On this Fertilizer Friday I thought I would share my love for all irises. A while back I shared my Dwarf Dutch Irises. Now I want to show you some of the others
I grow in spring and early summer. Irises take their name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. How appropriate. My Aunt Mary and mom call them flags. Some varieties I grow include Bearded, Japanese, Siberian, Louisiana, Native Blue Flag, and Dutch Iris.
Many irises grow from rhizomes that you lay on top of the soil and are partially covered. Others grow from bulbs planted under ground. Most irises need partly sunny conditions and will tolerate most soils. They are hardy from zones 3 through 9 and like moist soil and some like it very wet.
They are deer resistant and many varieties are visited by hummers and butterflies. These versatile plants seem almost fool proof and are easy to grow. Oh and yes some varieties like Bearded and Siberian should be divided. That is a chore that I must do this year.
So let me introduce you to these rainbow flowers…..Some are short like the ones to the left which are the dwarf bearded variety that bloom in spring and again in fall.
The ones to the right are Louisiana and Native Blue Flag varieties that love my wet pond area.
The beauties below are but a few of the varieties of Bearded Iris I captured last year. I was travelling when they were in full bloom so I did not get to photograph them all. I will be taking more pictures this spring.
More recent irises I am loving to grow are the Japanese variety. As you can see I grow many different ones. I was pleasantly surprised when they came up in large groups this past late spring. I did not expect such a prolific bloom from this variety so quickly. The exotic blooms have me swooning.
You can’t go wrong growing irises for many seasons of rainbow flowers through out the garden. Oh and did I mention they have a heavenly perfume. That’s a wonderful bonus!!
Each flower is a soul opening out to nature.
– Gerald De Nerval
Special Note: A new gardening on-line magazine has been born and is the brainchild and labor of love of Anna “Flowergardengirl” Looper. It is called Toil the Soil. Make sure you click on over and 
peruse the first issue which is free. It features wonderful articles and photos from everyday gardeners including yours truly. You won’t be dissapointed and Anna is always looking for more contributions for upcoming issues. Consider subscribing or contributing.