Many of the newer varieties have delicious color combinations and have very ruffled falls. Very lovely indeed, but I have read that they have been so widely bred for color, that their fragrance has been bred out or it has practically disappeared in new varieties. In my mind, that is what makes an IRIS so special - their color AND their unique fragrance! It seems that everything is for show these days. That is a terrible tragedy. I am glad to see rose breeders working hard to bring back the highly fragrant old roses and/or create new ones that have intense fragrance. Like roses, what is an iris without its fragrance? Got to Hobby Lobby and buy silk ones and be done with it FGS! Jeez. I hope there are Iris breeders out there somewhere who are being responsible breeders, mindful of this loss and are working to bring fragrance back to their Irises. Most of mine are the old-fashioned ones - maybe not so fancy, but their fragrance is divine. My fears with all the new HYBRID flowers of all species of flora is that mankind will eventually breed out their ability to reproduce via seeds, which will ultimately bring about the demise of many if not all flowers (as we know them). Many, many old varieties are now lost to the world that existed in abundance in my Great-grandmother's day (1859 - 1962). She described them to me when I was a child. I have also accumulated many old books and read much about these old flower varieties in these old books written in the 19th century and early 20th century, wherein the authors mentioned flowers that disappeared even in their day due to breeding for bigger, specific flower variations without regard to maintaining the old varieties. The old varieties, common in most gardens in those days were considered "old-fashioned" and therefore of no value in the "modern world" - this being the attitude of too many in the Victorian thru' the Edwardian age. Lost are varieties that once were a mainstay of the Old Cottage Gardens. Their descriptions of these old flowers were incredible. (not particularly Irises, but hundreds of flowers species). Such a shame. (The same happened with tulips, you many note if you are also a tulip enthusiast). Your thoughts or knowledge on this history regarding Irises in particular? For any interested, I can post excerpts from these books, describing these old flowers now lost to the world. ~Annie

Marie, I'm super glad you liked everything. Tried to pick a few things off your list that you really wanted. I fell in love with those earrings! Some of that candy IS FOR YOUR DAUGHTER...PUT AWAY THE 2ND BOX OF MALTED MILK EGGS AND NO ONE WILL GET HURT! LOL I hope the Ramapo does well for you.

On the purple and yellow irises I sent in, I wrote things like the height, and when it blooms. I also put A.L., my initials, so you'll know who it came from. I got mine mailed out today, I really should have been looking for the flat-rate boxes long before this! I ended up using a bigger box, then trying to switch, and the flat-rate box is much smaller, so I put them back in the bigger box, but I couldn't stuff them all in, so there are 2 fewer in there than I thought I was sending. The box looked a little funny, with iris roots poking out the seams :) They charged me ninety cents for DC! I need to be better prepared, and use all the tricks you regular plant-swappers use. My DC#: 0306 1070 0004 7370 7007 Thanks, Michelle, for taking this on, I hope the sorting goes easily!

Hi All, I have been a member of Garden Web for many years but have not used the site much. Since I found Tara's plant swap last year I have been here much more frequently :o) I am looking forward to the swap this year!!!! I have a 100 acre farm between Rochester and Syracuse in the little township of Varick, in the heart of the Fingerlakes. I have been here 32 years, but a 26 year army career caused my plans for my farm to be put on hold. I retired in 2004 and am now slowly spreading my gardens around, though only have a drop in the bucket done so far. Most of my land is rented to a local farmer, but I have ponds and several gardens started. I really need an army of clones to accomplish what I would like to do, but that wont happen in my lifetime. I have been gardening for most of my life, though most of that has been vegetable gardening. I have always gone 100% organic, which causes it's own issues with bugs and weeds, but just can't bring myself to use chemical controls. I grow most of my plants from seed, do a bit of propagation, buy some and swap with one of my sisters, my niece, and friends. In addition to veggies, nut trees and a little fruit, I am into color and/or themed gardens, so I have a white garden, black and white garden, yellow gold garden, bird bee and butterfly garden, ornamental grass garden, frog pond garden, and am just getting started on what I call a citrus garden (orange lemon lime colored plants and flowers) a red garden and a bog garden. I had an herb garden but it has gone to wrack and ruin so I am pulling it out and making an echinacea garden there and will start over somewhere else with the herbs. I love willows and have plans for some living structures and fedges. I hope to put up a small greenhouse this year or next. I have been trying to get some pics up on Facebook, made possible since I bought my husband a hot new camera this year. http://snipurl.com/it4pr I was going to build a new house this year, but the farmhouse that was originally part of this farm looks as if it will be on the market sometime this year, so we will probably wait and see what happens with that first. the people who owned it put in a large pond many years ago, and dug it too deep so it never held water, and I have always dreamed of putting in a sunken garden there. Do I sound a bit ambitious? I AM crazy, that is definitely true. My soil is very clayey, and very productive, so though it takes several years to get anything established, it usually does well once it takes hold. I tend to grow lots of things Brenda (gottagarden) calls INVASIVE - but they tend to keep under control in my heavier soil. I have to go out and plant beans, so no more procrastinating on gw! Nice to make your acquaintances, and hope to see lots of you at Tara's plant swap! -Rosalinda