This is more infuriating than the rat or rats who ate the tops off of my rare young banana trees. I do not actually know who the culprit is, but can only guess that it is a gopher or a few gophers. Initially, I thought that it was someone who intended to pull weeds, but instead pulled the beloved Louisiana iris. All I know is that the iris were growing well, and are now completely gone!
These Louisiana iris were a gift from Tangly Cottage Gardening in Ilwaco, so were extremely important to me. After bringing them here at the end of last winter, I split and groomed them, and plugged them into a single row that was about thirty feet long. This row was on the edge of a pond, where I hoped they would form a network of rhizomes to help contain the shifting mud. It was an ideal situation. I watched them grow through the year, and expected them to bloom next season. They were totally awesome!
There is no indication that they were pulled or dug. Nor is there any indication that they were pulled downward from below. Although I found a few gopher tunnels, such tunnels were not sufficiently extensive to reach all of the rhizomes of the Louisiana iris.
Only four very small plugs remained. I dug and canned them to protect them from whomever or whatever took the rest of them. Although they can grow and multiply very efficiently, they will not replace the thirty foot long row for several years. Besides, even when they do proliferate, I do not know if I can safely install them back onto the edge of the pond. Without knowing what happened to the last colony, I can not protect a subsequent colony from the same fate.
Tony Tomeo 
Oh dear. Commiserations Tony. Frustrating just isn’t strong enough a word, is it. Good luck with keeping the others safe.
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Initially, it was immensely saddening. Then, I remembered that they were a gift that was intended to be enjoyed. It would be inappropriate to be disappointed with them. Therefore, I will enjoy the few survivors, and I will enjoy growing them into a comparable colony.
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A very positive attitude Tony. 😃
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Thank you. I like to think that I am merely being realistic.
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How frustrating! Well, I have more…which you are welcome to if you come this way in spring 2024. I hope you can solve the mystery. It’s a strange one.
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Thank you SO much. I intend to cultivate the survivors regardless. Perhaps this can be a good excuse to purchase (which I NEVER do) ‘Red Velvet Elvis’ to go with them. I intend to return to Silverdale at the end of winter, so would be pleased to take whatever you would like to relinquish, if you still have a surplus. You know how they grow though. The few survivors could be more than adequate in the future. The Algerian iris have grown somewhat nicely, so might bloom this winter. Even though I have wanted Louisiana iris of some sort for a long time, I may end up enjoying the Algerian iris even more. That color is awesome!
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