Irresistible Irises
May 13, 2009 by Sandy Mitchell
Filed under Gardening
The irises, my all-time favorite flowers, are just starting to bud here in Ohio. I was concerned that the plants I moved from my old house wouldn’t transplant well or at least would wait a year to flower. No worries. After just two months, they seem well-adjusted to their new home. Now, I’m scoping the yard to see where I can tuck in a few more of this beauties. If you’re unfamiliar with Irises, here are a few Iris facts:
* There are between 200 and 300 species of Iris.
* “Iris” is Greek for “rainbow.”
* Another, common name for irises, especially in the United States, is “flags.”
* Irises are perennial plants and grow from rhizomes, bulbous roots that grow near to the soil line.
* The “fleur de lis,” the symbol of French royalty, is a stylized depiction of the iris.
* The iris is the official flower of the province of Quebec.
(photo credit: Thurner Hof)
