Irises: A Perfect Perennial!

in Garden Focus by Britt — May 19, 2011 at 4:11 am | 0 comments

The lovely bearded iris comes in nearly every color, perhaps barring green : )

 

My particular favorite stage of the flower resembles hand-dyed silk turbans.

I absolutely love them at this time.

Initially they rise from their greenery with only hints of the coloring to come.

But as the buds emerge out of worn cotton-like shawls…

they eventually unfurl into the stunning variety of vividly colored, textured petals.

But irises are not all petals, they have lovely and complex parts along with their vibrant coloring which together add to their fiery allure.

One of the captivating things I love about irises are their petals.  Like crossing two time signatures in music: a 4/4 background beat with a 3/4 topper, iris petals have three curled petals which crown the four splayed beneath.  It’s one of those great oddities that makes them so wonderfully photogenic.

There is a reason so many artists have painted Irises over the centuries.  They tower with picturesque perfection above wistfully tall, green grass stems.

Odds are if they are in bloom, I’m somewhere hovering over a batch.  The Mid-Atlantic is currently in full bloom.  Check your local garden’s website for their ‘what’s in bloom’ section to see if it’s time in your area!  They are magnificent.

Britt : )

Related posts:

1. Some Irises from me to you
2. The Siberian Irises at Longwood Gardens!
3. A Perfect Bloom for The Photo Garden Bee!
4. Wisterias in full bloom at Longwood Gardens!
5. Some of the best flowers of Spring are those that made it through Winter!

Tags: featured Iris