Iris ensata ‘Electric Rays’ is a spectacular plant with dark purple-blue flowers that enjoys being in a boggy spot around a pond. Continue reading “Marginal Pond Plants: Iris ensata ‘Electric Rays’”
Wordless Wednesday: Mauve Iris
Crocus paschei and Iris Seeds
A fine pot of the spring flowering, pale lilac, species crocus, Crocus paschei, was exhibited at the Iris reticulata show by Sue Bedwell, taking first place in its class.
The flowers have a distinctive yellow throat and orange stamens. These ones had luminous petals with delicate veining, but the flowers can sometimes be a darker shade of lilac. Continue reading “Crocus paschei and Iris Seeds”
Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’, A Dwarf Winter Iris With Stripes
Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ has barely even ankle high flowers that are a muddy mix of pale blue, cream and yellow. It can be identified by the unusual colour, and the beautiful veins on the falls. Blue stripes radiate from a yellow blotch that is spotted blue. Three standards (upper petals) are striped and veined too.
Continue reading “Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’, A Dwarf Winter Iris With Stripes”
Iris ensata ‘Rowden Autocrat’ (Japanese Iris)
I’d wanted to visit RHS Rosemoor to see how far reality lived up the reputation of its rose garden (no complaints) and for the chance to explore other collections too: of irises, for example. The attractive purple veining and the voluptuous flower form of the one above was particularly striking. Continue reading “Iris ensata ‘Rowden Autocrat’ (Japanese Iris)”
Wordless Wednesday: Iris ‘Kent Pride’
Blue Iris With A Fake Beard
A type of flower that may have beards, falls, flounces, horns, laminata, standards, signals and ruffles has to be accorded respect. Having said that, some of you might observe this ‘ordinary’ blue iris is lacking some of the twiddly bits its fancier bearded cousins can proudly display.
You might agree with me that the sunlight dancing on its upper petals and its clear, veined beelines left little to be desired: that the simple iris need not aspire to anything more. Continue reading “Blue Iris With A Fake Beard”
Susan Rushton 