The Iris

 

"I know well
that the June rains
just fall."
- Onitsura

Oh those June rains keep falling. The hedges and many of the perennials in the garden -hydrangeas, astilbe, asters, purple geranium... just keep drinking it in. Always thirsty they can't get enough. Let them soak in the rain while they can...the dry spell of summer will surely come. The foliage now is strikingly lush and oh so green.

The irises in my garden are few and located in several spots. I got the rhizomes from a neighbour many years ago. I love the simplicity of this delicate periwinkle-hued iris. You'll find no bearded iris in my garden, although I think they're stunning. I can enjoy my neighbours iris just across the street... deep, rich purple flowers. The iris is hardy but oh do the slugs and snails love them too. Just when a bud is near opening, I can at times find one bent right over near the top of the sturdy stalk. Just when I wasn't looking, the snails had a feast.