May/June are the months my Irises show themselves. They are unassuming, hiding themselves in between the other plants, until suddenly...there they are! I love them, they are so gorgeous, one of the flashiest, most elegant flowers we have.
This is my tallest one, Iris germanica Grape Adventure. I planted three two years ago, and two of them carry flowers now, the third is still thinking about it.
This border alongside my greenhouse is a mass of four kinds of scented daffodils in March/April, and then it turns into a mass of very sloppy leaves. I leave them on, because they need to get the goodness into the bulbs again, but oh my, they are messy. To guide your eye away from the mess, I planted the Iris and also Lilies and Hemerocalis.
This plant is around the corner, just coming into flower. I thought it was an Iris when I bought it (just spiky leaves at that stage), but it actually is a Sisyrinchium striatum.
It is pretty though, don't you think?
Iris siberica Shirley Pope, next to the frog pond. They are very elegant, but looks deceive, they get the full brunt of the SouthWesterly winds we have here, but they are sturdy!
The standard Iris siberica which is used very often by florists.
The bog standard Yellow Iris siberica that you'll find all over my town. It grows in the waterways and we call it Gele Lis. The pretty flowers only bloom for one day, but the plant makes up for it by producing loads at the same time.
So how do you make sure your Irises have a nice life in your garden? Well, they like sun, so situate them where they'll get the sun for 6 hrs each day. They do not mind heavy clay, but I made certain I watered them in the first year after planting. And the books say they like their rhizomes near the surface of the soil. The yellow kind (above) want to be in or very near the water.
The white Iris Siberica in my garden.
Good luck with your Irises!
Look up my website at Renée Grashoff Schrijft for more blogs, and have a great weekend, wherever you are!
Renée Grashoff
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