I've photographed some of my iris, which are stunning, but fade much too fast. The second one is strongly scented. Iris comes from the Greek word for rainbow and is grown on many continents mainly in northern temperate zones. There are about 300 species of iris. The fleur-de-lis is a stylized iris. Orris root comes from irides and its essential oils are used in perfumes and medicines. Bombay gin contains orris root and flavoring from species of bearded iris. Like an old friend, the plants come back year after year and spread through rhizomes and though mine are on the wane, I'll see them again next year. The still life painting of lemons and iris came from a flea market. I heard this story once about seeing stands of iris in fields and roadsides. Supposedly, they mark where old homesteads once stood. Sure enough, I found rock foundations of two old homesteads in the mountains, and where the front of the house would have been, were beds of iris.
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They remind me of my grandmother. She had large beds of them, all different colors. In her honor, we have a painting of iris over our fireplace. I also just picked up a vintage table scarf with embroidered iris for the living room. They are my "comfort" flowers!
What a weird growing season, phlox and daisies are blooming before my iris...how weird is that? My house is totally surrounded by purple iris and nary a one has bloomed, my hosta still aren't completely out of the ground yet either.
I feel doom and gloom for the tomato patch too, not enough heat...I long for bare, dirt-covered toes...it's a simple thing in my world...other than boxes and boxes, but that too will soon end, we're about 75% done, mostly cleaning the old place and cleaning out the garage of 10 years of shop baggage...argh!!!
I love Iris... they always remind me of my grandmother's farmhouse in northern Arkansas (around Blytheville)... she had a long bed of them along the whole north side of the house... an array of colors... and she let my sister and I pick to our hearts content each spring!
hugs. Dixie
I LOVE irises, but agree, they are so fleeting. Maybe if they stayed all summer we wouldn't appreciate them so much.
I'll join the chorus. I love irises! I have a print of Van Gogh's "Iris" hanging in my dining area.
I love your blog...thanks for coming to visit me! and oh, I especially love your "about me" story on this blog profile...YOU ROCK!!
first things first!!! love your opening!!! --"friends,..." that is fun! it makes you smile!!! and brings memories!!!of a film i love - the dead poets society
Your photos on the flowers are gorgeous! and your place looks sooo much fun!
thanks for visiting me! it's my dream to have a farm too!
i'll follow your blog, ok?!
happy day down at the farm!
Rosa
Ooh, what stunning Iris, despite being late to comment, I had to recognise their beauty !
Ours didn't do too well this year, not prolific as last year, maybe all the flooding had something to do with it, or could be they need dividing ?
Have I mentioned I LOVE that picture of Izzy on your sidebar....it's hilarious, and precious :)
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