Shrieners are the best for many reasons but their red iris are not very red ,they are more of a brick color. Whethersfield Red is the redist red iris I have seen.I don,t remember when it bloomed though.

Thank you. I will look for that variety. I know most of the "reds" that I have seen are either more of a brick or burgundy.

I was also reading on their website that irises prefer mounded beds for drainage. I have built up the sides of the bed with brick pavers, but now I need to fill it in with soil. I have some very nice two-year old compost, mostly composed of guinea pig manure. Because they are strict herbivores, it is very clean, but will that have too much nitrogen? I have quite a bit of ash saved up as well from burning brush. My soil itself is pretty sandy, as we are very near the river and the coast. Any information you could give me about the appropriate mix to raise the bed would be greatly appreciated.

If you have sandy soil that drains well raised beds are not needed. People with heavy soils (me) benefit from raised beds to promote drainage.

Nitrogen does leach out of sandy soils. Only a soil test will determine the level in yours. However, all soils benefit from organic matter, especially sandy ones. Some nutrients cannot bind to sand.

I had a huge bag of llama 'pellets' which I allowed to sit for a year. When I dug the bed an inch was incorporated plus bonemeal & superphosate. Had the highest rate of bloom on new iris ever. A rule of thumb I've read regarding manure is no more than 1-inch per 6-inch depth of incorporation.

The soils forum might have good information regarding ash. I have read of disasters with too much being used.

Another couple of questions: a friend orders from Breck's; any experience with them? Also, in perusing their catalog, I found this :the Ann Chowing Louisiana Iris. It looks to be a true, pure red. I am not crazy about the yellow in the throat, but that red really looks red. Thoughts?

Here is a link that might be useful: Ann Chowing Louisiana Iris from Breck's

I can comment on Laced cotton for you. It is a gorgeous huge white. I really loved it, it did very well, and mine and your zones are pretty close.
kay

Thanks, Kay. Well, that solves one problem. :)