Petite Perfection

"Blossom by blossom, the spring begins." ~ Algernon Swinburne

Just yesterday, the Iris reticulata 'Harmony' opened. It seemed as if they popped up out of the ground overnight and then all of a sudden, there were blooms. Amazing what a little warmth, spring rains and longer daylight will do. Even more amazing is what results from the little bulbs planted in the fall, once spring comes.


The deep, rich colors that are in this particular iris no doubt inspired its name. Harmonious, indeed! And just look at the detail in the pattern displayed on its petals. The photo above gives us an insect's eye view of what lies deep within. That yellow streak on its fall? It's a runway of sorts that leads the bees and other pollinators into the vital anther, which has the pollen.


Native to Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Georgia, the flowers on these little guys are just six inches tall when they're fully grown. Here in zone 5b, they bloom the first of April and disappear by May. They're always a blue or purple color, although 'Natascha' is so pale it appears to be white. If you want yellow ones, try Iris danfordiae.

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