If you are used to growing irises, you already know this. But for those who are new to growing these hardy beauties, here is something you may not know. If you allow your irises grow and mulitply too thick, they can cease to bloom. Irises are hardy bulbs, and they grow nearly on top of the ground. But it's wise to thin them out and replant or give away the extras, to keep them blooming nicely year after year. I was given some bulbs from a friend a few years ago. The purple blooms smell strong of grape jam. No I'm not kidding! They smell like grapes! These yummy smelling flowers have been handed down through my friend's family for probably 75 years! I have also had irises that smell like lemon butter cookies, raspberries and sage!

I so love Irisssss. They are a very favorite of mine. I have some that are about 50yrs. old. Beautiful. Thankx for all the great tips.

When we thinned out ours this year we found many black widows and their egg sacks!  I've never seen so many.  I'm glad we caught them before they took over the entire bed! 

Oh creepy!

Mine need to be done again, after I trim them back for fall. I'll keep my eyes wide open!

I can't stand spiders! I'd rather run into a snake before a spider! I don't mind those yellow garden spiders, but black widows! Yck! 

I love Irises I think they are the most beautiful flower around. Although I have never had mine smell like food before. 

We just bought a house not to long ago and there are iris' which I to love. I was unaware that you should do this. Thanks for sharing this information.

I didn't know about this either until our first house, which was loaded with irises. I had a neighbor suggest it. If too crowded, they don't bloom as well. Actually, more varieties than not, do have some sort of smell. I've had them smell like perfume, lemon cookies, butter cookies, grapes and more, but don't remember.

 Question for any of you out there that might be experts with this flower. Can they be brought indoors, say to a sunroom, and get them to bloom in the house? I'd like to try this in my sunroom throughout the year. I have a feeling they have a particular bloom cycle.

 I am really not to sure if you can bring them in to bloom? I am going to thin mine out though next year because there seem to be a ton of them.

Speaking of irises, one lonely iris plant bloomed this past Thanksgiving day.  The flowers were small but pretty! 

I never realised that they smell of grapes! Thats really random.Thanks for the thinning tip. 

 Wow, I didn't know that! I tend to be a bit of a lazy and procrastinating gardener. So who knows how long it would have been until I decided to thin my irises! Thanks!