Irises- flags of many colors

  My name is Pamela and I have an iris addiction. They say the first step is knowing you have a problem but I think I am not really looking for a cure. Part of being a gardener is being a collector. This is a way of collecting things that I don’t have to trip over in the house and I don’t have to dust. Clint – who had never done irises before we got married- was astounded at the variety and range of colors. I have to say I have corrupted him and he is now an iris addict as well. I counted and there are 19 different irises in this post and yep they are all growing in my yard. I actually just planted a new one I got from a friend yesterday and I am headed to another friends to trade some blackeyed susans for another one I don’t currently have. I get most of my flowers this way. I trade, barter, and beg if necessary. I promise I won’t quit my job an stay home sniffing irises all day. Besides- they mostly only bloom in June. I will have to move on to another addiction like day lilies, roses, or some new ones like columbines or hosta. For now take a stroll and appreciate the addicts range if nothing else.

 

This one is one Clint and I bought at the Chicago Botanic Garden. It is supposed to be red, white, and blue but we decided it is more like orange, white, and pale lavender.

 

This blueish purple one is probably the most ruffled iris I have.

 

This purple and white one is Clint’s favorite.

 

 

This one gets so heavy it tends to tip over. I guess I will need to stake it in the future.

 

 

  

These are kind of a gray-ish pink but it doesn’t completely read in the picture.

  

                     

            

The dramatic black background is the solar heater for our pool –funny I know.

Spring is still the thing

My sister in-law in HI is missing the tulips and lilacs.  The Lilacs in particular are really spectacular this year.  Theses are the last of my late tulips. Summer is just around the corner as you can see by the poppies cracking and the strawberries blooming.  Mandy here is our  last blast of spring.

 

  

   

      My wonderful neighbors, the Neads, have a really beautiful  lilac bush.

You can see my little garden helper off in the corner of the picture.

        

Here comes summer – peeking through the cracks.

Soon there will be strawberries.

Day Lilies

As one of the last tributes to summer and in the spirit of preparing for next summer I am putting up pictures of our day lilies. All of these can be divided. I actually missed a couple but that gives me something for next year. Come on over if you want any of these.