3. Dig holes with a trowel about four inches deep and eight to ten inches apart. Put iris roots into holes and cover with soil.

4. Water transplanted irises thoroughly. For remainder of season, water irises a couple of times each week, especially when rain is in short supply.

Observations about irises:

1. From what I have seen of irises growing in my flower beds, they are tough plants that are quite drought resistant. Like any plant, they will do better when they receive plenty of water, but during years when it has been dry, they have still survived extremely well. And of course, irises that I dug up from old homesteads didn't have any help at all during drought years, and *they* made it just fine.

2. The irises in my yard seem to do equally well in full sun or in partial shade.

3. Trimming iris leaves after plants are done blooming to give more room and more light to other plants nearby doesn't seem to bother irises. For past couple of years, I have trimmed irises growing next to my rose bush, and following year, irises have come back as strong as ever.

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LeAnn R. Ralph is author of farm books "Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm" (trade paperback 2003); "Give Me a Home Where Dairy Cows Roam" (trade paperback 2004); "Preserve Your Family History (A Step-by-Step Guide for Interviewing Family Members and Writing Oral Histories" (e-book 2004). You are invited to sign up for free monthly newsletter, Rural Route 2 News -- http://ruralroute2.com

LeAnn R. Ralph is the author of the farm books "Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm" and "Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam" (trade paperback 2004); http://ruralroute2.com

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