Ode to the Bearded Iris or a Visit to Schreiner's Iris Gardens

When the clouds clear and the sun shines, spring in the Pacific Northwest is something to revel in.  In that spirit we took the kids down to Schreiner's Iris Garden to take in the riot of color that hits for a few short weeks every spring.

It can be overwhelming to be surrounded by this much exuberant color.  Thousands of varieties, and new ones every year! Thankfully they are all labeled and finding out the names is half the fun.  "Baboon Bottom", "I Pink I Can", "Dark Mood" and "Burn Notice" It makes you wish it was your job to name them.

So many to love, so many to covet.  But, if I had to choose just one to put in my garden next year it would be (will be) Iris 'Thornbird'.  She is strange and unusual and a hard to describe.  Luckily I took a jillion photos. 

We walked through the beds taking notes on our favorites and then picked a dozen stems to take home.  It's been days, and as each bloom fades I pull it off and another opens.  Some of spring's greatest divas are fleeting and isn't that one of the reasons we love them so much?