July 13th, 2004
Forgetfulness and Garden Journals
2004-07-10. Iris ‘Strictly Ballroom’.
I was surprise when AJM pointed out a bearded iris about to open last week. Our season for bearded irises is April and I’d have sworn I’d never seen one blooming this late. Must be all the rain. Looking at my garden journal, however, I see I was surprised when this same iris bloomed in early June, 2002 and then again on July 15, 2002. Well, this is why I write things down.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been much in the mood to write. Tomorrow I’ll be leaving the garden to its own devices for three weeks. The boys are unlikely to do much in my absence. And this week summer is starting to kick in finally with temperatures in the high 90s and no rain in the forecast. I’ve been mulching and watering and moving the potted plants under the drip system in the vegetable garden. Still, my expectations are low. I’ll revive them with the first cool breath of fall weather.
by M Sinclair Stevens
July 14th, 2004
Wild, an iris in mid-July. I need to try and find one of those to brighten up my summers. By the way is it planted in the shade?
This time of year it receives morning shade thanks to a pecan tree. — mss