As we have had rather hot weather for a couple of weeks here in Sweden now, irises are bursting out in bloom almost a month too early. On my way from work, I have seen at least two places with irises in full adoring colour. But the irises I have in my tiny little garden, are just in bud still. I can´t wait to see them in bloom!
I always notice irises when I'm out walking (especially when they bloom) and I always get the same thougts: "Do I have that colour?" "Can I steal a bulb from that lot?" This means that yes, my tiny garden have at least 14 kinds of irises even if it is a small garden, and I have a lot of funny stories about some of them.
This is a real pride. Always grows fast and with blue-purple flowers. A real joy. I stole the first bulb in Lomma, when I still was at university. Mr Emerson and I where out walking, and I took a shoot outside a garden. Then I didn't dare to hold it on the way home, afraid someone would hunt me down and accuse me for being a garden invader. Mr Emerson had to carry it for me. I'm glad he did.
This I found last year, so I am happy it is blooming so soon. It was lying at the bottom of a 50 %-off basket. A good buy! Will be blooming with white flowers with an outer edge of purple.
This I stole outside our friend Mattias' house at Blåsbackegatan. I have no idea what colour it has, but I am dying to find out!
This I bought last year for my birthday and I planted it just last autumn. Very surprised to see it bloom so soon too, but I can't complain. If you like irises, I strongly recommend this plant shop outside Båstad. Not big, but very well sorted and with two very nice and excentric people running the buisness.
This was given to me by Mr Emersons' mum. She understood my love for irises, when I borrowed a piece of her garden to store some irises, while I was without a planting place. When I finally got a real garden of my own (even though it is relly small) I moved everything here and then she gave me a piece of this old iris. All my irises are Iris germanica (big garden iris) except for this one, which is a Iris sibirica, more of a wild type.
The last one is from Öland. I stole a shoot from outside our neighbours, as they almost never are there to enjoy their garden. I will appriciate the irises for them! If I remember correctly, these will be pale yellow and pale purple in colour. I prefer stronger colours, but variation is always nice and this is an old type of iris, that I am interested in and want to keep alive for following generations.
This was not even half of my iris collection and I'll have to wait at least one or two weeks before I can see them in full bloom. I will keep you informed on my blog, so you can all see for real what I am so excited about. Then you might get as anxouis as I am about my black iris which I NEED TO SEE but never ever wants to bloom.
PS: It's Nic's birthday today! Post a comment and greet her on her special day!
PS2: While you're greeting, you can think of me as well, and wish me a happy birthday too. I won't care if it is one day too late ;) .
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