Irises

Marc Elder

Irises, of the family ‘’iridacées’’, are perennials originating from the northern hemisphere. Two varieties exist: Irises with rhizome and Irises with bulbs. Some 200 sorts and thousands of hybrids can be counted. All colours exist, although blue and mallow ones are the mostly known.

 

Iris has been a privileged flower since Antiquity. Sacred flower for the Egyptians, it was personifying the rainbow goddess for the Greeks. As early as at the 12^th century, it has become the symbol of monarchy by inspiring the heraldic lily flower. In fact, legend says that king Clovis would have used them as his armorial bearings, after he had been hiding behind yellow run away from his enemies.

 

Irises are among preferred artist’s plants, he often painted them and did not hesitate to write to his friends and encourage them to come and admire them before they fade… In « Giverny au fil des Saisons », Vivian Russell devotes a long passage to these emblematic flowers of Monet’s garden. She writes: « Monet considered that, the tones of blue ‘’bearded Irises’’ where mostly highlighting, when they were swathed in a light shadow » . They although were planted under the shadow of apple trees, « along perennials » or associated with blue Aubrietias and mallow Rockets in the ‘’Clos Normand’’. Japanese Irises and yellow sorts were, as for, planted along the pond in the ‘’water garden’’.

Irises and mallow flowerings in Giverny are at their apogee during the third week of May. At this time, numerous sorts can be admired in the ‘’Clos Normand’’ and in the ‘’Water garden’’.