Thursday, October 8, 2015

MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

When considering flowers beginning with "i" IRIS immediately comes to mind although I have never grown them myself.  My first husband's mother always had irises in her garden each year and they remind me so much of her.  She was a lovely little lady and we got on well together for many years.


Iris is a genus of 260-300 species of flowering plant with showy flowers.  It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris.  Some authors state that the name refers to the variety of flower colours found among the species.


As well as being the scientific name, Iris if also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera.  A common name for some species is "flags", while the plants of subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as "junos", particularly in horticulture.  It is a very popular garden flower.


Nearly all species are found in temperate Northern hemisphere zones, from Eurasia to Asia and across North America.  Although diverse in ecology, Iris is predominantly found in dry, semi-desert, or colder rocky mountainous areas.  Other habitats include grassy slopes, meadowlands, bog and river banks.

Iris grow well in most garden soil types providing they are well-drained.

7 comments:

  1. I must be one of the few people in the world who don't like Irises. I don't know why, I just don't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To each his own River and you don't have to have a reason for not liking them.

      Delete
  2. Hari OM
    They are very striking flowers for sure, though somehow not up there on my own list. I am rather fond of ivy - particularly with variegated foliage. Just the way I roll &*> YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never grown them and I guess they are not top of my list but I do enjoy remembering those in the garden of my ma-in-law and how she loved them. xx

      Delete
  3. I do like them - and they are just coming into flower in my garden at the moment. Mind you, I like most flowers. And trees. And growing things...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nearly all growing things are popular with me except most weeds which I would gladly do without.

      Delete