Iris Season

Gardening is about seasonal changes. As time moves along, stopping for no man nor beast as my father used to say, plants step into the spotlight, then fade away into the background as the next star begins to shine. So it is with the iris here, mostly Iris germanica, but a few others as well. Like so many flowers, there are early, mid and late of these. Right now is the bloom time of one of the latest, Superstition.Beverly Sills decided to bloom between the post supporting the standard trained Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, Peegee and its trunk.This maroon with orange beard was one of several that were purchased at a flea market up route eleven. They were in a stand growing along the highway and the guy dug whatever one you wanted and threw it in a grocery bag, a buck a piece.This is the best year for the iris blooms since they were moved from the shed bed down to the flat area and divided into very small pieces with one fan a few years ago. There are still way more fans with no blooms that remain unidentified, but as the flowers show themselves, we are attaching plastic labels with twine to the stalks. It is hope there will be a cohesive color scheme emerge from this action. Already the three clumps of Cinnamon Girl have been moved to one area, amidst the dark foliage of Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’.Lacy Snowflake has been with us for three moves. Notable for the very large flowers and elegant presence, it is a strong bloomer.There are several passalongs from our dear neighbors in the collection. This orange has always been the favorite of that group. Offspring Semi and I were on a mission to identify some of her iris by checking out online catalogs and discovered this is actually Tennessee Volunteer, for the orange color. We might always refer to it as Mae’s Orange however.Another passalong. The orange beard is striking on this one.
~Tiger Honey and Champagne Elegance were featured in their own post, but the bee was the star. Click here to see ‘Little Dreamer And Tiger Honey’.One of the first iris to bloom, and the highest population density is this passalong. Does it smell like grape juice? Added: no. Added in 2011: Yes it does.Native Iris cristata has long since finished showing the small blue flowers. This is the best shot we could manage.This is a surprise iris. A gift from offspring Semi, discovered by the heater at the side of the house among the herbaceous peonies. Possibly Dutch or Siberian iris? Does anyone know this one?Wrapping up with another passalong, this one from a mountainside in North Carolina. The faire Bulbarella, mother of Outside Clyde’s cabin building, garden creating, and all around good guy, Christopher was kind enough to share these by the bagsfull. They are happily growing in all the offspring’s gardens too. What a beautiful flower from a beautiful lady. Added: this has been identified as Lorelei, sometimes spelled Loreley.
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Sadly the iris season is coming to a close for this year, with several cultivars missing in action, again. A promising new iris, a gift from Chickenpoet for Christmas, Cherub’s Smile had a bud that was broken off during a fit of weeding madness. There are no buds showing on any of the other clumps so it is assumed there will be no blooms from them either. Same time, same place, next year. Hope to see you then.
Frances