It’s all too beautiful when the spring sun starts to warm up the earth and the plants respond by showing their first blooms and sprouting forth with lovely fresh new foliage. Gardening buddy Holly from Roses and other Gardening Joys said to me recently that when the first Iris blooms it is officially Spring – so hallelujah Cape Town! It is officially Spring here and this is the beautiful first Iris in bloom in my garden today …
[one_third]The buds taken two days ago
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[one_third]The fully opened bloom today
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[one_third_last]Photo taken from above
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[one_third]The Irises on the corner
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[one_third]In perspective … the Alley
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[one_third_last]A last look at the flower
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I haven’t been able to write about these Louisiana Irises before. They were the last birthday present I got from my Dad last year, just before he died. We ordered the rhizomes from a specialist Iris grower in Johannesburg and they arrived the week before my father went into hospital for an operation from which he did not recover.
I planted the Irises while he was in hospital, worrying about him and then when he passed away I couldn’t find the strength to continue planting them. I gave many away (to my best friend so I will get to see them in her garden and on the blog soon) and then the last batch I forced myself to plant only quite a few weeks later. I’m not sure they will do well this year as they look poorly right now, but the first batch I did manage to plant are doing beautifully. In the photos you are seeing just three of the hundreds I planted along that wall (you can’t see them in the photos). The others are still waking up to Spring, but this one which is in the sunniest position has galloped on ahead to show me just how beautiful it will all look in a few weeks.
It’s all too beautiful …
I’m loving my Alley way garden right now. At last! I don’t feel the need to add anything else to this area now. In and amongst what you see in the Azalea bed above I have lots and lots of Asiatic Lilies coming up again, lots with buds on already so in a few weeks time I’ll have my little Lily field here again. I can’t wait …
What’s making you smile in your garden?
Happy Gardening
xxx
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7 replies on “It’s all too beautiful …”
You are right – this is all too beautiful! I love how you have the azaleas blooming now, then will have the lilies later. Even your nandina looks beautiful! I’m so glad spring has finally come to you! The iris is gorgeous. And it will become even more beautiful as more of them bloom. It may be a bit painful to see them now, but as time goes on, they will become a comfort and joy.
was patiently watching fat buds on my white iris, then the snails got them and knicked the stem. Cut and in a vase I can see as I blog ;~)
Oh my word!!! how this special flower has opened for you this magical spring day!! your Dad is proud!! I am so excited about my irises. they are nearly nearly there. I will post mine today so you can see.
just beautiful my friend!! a pure white one! Almost angelic!
Christine how lovely to see plants flower that remind us of our loved ones. I love to plant some in memory of those I have lost. Like Beth mine do not herald spring but summer. So many did not bloom this year with our crazy weather. I will delight in seeing yours pop up along the wall. They will make a lovely statement. Sometimes mine take a year or 2 or 3 to grow enough to bloom. Your alley garden has become stunning and you must be so proud.
It does look lovely Christine, both the iris and the alley garden. 🙂
I don’t remember seeing the alley garden before, it’s beautiful! Your Irises are lovely too, I’ve jsut bought some white ones so I hope mine will look like yours next year. Christina
What a lovely memorial, and you have hundreds of them! It’s interesting the get the perspectives of people in various climates, because for me, Irises are a sure sign of summer! Ours don’t bloom until late May or early June, which is the start of our summer weather. Your alley garden is soooo pretty!