Wild Iris Garden
Presenter: Dean Boone
Episode: 24 (13th October 2007)
This week Dean visited the garden of Fred and Kathy Fraser, and they are absolutely nuts about Iris. The backyard is more of a production nursery than a garden with hundreds of iris varieties in all shapes, sizes and colours to choose from.
The story goes that they bought 5 Iris tubers a few years ago and caught the bug almost instantly, 5 turned into 50 then into well over 500. Now they sell an astonishing variety of Iris, as well as Daylililies, Zygocactus, Hoya and Bromeliads, but Iris is there first true love.
Dean:
“What is it about Iris that made you fall in love with Iris?”
Fred:
“Firstly the flower, absolutely gorgeous flower, the perfume and if you put a couple in your house you don’t need air freshener, therefore I’m saving on air freshener”.
A number of Iris are just coming into flower. Lady Vera has the deepest darkest blue tones and a light fresh fragrance. For contrast the brilliant yellow Iris ‘Whoop ‘Em Up’ the colours are just perfect.
Dean:
“Fred what’s the secret of your growing success for growing Iris”
Fred:
“The secret is pull up a chair and have a good look at them. If they have got green tips they’re happy little chappies. If they are brown they need water. If they are yellow they need feeding. That’s as simple as it is.”
Iris are fantastic plants; the foliage is stunning just on it’s own with clean crisp blue tones and the flowers are simply to die for. Best of all they are tough and grow just about anywhere, all they need is some good drainage and you’re away. Plant your tubers right on the soil surface, so they get some direct sunlight and they will be growing happily in no time.
Featured Plants:
Lady Vera Iris (Iris, Hybrid Cultivar, Tall Bearded, ‘Lady Vera’)
Whoop ‘Em Up Iris (Iris, Hybrid Cultivar, Tall Bearded, ‘Whoop ‘Em Up Iris’)
Episode: 24 (13th October 2007)
This week Dean visited the garden of Fred and Kathy Fraser, and they are absolutely nuts about Iris. The backyard is more of a production nursery than a garden with hundreds of iris varieties in all shapes, sizes and colours to choose from.
The story goes that they bought 5 Iris tubers a few years ago and caught the bug almost instantly, 5 turned into 50 then into well over 500. Now they sell an astonishing variety of Iris, as well as Daylililies, Zygocactus, Hoya and Bromeliads, but Iris is there first true love.
Dean:
“What is it about Iris that made you fall in love with Iris?”
Fred:
“Firstly the flower, absolutely gorgeous flower, the perfume and if you put a couple in your house you don’t need air freshener, therefore I’m saving on air freshener”.
A number of Iris are just coming into flower. Lady Vera has the deepest darkest blue tones and a light fresh fragrance. For contrast the brilliant yellow Iris ‘Whoop ‘Em Up’ the colours are just perfect.
Dean:
“Fred what’s the secret of your growing success for growing Iris”
Fred:
“The secret is pull up a chair and have a good look at them. If they have got green tips they’re happy little chappies. If they are brown they need water. If they are yellow they need feeding. That’s as simple as it is.”
Iris are fantastic plants; the foliage is stunning just on it’s own with clean crisp blue tones and the flowers are simply to die for. Best of all they are tough and grow just about anywhere, all they need is some good drainage and you’re away. Plant your tubers right on the soil surface, so they get some direct sunlight and they will be growing happily in no time.
Featured Plants:
Lady Vera Iris (Iris, Hybrid Cultivar, Tall Bearded, ‘Lady Vera’)
Whoop ‘Em Up Iris (Iris, Hybrid Cultivar, Tall Bearded, ‘Whoop ‘Em Up Iris’)
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