Dear PBSers, Isn't it nice when something finally works out.? How many times have a I planted seeds or bought plants of I unguiculares? I've transplanted seedlings to all different spots in the garden and they all succumb to winter cold or wet. Two years ago I got yet another plant of I. unguiculares 'Mary Barnard' ( also spelled as 'Mary Bernard'). This is a wild collected named selection, but may just be a typical looking cv. The flowers are pale silvery lilac on the outside, but open to rich blue violet on the inside of the petals. It can bloom in its more amenable Zone 7 and warmer from late fall through early spring. It should not be hardy in my Zone 5/6 garden. Regardless, I planted this latest addition in yet a new spot near the garage foundation and mulched it with leaves to cover. Something that is ill advised since it retains moisture. I did remove the leaf mulch covering 'too early" or at least before one should uncover sensitive plants, but I wanted it to stay dry - ish. Today after two days of 'teasing' in cool damp days, the sun came out strong and so did two large flowers - a first for my Kansas City garden. I know it is not something rare or special, but it is a difficult plant to grow and bloom in my conditions. I do not have any deception that it will prove long term and hardy without a lot of special care, treatment and timing, but all the pieces cam together and I finally got flowering. The closely related I lazica seems also to have made it through another winter and I look forward to its first bloom too. Now all I need to get is I cretensis for a trifecta of this series of irises. Anyone with a plant of I cretensis to spare? Some folks seem to confuse these three species as they are the only species in this Iris Series. Fritz Kohlein in his book 'Iris' mentions how this confusion is only the result from someone not actually seeing the live plants. The foliage and form are very different indeed to share some distinctive floral characters. At least I know what the plants look like even if they are a challenge to grow. One down, two to go... so feeling pleased on a warm sunny pre-spring day in Kansas City. Whew! Best Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +