Bearded irises are a perfect addition to water-wise Sacramento gardens
'Tennessee Gentleman' is one of the many colorful and unusual bearded iris varieties that the Sacramento Iris Society has offered at past rhizome sales. Find some stunning additions for your water-wise garden. Debbie Arrington
Here’s a wonderful opportunity to add a rainbow of color to your water-wise garden: The annual iris rhizome sale.
Saturday and Sunday, July 15 and 16, the Sacramento Iris Society will host its annual rhizome sale at Shepard Garden and Arts Center. These are newly dug rhizomes – fresh from the ground, divided, trimmed and ready to replant.
Mid to late summer is perfect for planting bearded iris rhizomes, so this sale’s timing could not be better – even with triple-digit temperatures forecast for this weekend. (Shepard Center is air-conditioned.) Shop early for best selection; sale hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free.
Hundreds of varieties will be available. According to the society, each specimen will be labeled with the cultivar name and a description of the flower appearance.
Besides the traditional spring bloomers, find a large selection of “rebloomers” that extend iris season into summer and fall. Get advice on how to plant rhizomes and year-round iris care.
Why plant irises? Besides the beautiful flowers, they’re an ideal choice for Sacramento and foothill gardens. Bearded irises are both deer and drought resistant; they can coexist with wildlife and need little summer irrigation.
Shepard Center is located at 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, in McKinley Park.
Details and directions: www.sgaac.org.
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Garden Checklist for week of Sept. 29
Make the most of cool mornings and remember to keep new transplants hydrated. Their roots appreciate the warm soil, even though they may wilt in this heat.
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
* Before planting, add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the soil, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioli, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.
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