Good morning, everyone.
Fortunately, rain soaked our yards and gardens for the past two days.
And that means our irises are blooming like crazy! Their
cascade of colors from May through June delight my senses. This year their
color is especially welcome because we were forced to say....
...Farewell Redbud!
Sadly, this favorite
tree of our bird visitors didn't survive Old Man Winter. The deer also
responded to the harsh conditions by nibbling several of my husband’s
miniature specimen evergreens to the nubs. Our pink azalea didn’t escape their notice
either: it barely blossomed, but seems to be thriving all the same. As you
can see from last year’s photo, their combined pinks lit up the green slope
behind them.
Redbud and Azalea, spring 2013
Hello Irises!
Irises are perfect for Ikebana arrangements because they love to be in water. Our “Cat’s Eyes,” which are SDB (standard dwarf bearded) irises, just finished blooming. This year's blooms were prolific but fleeting, so I missed my chance for a group photo. Luckily “Among Friends,” which are MTB (miniature tall bearded) irises, are in full glory. Here are a few pictures.
“Cat’s Eyes”
"Among Friends"
"Among Friends," en masse
Some of the Siberians have awakened and we love their graceful stature. I'll keep you posted on the march of irises through June. Although they require a lot of work, gardens reward one’s patience. And gardens offer a tranquil place to enjoy a cup of tea!
Tomorrow
is mulch day. Too bad the masseuse will be closed when we finish!
What kind of irises do you grow? Wouldn't it be fun to swap some this summer?
