I is for Iris



early miniature iris, the lisymakia in the background is still brown

Weeding: I like irises, from the very first miniature iris that blooms earlier in the spring than anything else, to the majestic beared irises which thrive on the west side of the garage, to the slender-leaved Siberian irises which love the east side of the house.  And most of my irises were free.  The only thing I like better than inexpensive plants are free plants.  I have friends who generously divide and give me plants.  For the past couple of years, I have participated in our city's plant swap.  And last fall I organized my own plant swap.  Free plants release me from guilt the next year when they don't come back, or when I forget to water them and they shrivel up and blow away.  I also love to talk to the gardeners who give me the plants - where did you grow them, what kind of soil do they like, etc.  And to be fair, I am not a total freeloader - I also generously divide and share my plants with others.  I don't know much about plants in general, but I do know the plants in my yard.  Here are some of my irises, purple of course.  Unfortunately, though I diligently took pictures all last spring/summer/fall, the majority of the photos have gone missing.  I may need Tech Support (that is, E) to help to track them down.  There are some glorious photos of the bearded and the Siberian which I cannot find.  I think the ones in the bouquet are the bearded, though.  They are deep purple.

Until we weed again,
Hallie



Bouquet of what was blooming one day last summer