The Cupertino Courier

Gardening

Bearded irises, which grow from rhizomes, exhibit great variety in size, height, petal margins and color combinations. They need good drainage and full sun exposure.

Spring garden shows coming up--honest, it really is spring

By Tony Tomeo

After the rainiest winter and early spring I can remember in the Santa Clara Valley, it is finally time for two of my favorite local spring gardening events: Spring in Guadalupe Gardens and the annual Spring Show of the Clara B. Reese Iris Society. Both events will be in San Jose on April 22, which appropriately happens to be Earth Day.

The 10th annual Spring in Guadalupe Gardens runs an hour later this year, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission, parking and the various garden tours and activities for children are all free. Festivities will be throughout Guadalupe Gardens from Coleman Avenue to Taylor Street, and centered around the Visitor and Education Center at 438 Coleman Ave. and Columbus Park at Spring and Taylor streets.

There will be much more than vendors with unusual plants, rare roses and garden art. There will also be tours of the Guadalupe River Park and the various gardens within the park. The Bug Mobile and a ladybug house will give children an opportunity to touch and observe insects and learn how beneficial they can be for the garden. Several colleagues and I will be available for expert gardening advice. Green Waste Recovery will demonstrate composting and give away 500 bags of compost. There will even be musical entertainment.

More information, including a list of vendors who will be selling their plants and products, and a schedule of presentations by SummerWinds Nurseries and Akeena Solar, can be found at www.grpg.org.

After Spring in Guadalupe Gardens, there will still be a bit of time to get to Westgate Mall, 1600 Saratoga Ave., for "Iris Fantasy," the 47th annual Spring Show of the Clara B. Reese Iris Society. On April 22, the show is open from noon to 7 p.m. Fortunately for those who do not want to rush to attend both events in the same day, Iris Fantasy will also be open on April 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Potted iris as well as an extensive selection of rhizomes, including some re-blooming varieties, will be available for sale. There will also be information about several gardens of Iris Society members, which will be open for public viewing and sale of rhizomes. The Craft Gardens on Blossom Hill Road (408.266.0945) and the Alvis Gardens near Winchester Boulevard in Monte Sereno (408.395.2144) happen to be two of the most extensive examples that will be briefly open to the public. For additional information, contact Mary Lou Wyman at 408.725.8626, or Carolyn Craft at 408.266.0945 or at theladygardens@aol.com.

Flower of the Week:
bearded iris

Bearded iris (Iris) can become an addiction. Just when it seems a representative of every color has been obtained, another hue or shade tempts. Like all iris, bearded iris have three upright inner petals known as "standards" and three horizontally arching sepals known as "falls." What makes bearded iris different are the fuzzy "beards" on the falls.

There are countless colors and color combinations among the tall bearded iris, which are generally free-branching and may grow as tall as 4 feet. Only green and clear red are lacking. Many have flowers that are fringed or ruffled. Dwarf and median bearded iris are, of course, shorter and produce smaller flowers with less color variation.

Bearded iris need good drainage and full sun, but not much more. They are happy in most types of soil without fertilizer. If needed, fertilizer should be applied only before and after bloom. Some recently developed varieties bloom in spring and then again in late summer, autumn or winter. These "re-blooming" varieties are somewhat more finicky about climate and environmental conditions than older varieties.

Bearded iris become crowded and should be divided after about four years. This should be done sometime after bloom, when new rhizomes are somewhat plump. Newly divided rhizomes should be left out a day or so to allow the fresh cuts to dry, but their "fans" of leaves should be cut in about half to limit dehydration. They should then be planted just below the surface of moist (not soggy) soil, with their leaves above the surface.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.