Are more blackberry lilies (Iris domestica, once classified as Belamcanda chinensis, below) needed? Eighteen of this past spring’s seedlings reside in four inch pots at the edge of the summerhouse where they are sheltered from the afternoon sun, but they get the full benefit of any rainfall. All have made it through our extended summer drought in fine condition, and certainly there are acquaintances who would be happy to have some. But I haven’t asked, so here they sit.

I have now harvested this year’s crop of seeds as pods have cracked open. A few clusters of the black seeds have been spared for ornamental purposes, but I’ll soon follow up to grab these. So far, a few hundred seeds have been set in an open container in the greenhouse. I suppose these will be sown in seed flats in late winter. But why? I haven’t put last year’s seedlings to good use in this garden or elsewhere, so why grow more?

I expect I’ll soon find a place to plant the tall seedlings I have. I haven’t given it much thought, but it’s a great iris. I’ve found that a second year plant flowers dependably. Blackberry lily’s foliage gets a bit floppy, but that’s hardly a discouragement for me. And, when I see mail order plants offered for ten bucks or more, and I know the minimal cost and effort I put into growing these from seed, that’s all the encouragement I need to grow more.