Yes it has been kept frost free, partly as a matter of where there was space, but also because I get such poor flowering on aucheri most years I decided to give it a boost. I put its hybred (Sindpers) with it. I try to put the different species apart in order to minimise hybredisation in any seed set. Some forms of aucheri are said to dislike very cold weather. Iris unguicularis Walter Butt is flowering here, and "Alba", I dont think Unguicularis loves very cold weather so zone 5 must challenge it! Also here I histrio (just over), various forms of reticulata, hyrcana (Talysh form is finished), It looks as if I will have to wait another year for I danfordiae seedlings to flower, pamphylica seedlings are growing well. Various Iris reticulata hybreds including some of Alan McMurtries sophiensis / danfordiae crosses are flowering. There are various reticulate Iris germinating and also quite a number of Juno species including physocaulons, hippolyti, narbuti, caucassica, capnoides, persica, galatica, aff aucheri, stenophylla, and so on. My remaining fragment of fosteriana, which I grew from seed, is growing strongly after nearly being lost in the freeze thaw of the past two severe winters. http://srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php/… http://srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php/… Other exciting things include various Corydalis (popovii is in flower), Gymnospernums and movement in the oncos, as well as good germination of Colchicums and some rarer Tulips Peter (UK) On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:22 PM, James Waddick <jwaddick@kc.rr.com> wrote: > >First Juno iris Sindpers > Congrats. Looks like it is growing in a protected spot or > Alpine House. I noticed this hybrid coming up in the ground here just > today along with I aucheri. No bloom yet, > > Also noticed buds on I. unguiculares. Next week may be in > record high temp range and might see some flowers. This is overall > very marginal, but looking like the second year to flower in a row. >