We had a small bed of irises in our yard when we moved in over 50 years ago. They were planted on the side of the house and the only time I really saw them was when I mowed the lawn. They say you need to dig up the irises from time to time and re-plant them with more dirt on the roots, but I never did anything. About 20 times, I vowed I would transplant a few to a more visible spot, but I never did. The bed was down to about a dozen bulbs, and I would get a bloom or two, but this year, when I mowed the lawn on that side, I saw a bumper crop of irises in the making. They have expanded out into the yard, and I’ll have many blooms in a few weeks.
And now I know why.
Irises bloom best in full sun, meaning at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. They can tolerate as little as half a day of sun, but it’s not ideal. Without enough light, they won’t bloom well.
Last fall, Nancy cut down a thorny holly tree bush that had been blocking the morning sun to the little iris bed. With the tree gone, they finally got the sun they needed and took off.
Irises, by the way, do best in well-drained, fertile, neutral to slightly acidic soil. To plant as bed, loosen the soil to 12 to 15 inches deep, then mix in compost or aged manure. Good drainage is critical: Irises prefer “wet feet, but dry knees.” They will not tolerate wet soil in winter.
The iris has always been my favorite flower. When I was in first grade and walked to school (10-miles through the snow and uphill both ways), there was a single purple iris along the sidewalk. I stopped to smell and admire it each time I passed by. In the mornings, I noticed tiny beads of dew within the flower. Sime things you just don’t forget, and this year I won’t forget to stop by, bend down and smell my irises.