I never did find the right companion for Lady Friend. Had/have mainly pastels. Thornbird's another difficult one.

What about white?

"Birthday Girl" by Keith Keppel--really beautiful!

Mike- that is just the right color, but it does not bloom early enough to help out Lady Friend.

Irisgal, I have white next to it now- Frequent Flyer. I don't know if you have ever seen "antique shades" pansies, but they come in that dark old rose color of Lady Friend, with pale yellows, peaches and apricots, and dusty burgundy-plum. Very Victorian colors, and I thought I would try to reproduce that.
Maybe something along the lines of Bel Esprit or Scottish Reel...

That's too bad about "Birthday Girl." It was an early bloomer for me, but I don't have "Lady Friend" so don't know what the difference would be.

"Amber Amulet" by Kerr is a sort of melon color that I used to grow--it was always my first to bloom. You might wish to check out some pics of it. I remember it had a nice fragrance, too.

Great idea with the antique shades pansy colors. Hope Home
depot gets them. A favorite of mine.

I have a copper pink magenta African daisy in full bloom. I'm trying to envision LF planted nearby.

White doesn't do any magic. Butterscotch may be it.

Hi Renee,

I know this is an old thread but thought that I would post my favorite peach iris for you in case you are still looking. It currently has a bloom stalk on it. This is last years picture. My SDB are blooming now and they are early too. I actually have bloom stalks everywhere. Will make a new thread soon...

Rena'

DEBBIE REYNOLDS planted in front of a Camelia. Stated ML in AIS dict. but blooms EL here. Not sure if this is helpful or not for you in CA.

And the color on the pic is true. In person it just glowed in front of the dark green Camelia foliage. The pic doesn't fully capture the glowing beauty of it.

Flora Zenora Blooms may 14 for me!