In a Vase, on Monday – Tall

Every Monday, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden hosts gardeners around the world who share a vase of flowers, mainly cut from their own garden. This being early June in southeastern Ontario, Canada, the choices for a vase are finally extensive. Lupin, Lilac, Allium and oriental poppies are all making a statement, but I thought I’d showcase a few of my favourite tall bearded Iris – Iris germanica.

I have a row of these white, re-blooming Iris – a friend gave me a few clumps four years ago and they have spread incredibly quickly. I’ll be lifting and dividing and sharing after this flush of flowers fades – although I’m told the best time for planting Iris is the early fall.

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Here is is in close-up – while they appear to be snow white, depending on the light you may notice a blue tinge to the petals. Closer inspection reveals the veining does, indeed, have a touch of violet-blue.

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The clump of white and violet heritage Iris needs to be lifted and moved somewhere it has more room. It threw up just a single flower stalk this year, which was used in today’s vase. I don’t remember where I found the red/orangey ones – how DO you describe that colour????? – but they are scattered all over the place.

Here is the final vase – the really tall pale blue Iris – almost four feet in the garden – are a favourite and very reliable – a small clump came from a friend’s garden in Toronto many years ago.

My Ikebana vase this week features a favourite of my back field honey bees – common garden chives – plus a lovely columbine found in a forgotten corner of the yard. I took advantage of the early morning light to photograph it outside yesterday.

It’s going to be a warm and mainly dry week here – perfect for the peonies that are about to burst open. Stay safe everyone.