Includes: Bearded Irises photographed in Reno gardens 2011

 

Oh happy days when the bearded irises begin to bloom. After the spring bulbs have faded, these tall, dramatic plants are the first of summer's color to appear, signaling that the long wait for summer, and roses, is finally near its end.

Colors range widely, from stained glass blues and purples, to pastel pinks and yellows, to vibrant golds. Large, showy, asymmetrical blooms stand tall among the budding roses, providing fascinating plays of color and form. The upper petals are called the flags, and the lower, the falls. Most intriguing are the reproductive parts - the pistil is tucked up against central upper petal while the anthers - the beards - are at the tops of the lower petals.

A selection of Christine's Bearded Iris images.

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