This week, I ventured out into the gardens to do some clean-up and weeding.  I saw so many new baby shoots of growth coming up from the different varieties. I am hoping for an abundant bloom season come next April/May.

One of the things I have been actively working on is getting my garden records organized.  This is something I've attempted to to do several times in the past, but always found an excuse not to complete the task.  Recording and mapping out 200 varieties of irises isn't easy.  However, when applying to become a HIPS Display Garden, they required an inventory or map of the varieties that I grow.  After several days of going through typed and handwritten notes, I was finally able to come up with a final inventory list.

Now that I'm on the other side of organizing my beds through written records,I think that keeping a list of varieties of flowers that you grow is extremely helpful.  The list doesn't have to be complicated. I typed my inventory into a table that I created through Word.  Excel is another option.  While gardening is a hobby, being efficient can make your hobby much more enjoyable.  Record keeping helps accomplish that. Now I just need to work on organizing my ceramics room and sewing area. :)

See you in two weeks!  Only 16 weeks until the irises start blooming!

When I began growing irises about 15 years ago, I knew nothing about iris varieties and how irises got their names. I had no idea there were iris organizations. As time went by and I started collecting more and more varieties, I became more interested in iris history in the States.  I joined HIPS - the Historic Iris Preservation Society, and the American Iris Society and my love for irises grew more and more.  Recently, I began the process of applying to become a HIPS Display Garden.  I'm happy to save that Stormy Weather Iris Gardens has completed the process and we are an official HIPS Display Garden!  We are one of only two in the state of Virginia.  The other is Monticello/Tufton Farm in Charlottesville.  With that said, our gardens are mix of both old and new varieties and I like that we have a mix of both the past and the present.  It gives those who come see our house gardens an example of how irises have changed over the years in America.