Little Dreamer And Tiger Honey

It is iris time and it is looking promising. Several years of hardly any blooms since the moving of the iris collection from the shed to the black and yellow/white gardens had caused amnesia as to what varieties we have. There are names swirling around in the miasma of garden notebooks and labeled photos on years of cds, but there is not the time nor inclination to look them up. Champagne Elegance was purchased in the midst of that move and has never missed a year for flowering. As we were trying to record the iris for posterity, a dark spot was noticed in the topmost flower.A sweet little sleepyhead was still nestled in the upright petal standards of the flower well after the sun was up.What a perfect boudoir for a tuckered out pollen collector.Is he allright? We were getting quite close and clicking away without him moving a muscle.Beginning to worry, the outer petal, the fall, was pulled down to let the sun’s rays hit our little sleepyhead. That was all it took. Bzzzzing commenced and out he flew like a flash, going around in circles in defense mode. Quilt ridden for waking him so rudely, but happy he was only sleeping, the iris census recommenced.The iris is the official Tennessee state cultivated flower. This blue was given us by one of the workmen during the renovation of the main house in 2000 as the garden slope was first planted. He said we would end up throwing them out, for they would take over. As most gardeners with a huge blank space they are trying to fill, that was music to our ears. He is right though. Some people think their irises have changed colors when they begin with a nice assortment. What actually happens is the blue are so dominant and fast growing, they crowd the others out. We now know to plant these apart from the other cultivars. The color, height and vigor are appreciated though.As the days progress and the temperatures warm, the colors of green sheathed buds reveal themselves. What is this going to be? Putting on the recall cap, a favorite is remembered. Could this be the same?Yes, it is. Iris germanica ‘Tiger Honey’ has returned. Hooray!Welcome back, dear friend. We missed you. There will be more old friends having an iris reunion if the numbers of buds are any indication. Some have names, others were passalongs from friends and neighbors but all are loved. There is great anticipation.
Frances