Third Generation Family Treasure

We know with certainty that this nameless Iris has been in the family for three generations.  They once grew at the home of Becky's maternal grandmother.  Becky's mother always took parts of this plant with her wherever she was to live next.  Several locations in southeastern Pennsylvania had a connection with the family home since this plant always grew where they lived.  That includes a trip to Georgia followed by a move to New York.  We may be the last plant growing branch on the family tree so the journey may be over.  However, through the years many friends have asked for a piece of this iris.  Sharing iris is like sharing love. The more you give the more you have!

 

This nearly ancient plant has a complex combination of colors.  We are always impressed by a sharp line of white edging a blossom.  The purity of the three upward pointing petals is nothing short of amazing.  Add to that a delicious scent and it seems that plant is unusually configured for a plant that is this old.  We often wonder just what was the original source of this Iris.  This plant has a modest size but so did Grandmother Torbert.

This rose came to us from a friend not family.  Elle gave us both a red rose and this yellow one.  Our lack of knowing the needs of these plants resulted in the loss of the red one.  This plant holds ground near the house so it does get proper care if you allow for the lack of pruning this year.  We respond to Forsythia blossoms to tell us that it is time to prune the roses.  This year those flowers were almost totally absent here.

This beautiful flower always reminds us of both Elle and her service for our country during the Second World War.  She was a nurse and was assigned to care for wounded soldiers as they were flown from Europe to the home country.  Blossoms at Memorial Day seem to us to honor her service.
 

It's June? Seriously?

I looked at the calendar and May had thirty-one days this year just like always.  How did it go by so darn fast?  We have not had Lemon Lily flowers for several years.  They  have usually been frosted in May but not this year!  Early this morning I saw the cheery yellow flowers from the house.  I wanted to get out there while it was still cool.  Since there are weeds popping up everywhere,  I chose to work right next to these lovely flowers.  The first thing I did was stick my nose into this flower coming face to face with a Flower spider.  I backed off and so did she but she only went to the other side of the flower where I could no longer see her.  The whole area around the lilies was filled with fragrance.  It was a pleasure to remove unwanted plants and give these beauties their place in the sun.  While I was out there, two  blue Indigo Buntings stopped by close enough for me to enjoy their iridescent color and twittering.  I stopped to watch them and  the  House Wrens that seem to have babies  to feed in the pink birdhouse.  

The Robin's Plantain, also known as Blue Spring Daisy, is blooming now too.  It is a native from a patch that  used to grow in the back meadow.   It is a plant I have rarely seen elsewhere.  It could use some help holding its spot.  Perhaps it will get moved to the top of the list for my next time spent in the garden.

Gorgeous flowers are blooming everywhere.  This is the Blue Flag that grows in front of the house..

All of the Iris are opening now.  This family heirloom goes back to my Mom and my Grandmother.  The fragrance of this flower is a memory from my childhood.  Not big and showy, but hardy, fragrant and lovely, this is one of the plants that garden visitors ask me to share.  I do that often and gladly!  It is cooling off now.  Perhaps I can do a little more before it rains!