Tuesday 24 January 2012

My first Iris of the year

The first of my Iris Reticulata flowered on 21st Jan:-


Last year the first Iris flowered on 5 February, but this blue type didn't flower until 12 February, so you can see that this year we are ahead by 2 - 3 weeks.


If you're wondering what the green wire lattice in the background is, it's my way of protecting the bulbs from foxes / cats. It is simply the shelves from my mini-greenhouses, anchored into the soil with some wire pegs. It has probably fulfilled its mission by now, so I must remove it before many more of the flowers open up.


 I love these flowers because they give my garden a little bit of colour very early in the year, when everything is looking drab and needs a bit of brightening-up.


The Crocuses are not far behind...



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P.S. Thanks to all those who offered their sympathy in respect of the Fibromyalgia. I'm not as bad as I was, and am now back at work. I even did about half an hour's gardening on Sunday, the first for about a month!

19 comments:

  1. Glad to hear you're feeling better, Mark. I love Iris's, my grandma always used to grow them and they remind me of her.

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  2. That is such a welcome splash of colour Mark. I had some in a pot for several years but last year they didn't show, I suspect that the cold finally did for them as they were iced in for more than 8 weeks. I have some perfumed Bearded Irises that come out in May - I shall look forward to those.

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  3. Wow! That is stunningly beautiful!

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  4. It's a beauty - I hope my Kathleen Hodgkins come up - no signs yet!

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  5. its a stunner!... I adore Iris's... they are one of my top most flowers. I used to paint when I was younger and I had a knack for Iris's... so pretty. There are some wild yellow one's in the river opposite our ouse but they dont come out till a little later... very lovely x

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  6. Gorgeous blue. Will be a while before my irises make an appearance.

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  7. Just proved that spring is never very far away :)

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  8. Beautiful iris' Mark! Wow...I wish I could grow something with such vivid color here in South Texas. Bulbs don't do well here. It's too hot too early in the year. So I'll just admire yours!

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  9. They are lovely irises my parents grow the big blousy types which I can't stand at all but those blues are lovely.

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  10. Thats the second iris I've seen on blogs this week, something I have never really thought about having. However, with beautiful colour like that I should think again. Who knows, one might pop up somewhere in the garden. Lovely!

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  11. I have never had much luck with them so its lovely to see yours - nice to see signs of spring.

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  12. Stunning colour. I have my eye on trying some irises in the next year or two...

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  13. You have an iris blooming already!! Swings and roundabouts huh! I'll have to check my irises and see how they're doing.

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  14. I just love that blue colour-so nice to see in these dark Winter days. A couple of my Iris are just starting to flower now-can't wait to see them in all their glory... Do hope you are continuing to feel better now Mark.

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  15. I had a huge section of blue and yellow iris when i lived in New England and owned an equally huge Victorian house....they went so well together...seriously, standing on the iris side of the house, it still looked like it could be 1898, so timeless is the look of those flowers!! Since moving south, i've not planted any, but you've got me thinking maybe i should! sorry for the missive, but thanks for the memories that triggered it! (flowers do that to me!)

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  16. That blue!!...hurt your eyes blue, only made more beautiful by the bright yellow and white markings.

    Two or three weeks ahead you think...well does that bode well or not I wonder.. Such strange weather.

    Wonderful photos!

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  17. You're a good 8 weeks ahead of us. I must find a more mild climate! Enjoy the spring beauty!

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  18. Hi Mark, delighted to hear you are doing better now, and very happy to see your irises blooming.

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