Shades of yellow

Love the ruffle of this yellow iris bloom.

Then the same iris, after it has opened up.

I also acquired this iris from John and Lindsey's first yard.

The dark yellow iris I have had for at least 25 years, been moved a lot.

I got it from Wendy and John's babysitter.

Shades of purple

The top 2 iris were taken from John and Lindsey's first yard.

(They weren't into flowers, so I got lots!!!!)

This 3rd photo is the same one that I bought as a pink iris,

that I showed a macro of yesterday.

Notice the last photo has my first American Painted Lady butterfly of 2009.

By the time I got my lens changed he was gone, so I was glad I snapped this one.

A bloom not quite open yet, the same iris fully open.

Notice the color change.

Then I decided to get up close, like I tend to do.
This iris was bought as a pink iris. Not!

Everybody wants to get a pink, the next one I bought as a pink turned out to be peachy. I should learn my lesson and give up on a pink iris.

The last macro doesn't even look like an iris. The iris bloom is so large that it just fell open, and this is the inside of the bloom.

Similiar but so different

They speak for themself.

My Iris flowerbed

When we bought our property in October 2004 we moved my Granny's daffodils, as I have talked about before. After the iris finished blooming in the spring of 2005 we moved them. Planting them on both sides of the driveway, that didn't really go anywhere at the time. This first photo also shows the Siberian Iris around the post.When we moved them there was not one drop of rain for 6 weeks. We had not drilled the well yet, so we had no way to water them. We were concerned we were going to lose them all. They did bloom a little in 2006. Then in 2007 about the time the buds were setting east Tennessee had a drop in temperature to 20 degrees. Very few blooms that year.

Last year it was a little better, but we did have a cold spell that got some of the buds.

L

This year, no cold spells, and plenty of rain. The only problem this year is getting some sunshine so I could take some photographs. We haven't had rain since last Saturday so I finally got some photos. Rain is suppose to start again today sometime and rain through Sunday.

The top 3 photos are all of the left side of the driveway from different angles. The next photo is the right side of the driveway.

The last photo is the left side of the driveway, but facing the road.

Naturally they do not all bloom at the same time, so some of them have already finished blooming. I know the names to all 75 varieties of my daylilies, but I do not know the names of my iris. I just enjoy them.

Small Iris found in GSMNP and in East Tennessee

Several times during April I visited the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to photograph the wildflowers. Although my timing was very close to the wildflower peak in the park there were still lots of evidence of blooms to come in a week or two. I would have liked to returned again, but just did not have time. These first 2 photos are from the park.

The bottom four photographs were from my own yard, 7 days later.

I am no expert and tried to compare the two, and not sure if they are the same or not.

The "Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers" . The title was Crested Dwarf Iris (Iris cristata), it said....Widely distributed at lower elevations of the Smokies, this beautiful iris does much to brighten the roadsides during April and May. The flower is usually a rich blue, but occasionally a light purple or even white. It is 4 to 6 inches tall and is found mostly on open slopes. Spring dwarf iris (I.verna var. smalliana) and southern blue flag (I. virginica) are the only other native species of this genius within the Park and neither are common here. They can separated on the basis that southern blue flag is the only one with a flowering stem more than 6 inches tall and crested dwarf iris has crested sepals whereas spring dwarf iris does not. Iris is the Tennessee State Flower. Look for the crested dward iris in Little River Gorge, Bud Ogle Nature Trail, and Porter Creek Trail.


Reading that and looking at my photos compared to the 2 top ones, taken in the park, I don't have a clue if mine are the same. Nor do I now know which of the iris in the park I photographed, I assume the Crested Dwarf Iris, since it is the more common. I do know I saw evidence in all 3 of the locations they mentioned and only saw actual blooms on the last day I was at the park.

Siberian Iris (dark purple)

Another flower I got from John and Lindsey's first home. There will be plenty to share when they are ready for them.

Pale lavender ruffled iris

The iris was originally at John & Lindsey's first home. Someday I know they will want it back, and hopefully by that time I will have plenty to give back and still have some.

Various Iris

All 3 of these iris I received from friends. The top one from Brenda Joines, the middle ones from Charlene, and the bottom from Chris Vann. My iris garden is beautiful this year, partly due to these 3 friends being so generous with sharing. Thank you!

Burnt Orange and White Iris

This iris was also taken in Nancy Keck's yard. See Nancy out working in her yard alot when I drive by. I just had to stop on my way to a photo 'shoot' yesterday.

Iris "Local Color"

"Local Color" is an iris I bought in the East Tennessee Iris show several years ago. It never bloomed at my last house, but I still brought it with me. It was worth the wait.

Dark Iris

God is great! Just walk outside to see it.