"GARDENS ILLUSTRATED", Better Late than Never

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With my busy schedule in the construction industry I rarely find the time and solace to escape to the Wellington City Library (almost just across the street) where I get to put the ever ringing cell phone on silent and peruse the small selection of International Garden magazines. Yesterday was one of these rare opportunities.
The latest BBC Gardens Illustrated Magazine displayed at the library is stamped as received 28th March 2011, and it is the February 2011 Edition, the Cover feature is "100 Must Have Garden Plants" apparently chosen by top designers and gardeners. Quickly, I thumbed through the article only to find that sadly, Irises of any varieties or species did not make the cut.
Somewhat perplexed at this mistaken omission of the great species, and not unreasonably thinking that Irises would have taken 5 out of the 10 top placings, I continued to flick through the magazine when a superb photo of a well known Iris caught my eye. It was the intriguingly-patterned flower 'Katharine Hodgkin',a reticulata Iris hybrid of I.winogradowii X I.histrioides,and to my surprise a full plant profile feature titled "Winter Iris".
The 8 page article by Christine Skelmersdale of Broadleigh Gardens fame is well written, informative, and covers the winter flowering species of Irises, and has amazing photos by Rachel Warneto . Tips on growing these Irises and just as importantly where these bulbs and plants can be purchased are included (Hooray!!)

I'm so annoyed that it has taken me some three months to read this informative article, so to make sure this will not happen again, I signed up online for a 12 month subscription of "Gardens Illustrated" which will be delivered to "my door" apparently faster than a speeding bullet. (Most unlikely if our New Zealand Post is in the mix)
Whilst there still may be time to get to a Garden Centre and purchase some reticulata or histrioides Iris bulbs in New Zealand, Northern Hemisphere readers will have to wait until autumn to purchase bulbs or plants.

In New Zealand should you want to get your hands on this Edition of "Gardens Illustrated" it is the current issue available at your Newsagent and I had no trouble yesterday, purchasing a copy from 'Borders Book Store.'  Northern Hemisphere readers and for that matter Southern Hemisphere readers you can all order 'Past Issues' or Subscribe to "Gardens Illustrated" by clicking your mouse here or the image above.

With monthly circulation figures of 34,033 copies, sold in more than 70 Countries, and a monthly readership of approximately 180,000, from me its a big Hat Tip to "Gardens Illustrated" for its very sophisticated promotion of Irises to the Greater Gardening public. Well done!!!

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Iris Unguicularis The Winter Flowering Iris

This is the Winter flowering iris is often referred to as 'Iris stylosa' or 'Algerian Iris'. A Frenchman named Desfontaine in 1798 discovered the iris in Algeria, giving it the name of Stylosa on account of its peculiarity in the way the style rises some distance in the flower before branching out to form the style arms. However Desfontaine later found that a compatriot, Poiret had discovered the iris thirteen years earlier and had given it the name unguicularis taken from the Latin "unguis" meaning claw with reference to the claw-like formation of the style and its branches.
It's reliable habit of non stop winter blooming an established plant very quickly becomes a terrific asset to the winter garden.
Stunning lavender blue flowers are 10-20cm (4"-8") tall and are often hidden among the long 40-60cm (18"-24") evergreen drooping leaves which are pleasant to the eye all year round. Grow it against a sunny wall of the house, it will thrive in a lime stony soil and it loves neglect. The longer and dryer the summer, the better bloom the following winter. The leaves as you can see in the above photo can get untidy and ratty-looking so a light pruning late summer of older leaf growth will tidy up the plant, and stimulate new clean growth.  Originally from Algeria, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Israel, and Lebanon. There are several New Zealand registered varieties 'City of Sails', 'Bunty',and 'Violet Crescent', are a few, but where these plants can be purchased from is a mystery, which is most annoying.
This iris was given to me as a gift, and I cannot find a commercial seller of this iris in New Zealand so if someone knows perhaps they would be kind enough to leave a comment on where it is available from.
Most certainly another irresistible iris.


Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter.

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