It’s not all about snowdrops at the moment. All of a sudden I noticed a patch of colour on the raised bed in the back garden, tiny Iris reticulata were flowering in spite of the gale howling through the trees and the rain lashing at everything in its path. Such tiny flowers, taking everything that was being thrown at them and coping so well.
Iris reticulata Pauline.
Love the markings.
Other colours are starting to open too.
I can never remember if this one is Edward, Gordon or George, must try and look it up.
This one is still waiting to be planted from last year, poor thing, it has spent over a year in a pot, I must plant it very soon, like today! I think this one might be Edward.
No sign yet of the new ones that I planted in the woodland 2 yrs ago, they flowered last year, so hopefully they will be up soon.
Iris and crocus in the tin bath are startting to flower.
The tin babybath that I used to fit into 70 odd years ago, has sprung to life with the bulbs that I planted there a few years ago. I keep saying that I will plant the bulbs out into the garden, but let’s be honest, circumstances over took me last year and lots didn’t get done in the garden that should have been done. Maybe this year.
Iris r.Pauline planted on the alpine bed always manages to be first, long before others of the same name.
So we have colour near the house from the tiny iris flowers, then in the distance I can see white in the woodland where the snowdrops are tempting me to venture out, no matter what the weather.
Are you tempted into your garden or are your plants still hidden by snow?
The dwarf iris are a delight, like jewels at this time of year. Tin baths? Rather more appealing to plant than bathe, I should imagine.
I agreeIan, they are delightful and its amazing how they stand up to the weather so well. Can’t remember what the tin bath felt like I’m afraid, it was during World War 2 !
I would love to get out into the garden, but at the moment we are being blasted by some very blustery rainstorms, very typical PNW winter weather. I have a couple of projects that are in a state of suspended animation at the moment, sitting half-finished. My snowdrops are just nosing out of the ground right now, but I have hopes that the Iris reticulata that I planted last fall are not far behind them. I loved seeing yours, they’re very pretty.
I’m dodging the showers Alison, some extremely heavy, everywhere is sopping wet! I think the little iris are such lovely flowers and they seem to be able to put up with whatever weather is thrown at them. They look delicate but must be very tough.
I love the way Iris reticulata is just suddenly there with a much needed splash of colour at this time of year. I dug up mine last year and separated out the bulbs so hopefully there will be more flowers this year. How lovely to still have your old tin bath!
They are amazing aren’t they Denise, one minute no sign of them, the next in full bloom with their lovely rich colours. I must follow your example and spread mine out, maybe this year will be the year I do it!
Beautiful!:)
Thank you Cathy!
Those irises have such strong, powerful color–just magical to see their deep richness. Pauline, you’ve had a difficult time. I hope finding these little flowers makes your heart soar.
The colours are amazing aren’t they Susie! Thank you for your good wishes, I have to admit that I had lost interest in the garden until the snowdrops and Iris started to open, they are encouraging me to get out into the garden once more and I feel a lot better for it.
My Iris reticulata always disappear after a couple of years so you’re lucky that yours have re-flowered so well. They are gorgeous though so I will order more for next year. Typical gardener planning for spring 2019 and it’s only January 2018!!!
So far, so good, Christina, where I’ve planted them has good drainage, very unusual for my garden, so I’m hoping they’ll last a bit longer. Like you, I’m making notes of spaces that could do with more iris, snowdrops and crocus, planning for bulb planting in the autumn!
I love reticulata irises – they are such a wonderful colour and pop up almost over night. Whatever yours are called, they look gorgeous.
They have such rich colours don’t they Juleanne, beautiful at this time of year when most other plants are looking very dead! I love them!
Those early bulbs, so tiny, tough, and delicate.
I agree Jason, although mine just have to put up with wind, rain and slugs!
And colorful!
Absolutely, they make such a spalsh of colour in an otherwise very brown and uninteresting garden.