Iris flower, showing how irises differ from the anatomy of other flowers. Iris Day is May 8th. Photo © 2012 Kyla Matton Osborne | #iris #flowers #rubywriter
Iris flower, showing the iris beard
Photo © 2012 Kyla Matton Osborne
May 8th is Iris Day, so I thought I would write a little something about this treasured flower today. The iris is not actually one type of flower, but rather a whole host of different flowers all belonging to the genus Iris. Their name comes from a goddess of ancient Greece. She was a link or messenger between the gods and humanity, and her symbol was the rainbow.
Irises are lovely, showy flowers that grow from a bulb or rhizome. They come up year after year, and are so hardy that they will thrive even if neglected. I can remember my mother growing irises in her garden for years, and I don’t recall her ever digging them up or dividing them. And they survived through some pretty harsh Canadian winters, with little more than a layer of leaves over the soil come fall and a blanket of snow throughout the winter.
The photos I chose to accompany this post aren’t the usual pretty shots of a group of irises in the garden. I also chose not to take a photo of a bouquet, or even of a single iris in its entirety.
Instead I chose to share two photos I took several years ago, of irises growing in a flowerbed alongside my house. We had some beautiful, rich purple irises growing there, but we also had a few of the white flowers. And they were so gorgeous in contrast with the deep purples of the others!
I decided to take these photos with the macro setting on a little handicam that allowed me to also take still photographs. I was just learning to use the camera, and trying to capture unique angles of the flowers. In the picture of the white iris, you can see the pretty yellow beard.
In the purple one, you can see right down inside the flower. And if you know anything about the anatomy of a flower, you’ll notice that irises don’t look like other flowers! The three more or less upright petals at the center of the flower are “standards,” and they are surrounded by the floppy outer petals – the “falls.” I’ve always thought the flower looks like it’s aroused, and beckoning to the bees and other pollinators. Irises are rather wanton flowers!
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Beautiful flowers for mother's day. Love it! :)
Perhaps it's not a coincidence that these flowers are celebrated on the same day as mothers! Happy Mother's Day!
I used to have a girlfriend named Iris. She wasn't at all 'wanton'! :)
LOL, I'm sure she wasn't Bill! I can't see you keeping company with a woman of loose morals...
Nice photo. I have a friend in the US who has a farm for Iris. She is in business, has a blog dedicated to Iris.
Oh Grace, I'll bet it's a sheer joy to walk the fields of that farm! I think the only thing better would be to have a lavender farm :)
She is on face book and keeps posting pictures of her exotic Iris. She also has blogs that cover stories of her success in business. She is doing extremely well.
I love your view of the iris flowers. I have always thought irises such a delicate display but will now chuckle over their wanton ways any time I see them!
They really are pretty and delicate too, Ruth. Especially the very frilly ones!
My dad had Iris flowers growing in our yard. They were purple and yellow and stunning. They are a beautiful flower and you chose great images to represent them.
I never knew there were yellow irises, growing up. When I saw them later, I found them very unusual. I sort of think I still do, LOL!
But whatever the colour, every iris is simply gorgeous!
I've also always thought the iris was a "sexy" flower, alluring, yet a bit mysterious. Love your macro shots.
It's good to know I'm not the only one who sees irises as "showy" in more ways than one! Thanks for stopping by, Barb :)
Your post brought back memories of all the beautiful iris we had in our garden when I was young. My grandmother would tend to the garden and we had so many wonderful colors but the purple has always been my favorite.
I think purple is a favourite with the bees too, Martha! I always thought it was neat how many of the herbs I love best have purple or pinkish-purple flowers :)
In the first place, I thought it is a part of the eye. I am referring to the thin, circular structure of the eye which forms the pupil. I never thought that this is one of the kinds of the beautiful flowers. For me, I may call it, the tiger flower for its resemble the skin covering of a Bengal tiger.
@nakitakona13 Iris is a word that definitely applies to the eye! I believe there is a connection to the goddess Iris there too.
I can see why you would call it a "tiger flower." I love that tiger skin pattern on the petals too. It isn't present on all irises, but I've seen a good many that do have it and I think it adds to their beauty :)
Your photographs are stunning...perfect for celebrating irises day.
Thanks so much, Susan! I never thought much of my photography skills, but I do enjoy using the macro setting to capture the details of a flower or plant :)
Like Iris flower because t looks cute and charming for eyes in all season Most of the people grow iris in home garden and courtyards. I love iris.
Anyone who studies Greek mythology learns that Iris is the name of the Goddess of the Rainbow, surely one of the best assignments on Olympus. And because of the great elegance of the iris bloom, it has been the symbol of monarchs and royal families throughout history. In fact, one of the earliest known artworks of an iris is a fresco in King Minos' palace on the Greek Island of Crete. The palace dates from 2100 BC.
They are famously easy to grow, and are some of the most persistent perennials of all. Like oriental poppies, they will withstand grass, weeds, and other plants, even if a perennial garden is untended for years. You may well see an old garden with almost nothing left but the weeds, and often there, sticking up out of the tough invading grasses and brush are the healthy sword-like leaves on an iris.
Like wild iris because it grows in natural atmosphere. Many of the 'species' or wild irises are among the Spring-Planted beardless group. The two best known are our own Wild Iris, 'Blue Flag' so common and loved in the Northeast. And the taller 'Yellow Flag', native to England.
The Blue Flag is a perfect plant for your wildflower meadow, or anyplace else in your landscaping where there is plenty of water in spring. They cannot be submerged, but enjoy wet meadow and wet woodland locations.
The very strong-growing Yellow Flag is also useful, but be aware that it can be invasive, and end up choking shallow waterways, much like cattails. Be sure it is not considered a pest in your area before planting.