Monday, April 27, 2009

The beautiful natives

There are often beautiful surprises lurking in the woods, but the dwarf crested iris is one of the loveliest. It has just begun to bloom here in the past couple of days.


This tiny one managed to struggle out from under the leaves. I had to push aside a mess of poison ivy to get a good look at it.























This one is much larger, and has a number of companions nearby that will be blooming soon. If you click on the image to enlarge it, you can see the spider clinging to a petal. I didn't even know she was there when I took the photo.

10 comments:

chayaruchama said...

You spoiled creature !!!

I recently saw a PBS special on Appalachia- narrated by my beloved Sissy Spacek [ Va.].

Thought of you.

leopoldo said...

Sigh.

I have no words for the ineffable.

That's only my third truism of the day.

jmcleod76 said...

Thise are pretty. Much paler than the ones we've got in our flower boxes.

Nice photographs, too.

BitterGrace said...

Do these grow wild at all where you are, J.? The USDA map only shows them as native from the mid-Atlantic southward. Oh, and thanks--the photography gods let me take a nice picture about 3 times a year.

Leo, you are welcome to bestow truisms on my blog anytime. I hope your flowers are coming along nicely.

Darn, Chaya, I wanted to see that PBS thing and I guess I've missed it. Hope they rerun it at fundraiser time.

Julie H. Rose said...

Usually, the come on "you want to see something pretty?" results in something of a letdown (or worse). Not this time. Simply gorgeous!

We have lovely wild flowers here, but no irises. Thankfully, the cultivated ones grow beautifully in Maine.

Thanks for the great photos!

jmcleod76 said...

Julie is correct. I've never seen wild irises here. We had them in Pittsburgh, but never ones that looked like these. I've got a handful of deep purple irises in my flower boxes that the previous owners planted. They won't be out for a while yet, though. We've only got daffodills and crocuses here, so far.

BitterGrace said...

I'm glad they didn't let you down, Julie. I was so excited when they popped out, I couldn't wait to get some pictures.

Jaime, the USDA page says the dwarf crested iris is endangered in PA, so protect them if you see them there!

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a surreal beauty...I don't know what else to say other that it makes me teary- eyed.
Thanks.
Nika

BitterGrace said...

Glad you enjoyed them, Nika. It's a very beautiful world we live in, sometimes.

Mary said...

Nature has no rival as an artist.