Tynedale
This is a copy of the Spring 2026 Summary Update. If you like it, why not subscribe?
Raring to Go
Welcome to our Spring 2026 Summary Update and to many new Subscribers who have joined in the last year.
The move to the New Nursery is now complete, if a little challenging and disruptive. I have a functioning Nursery in an old Walled Garden. Encouragingly, the plants growing outside are doing remarkably well after being planted last July/August 2025, and with many expected to flower this year. Who says you can’t grow Tall Bearded Irises in the North-West?
New Nursery – Raring to Go May 2026
CONTENTS
Philippa Hobart
Stock Availability/Deliveries
Stock – We have reasonable stock levels across the main product lines, but expect to sell out quickly.
One of the consequences of the nursery move is that we are still short of stock. The situation is already improving, with established plants now growing on three different sites. There is also then exciting prospect of more new varieties downstream in the next two/three years. Moreover, some of these are brand new registrations, others, Named Varieties that we are introducing for first time. All are exclusive, and, as usual Subscribers to our Mailing List have first call.
Deliveries will re-start at the end of July 2026. Our Irises take longer to get going in the north in the early part of the year, however they soon catch up as the season progresses with the longer evenings and warmer temperatures.
Special Reserve Irises
Releasing small quantities of these rare, exclusive irises is proving popular. Moreover, our customers understand the concept, appreciate the opportunity to buy something different, and recognise that these small batches sell out quickly. We plan to continue this successful initiative.
We are re-introducing Whooper Swan this year. Again, the quantities are small, so you will need to be quick.
Whooper Swan
Do remember that registered Subscribers have first pick before these highly distinctive top notch irises go on general release in fourteen days. This is a genuine Subscriber Offer.
ORDER your Special Reserve Irises here.
Mature Plants
The new plant category, ‘Mature Plants’, introduced for the first time last year is proving popular, and we plan to extend the range in future. Three varieties are available: Red Pike/Annabel Jane/Ice Pinnacle, with a new one this year, William of Orange. Quantities are limited and it make sense to order early.
William of Orange
2026 Prices Held/Mailing
Prices for Irises will remain the same as lat year: £18.50 for Standard , £25.00 for Mature Plants, and £30.00 for Special Reserve Irises. Also, discounts apply for purchases of more than three irises, and these are increased progressively, the more you buy.
Mailing – Royal Mail Tracked 24 is used for routine orders for up to ten irises. Orders for eleven irises or more are sent Royal Mail Next Day Delivery, with the option to use Parcel Force for heavier orders.
For more details on Prices/Mailing.
The New Nursery
Progress at last! We now have a working Nursery, on the outskirts of Cockermouth. The site is rented from the local estate which comprises the historic Cockermouth Castle, with significant land holdings and extensive stretches of the river Derwent.
The re-purposed commercial Polytunnel is up and running, with five raised beds on site, all of which were planted up in August/October 2025. Locally sourced larch was used for the beds and light sandy soil sourced from a nearby quarry. The exciting thing is that growing irises outside in raised beds is definitely working in Cumbria, despite nearly double the annual rainfall recorded previously in Norfolk. Learn what works and how we are adapting to local conditions. Read more about the New Nursery and the important lessons learned from growing irises in the North-West.
Work on the second phase starts in the next six weeks, with a retaining breeze block wall to support a long south-facing raised bed fronting the boundary wall. It gets loads of sun, and the Polytunnels provide protection from the worst of the south/south westerly winds, and allows us to increase considerably the quantity and range of irises grown on site. We will also erect another re-purposed polytunnel to grow on more Mature Plants.
Doddington – New Iris Border to House the National Collection
The new Iris Border at Doddington housing the National Collection of ‘Tall Bearded Irises Raised by Bryan Dodsworth’ is open to the public in imminently in May/early June 2026. It will be spectacular this year, and is well worth a visit. With over fifty varieties planted in a sixty yard border a couple of years ago, the irises have had the chance to become established, and most will flower this year.
Doddington – New Iris Border with National Collection
The irises are just starting to come out and will be at their best towards the end of May.
Doddington – New iris Border/ First Flowers
The vast majority have done really well in this new site. There are a few gaps, and these will be filled. Also, we will have the chance to sort out any irises that have been misidentified. As we all know ‘one iris looks like every other Iris for 48 Weeks of the Year!’ Also, note that the RHS Garden Magazine are planning a major feature in 2027 on the New Border and National Collection. Why not get ahead of the curve, and come and see for yourselves in 2026?
For more information about the National Collection at Doddington
[Doddington is 15-20 miles north of Newark, just off the A46/LN6 4RU]
Bryan Dodsworth and the National Collection at Doddington
With the opening of the new Iris Border at Doddington, I am adding some further information about my late father. This includes a short biography, notes on his approach to iris hybridising and the distinctive characteristics of his irises. This is definitely well worth a read and puts in context his achievements, both the man and the Iris Hybridiser.
Garden Open/Plants for Sale -6/7th June 2026/Greetham near Horncastle LN9 6NT [10.00-18.00]
Greetham Irises 2025
We are opening the Garden where I have more of our irises in the Lincolnshire Wolds near Horncastle on the first Weekend in June. There is a good range of irises grown there from the National Collection, and some of my own hybrids. However, the garden is small, comprising four raised beds. Admission is £5, with proceeds for the benefit of All Saints, Greetham. Remember that irises here flower a little later than those at Doddington, and we have irises for sale. Also, there is an opportunity to view pictures of irises painted by David Ashton Hill whose garden this is. Please come if you can.
Topical Tips
The weather has been extremely wet over the winter, followed by a period of more or less drought conditions here in the north-west for the last month. It has started to warm up during the three/four weeks, although it is still extremely cold at night.
Drawing on my recent experience of growing irises in wet conditions, I would recommend concentrating your efforts in 2026 on good plant hygiene. Aim to clear the old leaves off the base of the rhizomes systematically through the season. This has multiple benefits: reducing the likelihood of rhizome rot, removing areas for slugs to hide, and limiting the growth of leaf spot spores developing as and when we start to get more rain. When, and if, leaf spot develops, cut out what you can and burn what you remove, and never compost it.
CLOSING REMARKS
Thank you for your continuing support and for reading our Spring 2026 Summary Update. I hope you find the new abbreviated format more useful, and please remember to forward the link to your gardening friends. If they like irises, do please encourage them to join our growing list of Subscribers. It cost nothing, and there is always something new to learn.
Also, make sure you are quick to order Special Reserve and Mature Irises where stocks are limited. I am sure we all want the warm days to continue, but here’s hoping that night-time temperatures improve too. It is nearly mid May and we had a sharp ground frost earlier this week! Happy gardening.
I plan to be in touch again in the Autumn.
Our Irises at Abercamlais
Simon Dodsworth
Owner
Email:
Phone: +44(0)7789 670 299
Website: www.englishiriscompany.com
