NEW VARIETIES

This time of year is always exciting at Iris of Sissinghurst because the new varieties to be launched can be announced & details entered on the website. This year is particularly important because the new varieties include Kent breed bearded iris. This country is particularly fortunate to have two Kent based iris hybridisers, Olga Wells and Brian Hersey, both with a proven history of breeding high quality iris. Olga Wells is very well known within the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and is a longstanding member of the British Iris Society. Iris of Sissinghurst already grows and sells a number of iris, both bearded & sibirica, breed by Olga Wells. This year, amongst other new varieties, bearded iris named after well known KENT CASTLES. These include the following;

Lullingstone Castle

Hever Castle

Walmer Castle

Saltwood Castle

Rochester Castle

Dover Castle

In addition to the above series further bearded iris, named after places in Kent have been registered and are available here at Iris of Sissinghurst. These include;

Goudhurst

Brenchley

Matfield Green

Fordwich

Aylesford

Marden Meadow

Marden Beech

There are a number of other new editions, including others breed by Olga Wells that will appear in future news bulletins.

Please visit the various sections of the Iris of Sissinghurst website to see all the new editions as well as photographs/descriptions of each variety

MID SUMMER 2011

It is now mid way through the summer of 2011. The dry period has continued with very litle rainfall in this part of Kent. This part of Kent is known as the Low Weald and the nursery sits on a clay soil. The ground is displaying signs of this dry period with large cracks in the soil on exposed sites. Unless gardeners have been watering flower beds in west Kent many plants would not survive unless in shaded parts of gardens. This local weather is obviously at odds with many other parts of the country where rainfall has been either typical or above average for this time of year.

The good news for this type of weather is that bearded iris will flourish provided all other growing conditions are met, ie the rhizome is exposed to direct sunlight etc etc and not overshadowed by other plants/shrubs. This should mean good flowering opportunities for next year. The nursery, Iris of Sissinghurst, has now started lifting and dividing bearded iris from its stock beds. New stock & display beds are being created for 2012. This is linked to making available a number of new bearded varieties for 2012. Mention has already been made in the previous news section that new Kent breed varieties will be announced soon. The British and American Iris Societies have registered the new varieties. Iris of Sissinghurst will be providing details & photographs of these new varieties over the next few weeks.

Iris lovers will know that August is the month best suited for dividing bearded iris on your garden and replanting. This gives the plant the best chance to settle into its new position whilst the bed is warm and the strength of the sun allows for growth. Sue Marshall, owner of Iris of Sissinghurst always recommends August as the best time for this work. Of course the changing climate does mean that September is now regarded by many, particularly in the south of the British Isles, as an extension of summer but there is always a risk of changeable weather conditions.

EARLY SUMMER 2011

Whilst the Iris of Sissinghurst nursery has, at last, experienced some sustained summer rainfall the day and night time temperatures have averaged above the expected levels for this time of year. Gardeners in the south east of the British Isles have experienced some really hot and dry weather for the last few months and the forecast suggests this will continue throughout this summer. This comes off one of the coldest winters for many years. Gardeners, at least in the south east, have seen plants and shrubs flowering several weeks ahead of the expected timescales. At least there has been, todate, no indication of the water authorities imposing drought measures such as hosepipe bans etc. However the increasing nos of water meters will mean gardeners will have to be more professional in the watering of gardens in future.

The Iris of Sissinghurst nursery has now completed all the shows planned for 2011. The owner of Iris of Sissinghurst Sue Marshall was extremly disappointed not to be able to participate in the Kent Garden Show at Detling this year. This is the  first occasion for many years that weather conditions have forced a withdrawal from this important show. However  a number of loyal customers of this nursery were able to attend the Open Weekend and were able to see and buy some of the new varieties for 2011. All the new varieties are on website with the majority displaying an individual photograph. Plans are now being made to launch new varieties this coming autumn. This will include a number of Kent breed bearded iris. Full details of these varieties and their names ( Kent varieties have named linked to the county). Whilst not wishing to divulge too many details at this stage Kent castles will feature in some of the new varieties. Watch this space!!!!

Sue Marshall has a number of talks about Iris planned for this summer. The next talk will be at Little Common Horticultural Society, near Bexhill at the beginning of July. Sue Marshall enjoys these talks, which includes a slide show of iris grown by the nursery. Further talks about scheduled for the rest of the summer season. Talks are being booked now for Horticultural Societies for 2012.

Whilst many of the tall bearded iris plants can be ordered online for dispatch now some varieties will not be available until mid summer. The majority of customers understand this possible delay but we will let you know immediately if there is such a delay. The nusery always welcomes telephone enquiries from customers to discuss plants/orders or for advice. The telephone number is 01622 831511 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

APRIL/MAY 2011

Kent has experienced the warmest and driest April on record. The month of May has equally been very warm with little or no rain. The bearded iris at Iris of Sissinghurst have flowered much earlier than planned. A number of the intermediate and tall bearded varieties which flowered earlier also failed to hold their flowers for the time expected. This has proven really disappointing. A large number of the iris plants are held in polytunnel/solar tunnels here at Iris of Sissinghurst  until mid May in order to control growth and flowering. The abnormal weather conditions forced the transfer of large number of iris plants out of the tunnels into cool areas in an attempt to slowdown the flowering process. This was partially successful but in the end 2011 has seen the bearded iris plants flowering 2-3 weeks earlier than expected.

The show season has been seriously affected by the above average tempertures and lack of rain. A number of the shows which would normally include a large number of intermediate bearded iris plants have included only tall bearded varieties. The feedback to Iris of Sissinghurst has still been very positive with a number of new varieties proven very popular. However the consequence of the weather has meant that Iris of Sissinghurst will NOT be able to attend the KENT GARDEN SHOW at DETLING over the MAY BANKHOLIDAY WEEKEND. This is the first occasion that Iris of Sissinghurst has missed this important show for many years. Sue Marshall, Owner of Iris of Sissinghurst, has expressed her disappointment at missing the Show but took the decision because the iris display would not have been of the standard expected by lovers of iris plants.

Attention has now turned to responding quickly to the orders that are being received via the on-line sales. The abnormal weather has not stopped sales to iris lovers. After all bearded iris love hot dry weather so these are good conditions to grow iris. IF the long hot summers continue into the future the iris plant will increase in popularity and demand as more plantlovers come to appreciate the wide range of colours now available. Remember Bearded Iris do NOT require watering to the scale that most other plants require in the garden!!!!.