The unusual bloom of ‘Thunder Echo’ seems to change colors as the day goes by.
Here it is in the afternoon sunshine. It is almost glowing.
This one does spread better than some, but is still separated from the bully iris.
Flow
Thunder Echo Again
Thunder Echo Iris
Thunder Echo During Storms
One of my most unusual bearded iris opened on this dark and rainy morning when storms are expected.
It looks very different in sunshine, but is distinguished in any light.
This is one of my slow growers that must be kept separate from the prolific spreaders like ‘Persian Berry’ from my previous post.
FLOW
If Iris were Dresses
If Iris were dresses, I’d have quite a wardrobe.
There would never be worries about what to wear.
I’d wear Persian Berry to the ballet
and dream that I too am leaping and twirling.
Easter Sunday would call for the bright, sunny yellow of Banana Frappe’.
For a run south of the border, I’d don Thunder Echo
and dance the Tango and Rumba in practical shoes with ruby buckles.
A skyscraper evening with sparkling drinks would require Immortality with diamonds.
For a night on the town, I would slip on Little Much, full of ruffles and sparkles.
For a trip to the seashore the attire would be Shipshape,
with matching blue flip flops and a straw bag and hat.
An evening at the symphony deserves an attire of Night Affair with amethyst earrings.
But since iris are just flowers and I just the gardener,
I’ll slip on my apron with tools in its pocket and dream in my garden,
My garden of dreams.
FLOWER
Iris, Old and New
April is the month of the bearded iris here in North Carolina.
I have one old type from my daddy’s mother’s garden.
I moved many iris onto this bank last summer. Â They have never been happier.
The rest of my iris are hybrids.
They came from Cooley’s in Oregon over twenty years ago.
This is just the first wave of iris. Â There will be more in the coming weeks.
The next parade will be the peonies. Â Here is the first bloom.
Ahhhhh spring at last!
FLOWER
Eye Spy Iris
April is the month of the Bearded Iris in North Carolina.
Most of mine are showing off right now.
Enjoy the show.
I will be doing a post on how to divide and care for bearded iris after July 4th. Check back then if you are interested.
Follow the Flower!
Great Grandma Ida May and the Iris
We had a row of bearded iris behind the vegetable garden.
They hadn’t bloomed in years.
They were crowded and full of weeds.
Nobody had time to tend them.
My sister and I were teenagers finding ourselves.
My mama was teaching junior high. Bless her.
My daddy was keeping the power on at work.
The iris never made it on the list of things to do.
Then Great Grandma Ida May came for a visit.
She disappeared from the house.
We looked out the back windows.
There she was, bent over those iris in her little cotton dress.
Her locket was swinging from her neck as she stooped and straightened up.
She spent hours weeding and cleaning around those iris.
Giving them room to grow.
It puzzled my adolescent self why this old woman felt the need to stand out there in the hot sun bent over those iris.
The next spring they bloomed like never before.
They bloomed again the next year, and the next.
Now I have iris in my own garden.
I guess when I’m old, Â my grandchildren will see me bent over them,
helping them to grow and bloom.
The iris I mean.
Follow the FLOWER.
floweralley 