Iris and Grandmothers, Childhood summers and Friendships

Irises. Intrinsically beautiful in all the colors of the rainbow for which this flower is named. Yet, for me, the value of the irises that grow beside my driveway goes beyond their beauty. They evoke memories of my grandmother who grew them ... and dahlias and hollyhocks, too ... and walking through the garden to her house during childhood summers. I have heard it said that irises are a sign of gardening friends, which is true for me -- the rhizomes for these were given to me by a 90-year old lady a couple of years ago. In a couple more years, I hope to divide this prolific, old-fashioned perinneal and pass the memories along.