Thursday, 28 January 2016

28 Jan : Iris


Iris cross-section
Lilian Snelling (1879-1972)

My pot of iris burst into bloom yesterday, exploding from their tight green sheaths. I have put the pot on a ledge where I can see it from my dining room window and I stand there, wondering at the exquisite colour and markings of the petals. In my next life I will have a woodland garden full of iris - people will travel across the world to see it and I will be known as The Iris Lady. But just in case there is a problem with that plan I will plant more bulbs in my small, perfectly formed but not very woodlandy garden next year.
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17 comments:

  1. Sarah 28 January 2016 at 13:11

    You cannot beat the combination of blue Iris reticulata, blue anemone blanda, lilac-blue crocus Tommasianus and snowdrops. Together they are forming intricate carpets of loveliness around my small shady garden.

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    1. alice c8 February 2016 at 21:12

      I feel almost overcome by this vision and already look forward to next autumn when I can plant a blue and white carpet in my garden too. I especially love the pastel blue of anemone blanda.

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  2. Lynn28 January 2016 at 17:29

    Thank you for this, Alice. Your iris bloomed on my Great Grandma Kate's 132nd birthday, and although she and her spectacular woodland garden have been gone for 32 years, this brings back such fond memories of her iris collection. Not to mention her collection of calico sunbonnets and aprons. xxx

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    1. alice c8 February 2016 at 21:17

      Dear Lynn - what a lovely comment. I feel as if I have met her through your description. I am sure that your own love of gardening must have come from her and I can imagine you rocking the sunbonnet look.

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  3. sarah28 January 2016 at 19:22

    beautiful xx

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  4. Anonymous29 January 2016 at 08:23

    Iris reticulata are spectacularly beautiful in colour and shape. You've reminded me of the Flower Fairy books. Perhaps we should write a grown-up version – the Flower Ladies – you will be the Iris Lady; Sarah will be the Anemone Lady; and I will be the Tithonia Lady.

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    1. alice c8 February 2016 at 21:03

      This is truly brilliant. Lynne will be the Rose Lady and drift around in a frock made of rose petals. I shall have a body hugging sheath of electric blue with dramatic sleeves.

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    2. Lynn6 March 2016 at 16:35

      Yes! Yes! Yes! *swoon*

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  5. Lucille29 January 2016 at 09:15

    My neighbour's garden has flag irises already opened and battered to the ground by high winds. What will we have left to admire in Spring and early Summer?

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    1. alice c8 February 2016 at 21:05

      Woe! Woe! I think that we shall find that there will be a flower or two to please us. Apparently Edith Holden described a similar early spring in 1906 so it is not unique.

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  6. Anonymous29 January 2016 at 14:28

    Beautiful aren't they? I prefer my Flag Irises though, they are gorgeous to look at and delicious to smell.

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    1. alice c8 February 2016 at 21:06

      I can't grow Flag Irises so I shall quietly ignore this comment. #irisenvy

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  7. Anna30 January 2016 at 17:53

    They are such fabulous flowers. I like your next life plans.

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    1. alice c8 February 2016 at 21:08

      Thank you! I am not sure if I have been good enough to come back as a gardener - I am worried that I am more likely to be a slug.

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  8. Anonymous1 February 2016 at 15:47

    I hope you had a very good first day at work!
    Andrea

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    1. alice c8 February 2016 at 21:10

      Andrea - how very kind of you to think about me. It was all a bit overwhelming but it is extraordinary how quickly you remember new faces, find your way around and learn new skills.

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