A novice gardener friend dug up some irises of several different varieties (all bulb and narrow-leaf types) this Spring after they were done blooming. The leaves were still green and though I replanted them in pots the green quickly browned over several weeks. She had left them out for days-weeks before giving them to me.

My question is should I even bother planting these bulbs since it seems that she went against all the rules of dividing. As the mother of small children my spare time is precious and I don't want to waste it!