Monday, October 13, 2008

Iris means rainbow . . .

Near our house is a quiet road lined by huge old shade trees and pastures with horses on that side of the road and cows over there. There are also some quiet streams and a pretty little lake. This is a super relaxing run. I love it because of the trees and the flowers and the animals and because it measures exactly 2 miles from my driveway to the end of the road and back. It is also a favorite place for us to go on walks for pretty much the same reasons.


Can you see how far back they go??

Last spring on one of our walks I noticed, right in one of the stream beds, about (this is just an estimate) a kazillion iris just beginning to bloom. Truly there must be thousands, and on both sides of the road too. They are yellow and most are at least 4 feet tall. It is really a breathtaking sight.


My friend Lark, holding up a giant rhizome.


I told a friend about them and last week she and I went and harvested some of them. I planted them in our flowerbeds; I guess they survived the transplant because they are poking up through the ground already. I can't wait to see what they do next spring!!

Iris Facts

~Iris are a perennial.

~Iris means rainbow in Greek.

~Iris bloom in many colors including black and brown.

~The Iris bulb is called a rhizome.

4 comments:

jeana said...

Hi Rachael, I just wanted to let you know that I am now an official blogger. My blog address is teamrodgers7.blogspot.com You will have to check it out. Jeana

Mom in Mendon said...

Iris! I wish I'd brought some here with us. In VN, our next door neighbor was a breeder of rare varieties of iris. I've learned for myself that they're very forgiving of neglect. They do take a year or two to multiply enough to show off.

Elder and Sister McEvoy said...

Once they get older, they do multiply like rabbits though.
We have some purple ones in Mendon if you want. Have your brother send you some.

Aren't you glad the word verification is easy for old men?

Nana Donna said...

I'm awful! We had some out in an open field in our back yard. I pulled them all up, as John tilled the ground. I wish now I would have saved them and transplanted them into another area. It was just so overwhelming at the time pulling up bushes etc.

My mom had Iris, they were gorgious. As kids we called them flags. Maybe next year I will plant some, once we know where everything is going. I'm glad you have such a beautiful place to walk and run.