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Sinfonia Gardens, 555 E Connecticut Avenue, PO Box 939, Southern Pines, NC (2026)

05/14/2026

Tall bearded iris blooms are slowing down and the vegetable garden is starting to take off. Now that bloom season is coming to an end I've begun adding more listings to the Sinfonia Gardens Etsy page. Feel free to browse the current listings and be on the lookout for more as I continue to cut back bloom stalks and update my inventory.
Here are a few cultivars that are currently available in the Sinfonia Gardens Etsy Shop - https://sinfoniagardens.etsy.com
Don't forget to give us a follow when you visit our little Etsy store.

04/25/2026

Here is a selection of the Intermediated Bearded Miniature Tall Bearded Iris that are finishing up their blooms this spring.
"Cherry Supreme" - IB - Lloyd Zurbrigg, R. 1976
"Chimera" - IB - Lloyd Zurbrigg, R. 1960
"Concertina" - IB - George Sutton, R. 1999
"Honey Glazed" - IB - David Niswonger, R. 1982 - Sass Medal Winner 1989
"Hot Fudge" - IB - Ben Hager, R. 1982 - Sass Medal
Winner 1992
"I Bless" - IB - Lloyd Zurbrigg, R 1984
"Let's Elope" - IB - Barry Blyth, R. 1993
"Marsh Mist" - IB - Keith Keppel, R. 2015
"Rare Edition" - IB - Joseph Gatty, R. 1980 - Sass Medal Winner 1986
"Ricochet Romance" - IB - Paul Hill, R. 2013
"Spring Thrill" - IB - Lloyd Zurbrigg, R. 1976
"Bumblebee Deelite" - MTB - Jack & Glenda Norrick, R. 1985
"Petite Monet" - MTB - Katharine Steele, R. 1989 - Williamson-White Medal Winner 1996
"Rosemary's Dream" - MTB - Mary Louise Dunderman, R. 1981 - Williamson-Sh*te Medal 1994

04/18/2026

There were a lot of new little ladies that joined the Sinfonia Gardens family this year. Here are several of our miniature dwarf and standard dwarf bearded iris that put on a show earlier this spring.
"Black Olive" - MDB - Paul Black, R. 2013 - Caparne-Welch Medal 2023
"Dragon Flamedart" - MDB - Anita Moran, R. 2011
"Puppet Baby" - MDB - Carl Boswell, R. 1981, Caparne-Welch Medal 1991
"Pure Juice" - MDB - Schreiners, R. 2017
"Urisk's Dawn" - MDB - Anita Moran, R. 2014
"Blueberry Tart" - SDB - Chuck Chapman, R. 2002
"Cherry Garden" - SDB - Bennet Jones, R. 1966 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1972
"Cotton Blossom" - SDB - Bennet Jones, R. 1969 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1975
"Divenere" - SDB - Hugh Stout, R. 2016
"Drambuie" - SDB - Anthony & Dorthy Willott, R. 1984
"Fairy Flax" - SDB - Paul Cook, R. 1951 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1961
"Fire Eater" - SDB - Marky Smith, R. 2004
"Gingerbread Man" - SDB - Bennet Jones, R. 1968 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1974
"Grapesicle" - SDB - Robert Sobek, R. 1981
"Irish Halo" - SDB - Steve Varner, 1984
"Laced Lemonade" - SDB - Bee Warburton, R. 1969 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1976
"Little Rosy Wings" - Geddes Douglas, R. 1957
"Love Bites" - SDB - Hugh Stout, R. 2012
"Over Easy" - SDB - Carol Lankow, R. 1989
"Sun Doll" - SDB - Bennett Jones, R. 1985 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1992
"What Again" - SDB - Allan Ensminger, R. 1990
"Wish Upon A Star" - SDB - Paul Black, R. 2006 - Cook-Douglas Medal 2013

10/25/2025

My daughter was the flower girl in my niece’s wedding today! Standing beside some reblooming “Immortality” at a beautiful venue.

04/26/2025

What a great first day at the Region 4 American Iris Society annual Spring Meeting hosted by the awesome folks of the Eastern North Carolina Iris Society (ENCIS)!!! Flower Show, Garden Tour, and visiting with new and old friends, such fun!

I left the house before daybreak with 36 bloom stalks for the iris show. I was able to prepare 27 for entry before time ran out. (The others were included on the "For Display Only" table.)

After the judging, the results for my entries were 18 Blue Ribbons, 5 Red Ribbons, 3 Whites, and 1 Honorable Mention. I'm excited that 'Nice And Bright' was selected as the best historic specimen of the show!!! Here is a list of my blue ribbon recipients.

2025 AIS Region 4 - Spring Iris Show
Section A - Tall Bearded Iris
'Butterlicious' (TB) - Schreiner, R. 2018
'Gladiatrix' (TB) - Lloyd Zurbrigg, R. 2003
'Reality Check' (TB) - Richard Tasco, R. 2019
'Rhizome Cowboy' (TB) - Schreiner, R. 2023
'Side Line' (TB) - Schreiner, R. 2019
'That's All Folks' (TB) - William Maryott by Joseph Ghio, R. 2004

Section I - Siberian Iris
'Caesar's Brother' (SIB) - F. Clevland Morgan, R. 1932

Section L - Historic Iris
'Bristol Gem' (TB) - Melvin Leavitt, R. 1964
'Dusky Challenger' (TB) - Schreiner, R. 1986
'Edith Wolford' (TB) - Ben Hager, R. 1984
'Lady Friend' (TB) - Joseph Ghio, R. 1980
'Nice And Bright' (TB) - Chet Tompkins, R. 1989 - Best Historic
'Rain Cloud' (TB) - Duane Meek, R. 1977
'Rondetta' (TB) - Larry Gaulter, R. 1973
'Titan's Glory' (TB) - Schreiner, R. 1981
'Two Jewels' (TB) - Agnes Whiting by Clifford W. Smith, R. 1958

Section P, Group 1 - Collections (Group of 3 of the same cultivar)
'Swertii' (TB) - Emanuel Sweerts, Collected 1612

Section R - Potted Iris
'Obi-Wan Kenobi' (TB) - Clarence Mahan, R. 2002

04/19/2025

Here are some of the American D***s Memorial Medal recipients that are currently blooming here in Lexington, NC:

'San Francisco' - TB - William Mohr, R. 1927 - D***s Medal 1927
'Dauntless' - TB - Clarence Phillips Connell, R. 1927 - D***s Medal 1929
'Rameses' - TB - Hans Peter Sass, R. 1928 - D***s Medal 1932
'Sierra Blue' - TB - Edward Essig, R. 1930 - D***s Medal 1935
'Ola Kala' - TB - Jacob Sass, R. 1942 - D***s Medal 1948
'Violet Harmony' - TB - Edith Lowry, R. 1948 - D***s Medal 1957
'Blue Sapphire' - TB - Schreiner, R. 1953 - D***s Medal 1958
'Mystique' - TB - Joseph Ghio, R. 1972 - D***s Medal 1980
'Jesse's Song' - TB - Bryce Williamson, R. 1979 - D***s Medal 1990
'Splashacata' - TB - Richard Tasco, R. 1997 - D***s Medal 2005
'That's All Folks' - TB - William Maryott by Joseph Ghio, R. 2004 - D***s Medal 2013

To be considered for the William Rickatson D***s (1877-1925) medal, an iris, hybridized by an American (U.S.A. & Canada) hybridizer, must have already been recognized as the best of its classification; Tall Bearded, Siberian, Standard Dwarf Bearded, etc. Judges then vote for best specimen of all of those classification medal winners and that recipient is awarded the American D***s Medal.

Many of the other medal recipients that I have in my collection will be opening in the coming weeks.

04/18/2025

Several of last year's acquisitions are blooming for the first time and WOW, they are beautiful!!!

'Wine Time' - TB - Virginia Messick, R. 1998
'Navy Strut' - TB - Schreiner, R. 1972
'Bewilderbeast' - TB - Brad Kasperek, R. 1994
'Sign of Virgo' - TB - Lloyd Zurbrigg, R. 1990
'Dashing' - TB - Monty Byers, R. 1990
'Double Scoop' - Joseph Ghio, R. 1980
'Narain' - E.C. Shuber, 1936

04/13/2025

With forty-eight hours of on and off rain/storms, and overnight temps in the 40’s, I wasn’t sure if I would have any stalks to enter, much less having any that might be deserving of blue ribbons. However, with a little TLC and some spa treatment in warm water and a steam bath, several of my historics perked up and showed well at the Charlotte Iris Society annual show.

‘Dauntless’ - Clarence Phillips Connell, R. 1927 (Red Ribbon)
‘Jesse’s Song’ - Bryce Williamson, R. 1979 (Red Ribbon)
‘Joan’s Pleasure’ - Lloyd Zurbrigg, R. 1992 (Blue Ribbon)
‘Blue Sapphire’ - Bernard Schreiner, R. 1953 (Blue Ribbon)
‘Daughter of Stars’ - Donald Spoon, R. 2000 (Blue Ribbon), Best in Class - Section W (Single Blossom)
‘Ola Kala’ - Jacob Sass, R. 1942 (Blue Ribbon), 4th Runner Up!
‘San Francisco’ - William Mohr, R. 1927 (Blue Ribbon), Best in Class - Section P (Historic Iris), 2nd Runner Up!!
American Iris Society Bronze Medal for overall Blue & Red Ribbons!!!

Congratulations to Tamara Hinson for her entry of ‘Edifice’ - Joseph Ghio, R. 2008 - Queen Of Show!!!

Also, congratulations to Sarah Sue Miller for her AIS Silver Medal for overall Blue & Red Ribbons, and for doing an awesome job coordinating yesterday’s show! You’re a Rock Star!!!

04/02/2025

What a difference a day makes! Although I love seeing the new blooms open, I'm hoping for some cooler overnight temperatures so that we can stretch the bloom season out longer.

Here are some of the little ladies that joined the color party today.

IB 'Rare Edition' - Joseph Gatty, R. 1980 - Sass Medal 1986
SDB 'Cherry Garden' - Bennett Jones, R. 1966 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1972
SDB 'Siamese Kitten' - Anthony & Dorothy Willott, R. 1972
SDB 'Guacamole' - Jayne Ritchie, R. 2012
SDB 'Plum Pie' - Donald Spoon, R. 2010
SDB 'Spirit Guide' - Chuck Chapman, R. 2003

Also included are some other photos from a walk around the flower beds.

04/02/2025

More Median ladies are opening here in Lexington, NC!!!

Median Iris include bearded iris that are shorter/smaller than Tall Bearded (TB) iris but larger/taller than the smallest classification, Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) iris. Standard Dwarf Bearded (SDB), Intermediate Bearded (IB), Border Bearded (BB), and Miniature Tall Bearded (MTB) are the bearded classifications included in the grouping of Median Iris.

IB 'Let's Elope' - Barry Blyth, R. 1993
SDB 'Baby Blessed' - Lloyd Zurbrigg, R. 1979 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1989
SDB 'Fire Eater' - Marky Smith, R. 2004
SDB 'Wish Upon A Star' - Paul Black, R. 2006 - Cook-Douglas Medal 2013
SDB 'Laced Lemonade' - Bee Warburton, R. 1969 - Cook-Douglas Medal 1976

Sinfonia Gardens

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10/25/2025

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