Forget the groundhog, Spring is here

It is said we are to have six more weeks of Winter, okay. As I'm writing this post, a frog is croaking outside my office window here at the house. I guess he had not heard or did not watch the news yesterday. Silly frog.

Today I want to share the two varieties of irises that are up and blooming at Beech Street Gardens. Delightful........................The flower above is an Iris histrioides "Katharine Hodgkin".
A wonderful speckled mauve bloom.

This iris is Iris reticulata "Purple Gem". Once again an outstanding color.

Both of these irises are in the Reticulata family. Originally from Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus Mountains where it is very dry in the summer. Bloom time is February to March, reaching a height between 5" to 8" depending on the variety. Easily grown in average, medium, well drained soil in full sun to part shade. Soil needs to stay relatively dry in summer in order for the bulbs to set buds for the following year. Great plants for the drought tolerant garden.

USDA hardiness zone 5 to zone 9

Interested in obtaining a few of these irises for your garden visit Garden Fever in NE Portland, OR., they have a wonderful supply in stock now.