like Yellow Queen, Yesterday, Blue Dream, White Magic, and Apollo (which is 30" tall). These are all taller than some of basic Dutch Iris which are around 20" tall. We had Purple Sensation, which was given to us by an elderly flower grower a few years ago. We had it growing on the edge of the woods where it stays wet all the time. An old creek ran through that area. Purple Sensation is only supposed to get 20" tall; but, I think it was at least 24-26" tall. Then, we decided to divide the plants. The experts said they should then be planted in a different area. They were not happy in the new location. They rewarded us by blooming 18" tall -- if that. If I remember correctly, the gentleman who gave them to us also had them growing along the woods edge. Then, we started to experiment with growing in bulb crates. Love growing in crates. Love that there's no weeding involved. So, anyway, try the bulb crates. You're already growing lilies in crates. I think you'll be happy with the results. Trish

Once I discovered the iris I was very happy as it gave me that bloom season I had been trying to find with those extra early daylilies. Honestly about the only great thing about that daylily is that I am able to post on May 23 that I have a daylily bloom. But otherwise forget it. Those few extra earlies are in a row in front of the extra lates in the front yard. Sooner or later I will get the urge and find more extra lates. Then I will replace the really nerdy extra earlies and take their spots. Meantime they stay. Christine- I have no secret with the Dutch Iris. I planted them all last fall, they came up this spring. I am hoping they come back each year but that remains to be seen. I do know that I plan to get more to plant in other places this fall.

I have three varieties of Dutch iris that bloom in three distinct waves. Earliest is the common sky blue, then a yellow/blue combination called Oriental Beauty, and last a dark, almost navy blue that was supposed to be Sky Beauty but obviously isn't. Here, the sky blues bloom with the bridal wreath and the earliest roses. Oriental Beauty blooms with the ranunculus and yes, a few early bearded iris. The navy blues bloom with the mid-season iris, giving, as you've planned, a wonderful and effortless contrast in form and color. Dutch iris foliage comes up in mid to late fall, survives our occasional hard freezes, and then dies back for the summer along with the daffodils. Here's Oriental Beauty and Roper's Revenge - a bit gaudy! And this is Spartan with the navy blue Dutch iris.

We always miss a few offsets when we move them, but usually don't get motivated to go back for them until they flower 2 or 3 years later. Seem to multiply and grow well left in the ground around here. Reliable booms may be another story. Casual impression is that flowers have been more dependable their first year in a new spot. So, digging and replanting with a dusting of bone meal or other food might be a factor.