Irises Look Like a Rainbow and Smell Like Dessert by Joe Sherinski When my son was just a little fella he used to tell me that the irises out in my garden smelled like angel food cake. You know, I think he's right. They smell like a confectioner's best creation. On the reverse side of the spectrum, I'll mention the bloom of the ginkgo tree that reeks like a circus elephant inhabiting your yard. Ah, the yin and yang of nature. I'll take a little more yin and a lot less yang, please. The yin is the glorious growth of the bearded iris. Nature spends a little more time crafting these beauties that are as varied in color and texture as a big box of chocolates. Some look like they're glazed with sugar, some look like an artist has painstakingly brushed perfect borders around the petals, and some look like a tailor employed his best sartorial efforts to produce a divine frill. Did you know that irises come in all colors, except a true, clear stoplight red? These diversified flowers are definitely a 'go' in my book. Irises in general vary in height from a few inches to several feet. Different irises thrive in all kinds of conditions -- wet soil, dry soil, acidic soil and alkaline soil. Most enjoy the company of the sun but some prefer a shady spot. For bearded irises, my favorite flowers of all, the perfect soil is fairly rich, and neutral or slightly alkaline. As is the case with many plants, they're easy to grow but difficult to grow well. That shouldn't dissuade you from trying, though. I happen to live in the same area as one the greatest iris growers and hybridizers in the country who would tell you the same thing. The Quest for the Mythical Iris This guy is a bona fide iris nut who gets his jollies every spring when the fruits of his labor burst forth in a short lived -- but magnificent show. As they bloom, he rates the best ones, culls out the inferior blooms, and begins hybridizing the best for the perfect iris. The quest for the mythical perfect iris is his inspiration. It sounds a little crazy, but sometimes to be truly excellent in one facet of gardening whether it be growing gorgeous roses, perfecting the art of bonsai, or in this case, growing bearded irises you have to concentrate all of your efforts toward that particular endeavor. It's sort of like life. For this man it is not work. It is a fascination with a species of plant which has won him two Dykes Medals -- the award given to the best iris growers in the world. You see, when iris growers get together in a convention sometimes things get competitive and somebody's bound to come away with their feelings hurt. The iris producer I know has come back twice with a medal around his neck after letting his iris put some serious hurt on some other's feelings. Not too shabby. Needless to say, whenever he saunters into an assembly hall with a handful of his best bearded irises the judges swoon and the judged sweat. The scrutiny these irises undergo makes the cutthroat nature of sorority hazing seem like mere child's play. One can only imagine the intense examination an iris might have to endure. Tighten up that frill! Puny Beard! Insufficient falls! Just Three Basic Rules There's no need to sweat when you grow irises. If you follow these three guidelines you might grow some that are worthy of favorable judgment. a.. Don't overcrowd bearded irises. Lack of air circulation can lead to fungus and rot. b.. Don't over-water bearded irises. Wet environments can foster fungus and rot. c.. Don't over-feed bearded irises. Big lush foliage can become soft and borers love to eat leaves that are easier to chew. If you don't do the three 'overs,' your irises can become real showstoppers. Of course bearded irises aren't the only variety -- they just happen to be my favorite. There are many other kinds like median, Spuria, Siberian, Japanese, dwarf, Pacific Coast, Louisiana, and wild irises that have different growth requirements. The American Iris Society If you're interested in growing irises contact The American Iris Society. (This year's Dykes Medal winner is on their home page right now.)The Society produces a guide for growing irises that costs a few bucks. It contains information that is invaluable toward the pursuits of nurturing natural perfection. Before you work on producing a kaleidoscope of colors you first have to work on the old gray matter a little bit. Knowledge is power and gardening knowledge is -- you guessed it -- GardenPower!