Mike in Oly

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Président Pilkington' from 1931 is an outstanding garden variety. Light tan standards over lavender-blue falls with great growth and bloom habits. Very hardy. One of Cayeux's best.
#iris 🌱

#Caturday throwback to when I had a tiny tuxedo kitten. He grew to be 18 pounds of big fuzzy love. Tuck was amazing and I miss him so much. 🐈‍⬛

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Évolution' from 1929 was very popular in its day and still is with collectors. Colorful blooms, great growth habits and reliable to bloom, it has it all.
#iris 🌱

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Député Nomblot' from 1929 was extremely popular in its day. Widely grown and well regarded, it was heavily used in hybridizing. Old shots, so poor quality. I haven't grown this one for a long time, but it did great while i had it.
#iris 🌱

Love the colors on that one. Really different. Too big and ruffled of form for my taste tho.

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Yves Lassailly' from 1928 was a favorite of mine for many years. I've always loved odd-colored #irises and this one fits the bill. Off white with old gold hafts and a pale lavender wash to the falls. So pretty. 🌱

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. Today's variety is a fantastic old red, 'Numa Roumestan' from 1928. It was always a good grower and bloomer for me.
#iris 🌱

It has changed over time. Back then I had so much room and could try everything. Now I have little space and only grow things I love. If it doesn't thrive it gets the boot. Not every iris likes every climate, so finding ones that do well for me is key.

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Hélios' from 1928 is one of the first tall, large flowered yellow varieties to hit the market. It was quite popular in its day. I did not have it long, so only a couple of pics.
#iris 🌱

Beautiful!!

Wot, wot?

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Farandole' from 1928 was a nice iris, but I don't remember it being a stand out. Old photos, so small and not the best color representation. I haven't grown this one for a long time.
#iris 🌱

The grape scent comes from I. pallida, and this one is very close to the species so it smells heavily of grape. You can smell it all across the garden it is so strong.

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Floridor' from 1927 is one of the best #irises I grow. The color is totally unique and it is incredibly fragrant. A very good grower and reliable bloomer too. 🌱

I missed #Caturday! Oh well, here's a picture of Marley I took this week. He's just as handsome today. 🐈

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Fascination' from 1927 is not one i have grown - yet - but I did see an amazing clump of it at Eagle Ridge #Iris Garden at the Convention last year. So pretty! 🌱

I don't remember. But both Blue Bird Iris Haven and Eagle Ridge Iris garden offer it.

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Thaïs' from 1926 is a bright spot in the garden border.
#iris 🌱

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. Today's variety is 'Sensation' from 1925. Not my best photography work, but it documents a rare variety. 'Sensation' lived n up to its name and was a very popular garden #iris. 🌱

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. 'Azyiadé' is a beautiful luminata from 1925. The white heart just makes the flower glow.
#iris 🌱

Favorite hybridizers: Ferdinand Cayeux. Mon. Cayeux started his nursery with his BIL Léon Le CLerc in 1897. The Cayeux family is now 6 generations into #iris business and it is still going strong. I'll share the varieties that I have grown, in no particular order. 'Ma Mie' is from 1906. 🌱

That does sound like Sans Souci. It is from the mid-1800s and is widely spread over the US. Thrives in neglect just fine so tends to persist and get passed around.

Favorite hybridizers: Arthur Bliss. One last variety before we finish up with Mr. Bliss. 'Marsh Marigold' from 1919 is a rich little IB in gold and red. Not the greatest form, but great color. Also a photo of Mr. Bliss himself.
#irises 🌱

'Sans Souci'?

She is slowly gaining weight and looking so much better. It has been a long road for this girl over the past year. Not perfect, but much better. However, her performance of a starving Victorian waif is still unmatched. 🐈

Miss Gingersnap wishes you a happy #Caturday.

Favorite hybridizers: Arthur Bliss. 'Tristram' from 1919 is a bright gem of a flower in the classic amoena pattern of white standards over purple falls. White reticulations and a yellow beard set it off nicely. Classed as a TB but never got that tall for me and likely would be a BB today. 🌱

Favorite hybridizers: Arthur Bliss. 'Tom Tit' from 1919 is a nice little MTB sized purple with a pretty satin sheen. Sadly I only have this single photo of it. Must not have been much of a bloomer while I had it, but it sure is cute. #iris🌱

Favorite hybridizers: Arthur Bliss. 'Tenebrae' from 1922 is another lovely variation on a theme. Again in red violet with plush falls. I didn't have this one long, but it was a good grower and bloomer while here. #iris

Favorite hybridizers: Arthur Bliss. 'Sweet Lavender' from 1919 was always a stand out in the #iris garden. Such good color, form and growth habits. 🌱 Very old photos, so apologies for the poor quality.