Top Picks for O.C. Gardens

There are many thousands of named varieties of irises, and the choice can seem bewildering. Iris hybridizer Kenneth Moore and iris grower Jim Puckett recommend the following as outstanding performers in Orange County gardens:

* Best Bet--light blue and dark purple, can re-bloom.

* Beverly Sills--pink, fragrant, can re-bloom, very popular.

* Blue Staccato--white with blue stitching.

* Burgundy Bubbles--red.

* Dusky Challenger--royal purple, 1992 Dykes winner.

* Going My Way--white with purple trim.

* Holy Night--dark purple, re-blooms.

* Magic Man--lavender-blue with red beard.

* Mary Frances--lavender, fragrant, can re-bloom.

* Silverado--ice blue, fragrant, re-blooms.