Messenger Of The Gods

Iris is the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow – who also happens to be the messenger of the gods. This name can also be given in reference to the word (which derives from the same Greek/modern Latin source) for the colored part of the eye and the flower.

The wild-growing iris - like those found in the low areas and on the banks of Silver Creek - should begin their seasonal blooms later this month and into the next.  More on that to follow.

For now there are Jill's domestic cultivars that are adding some spectacular color around the house and serving the pollinators. Pictures are from this morning.

 

 

Jill's father raised iris and at least one of these goes back many, many years to one of his.

Others are from friends.

These iris are doing pretty well; actually thriving at a latitude half-way between the equator and the north pole.

 

Tough plant the iris is.....

Spring Blooms

When you live half-way between the equator and the North Pole your growing season is short.  Add to this a family vacation that takes you out of county for almost three weeks and whatever you have growing has to fend for itself.

Hence, the garden is a mess.  The sweet potato planting has failed.  The critters ate all the pea vines.  Weeds are thriving.  Only the leeks have thrived.  I'll till the mess under and start over.  There is time.

The flower gardens are overgrown with grasses; nevertheless, Jill's iris have burst thru the mayhem with all their glory.

Thank God; I thought they'd be done by the time we returned.

Peonies are doing nicely too.

Check these out....

 

Messenger of the Gods

 

Iris was the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow – who also happened to be the messenger of the gods. This name can also be given in reference to the word (which derives from the same Greek/modern Latin source) for the iris flower or the colored part of the eye.

The wild-growing iris - like the one above found on the banks of Silver Creek - should begin their seasonal blooms later this month and into the next.  More on that to follow.

For now there are Jill's domestic iris cultivars that are adding some spectacular color around the house and serving the pollinators. 

 

 

Jill's father raised iris and at least one of these goes back many, many years to one of his.

Others are from friends.

These iris thrive here at a latitude half-way between the equator and the north pole.

Tough plant the iris is.....

Messenger of the Gods

Meet Iris Versicolor - commonly known as Blue Flag Iris or Northern Iris, Harlequin Blue Flag, Larger Blue Flag, Poison Flag, plus other variations of these names.  Habitats include wet prairies, along rivers, wet woodlands, swamps, edges of ponds and streams and other low-lying areas along rail lines and roadsides.  It likes wet feet - and it grows naturally along the banks of Silver Creek and in low woodland habitat.  A beautiful and delicate wildflower it propagates by means of an underground rhizome.  Native cultures used the root for medicinal purposes.

In Greek mythology Iris is a personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods - thus explaining the wide range of colors of this member of the iris family.

 

Even More Blooms

In keeping with the appearance of the Flower Moon a week ago recently Jill's iris have exploded in all their glory....

A Flash of Wild Color

Out with the Labs for a walk a couple of days ago when a flash of color caught my eye.  The Blue Flag Iris (wild iris) growing in the shady damp is beginning to bloom.          

Iris versicolor, sometimes called the Northern Iris or Blue Flag Iris grows in clumps or patches along bodies of water.   

In Greek mythology Iris is a personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods - thus explaining the wide range of colors of this member of the iris family. 

Messenger of the Gods

Iris was the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow – who also happened to be the messenger of the gods. This name can also be given in reference to the word (which derives from the same Greek/modern Latin source) for the iris flower or the colored part of the eye.

The wild-growing iris should begin their seasonal blooms later this month and into the next - more on that later.

For now there are Jill's domestic iris cultivars that are adding some spectacular color around the house and serving the pollinators. 

Jill's late father raised iris and at least one of these goes back many, many years to one of his.

Others are from friends.

These iris thrive here at a latitude half-way between the equator and the north pole.

Tough plant the iris is.....

More Blooms

It would seem that the blooming around here is non-stop.  Hardly a day goes by without something else to brighten the day, turn your eye or provide sustenance for the pollinators.

This week it has been Jill's iris - in shades of violet, blue and yellow-white.

Not only are these a feast for the eyes but the bumble bees are going nuts over them.



Just click on an image if you fancy a closer look

Flash of Color

Out with the Labs for a run this morning to make the trail camera circuit.  Swapped-out the SD cards, checked for battery life and repositioned a couple of the cams for better angles but mostly because the grasses are getting so tall the field of view is obstructed.

On the return leg we were checking the cam at a new location on the north side of the creek.  I was lamenting the fact that the dogs were frolicking in a huge patch of poison ivy.  Note to self:  shampoo the pooches later.

Then...a flash of color caught my eye.  A huge patch of Blue Flag Iris (wild iris) growing in the shady damp.

click on image to enlarge

Iris versicolor, sometimes called the Northern Iris, grows in clumps or patches along bodies of water.  Iris is from the Greek word for rainbow.  Appropriate considering the wide variation of colors that wild iris portrays.