With Castanets

‘With Castanets’ (Jayne Ritchie, 1991) is a charming Standard Dwarf Bearded iris reaching 13" (33 cm) in height, blooming from early to late season. This variety features pale lemon yellow standards with a deeper midrib, complemented by lemon style arms. The falls are a rich deep sulphur yellow with a delicate 1/4" light yellow edge, and cream beards add a soft accent. Heavily ruffled petals and a slight fragrance enhance its garden appeal. Bred by Jayne Ritchie as seedling #84-6-7, ‘With Castanets’ is a sibling to both ‘Loveshine’ and ‘Model Child’. Available at Amethyst Creek Farm. Attributes: Fertile, Guardian Garden, Historic Guardian Garden (GG) This cultivar is a Guardian Garden Iris. Guardian Garden irises are endangered cultivars preserved through long-term stewardship rather than routine sale. Many of these varieties have been lost to time through attrition, discontinued propagation, or the disappearance of original growers, leaving only a few known living examples in cultivation. When a Guardian Garden variety is offered, it reflects that a sustainable stock level has finally been reached within our collection; availability remains intentionally limited to protect the cultivar’s future. We encourage collectors who value historic preservation to support the continued safeguarding of rare and endangered irises by joining the Historic Iris Preservation Society.