sure sign that spring is close...

[exasperatus2002]

My dwarf Iris's are blooming. They always bloom for me before I see the neighborhood chrocuses open.

[Tobi]

Wow, what a way to start off spring. I love the color and pattern on them.

[patlee]

Gorgeous--thanks for the lift on a gray and very wet day here in Ohio

[janice]

Thanks, for a gray and very wet day in Southern Illinois....over 5 inches of rain!! My crocuses are in bloom......................and the mornings smell like spring. I love those dwarf iris's - I might have to get some for next year!!! Do they always bloom this early?

[kmarch]

Oh! I LOVE irises! And they're my partners favorite flower. Your dwarf irises are lovely.

[shiningrock]

very nice my crocuses are starting to open and even tulips are peeking out of the ground. Can't wait for all of them to bloom.

[snowballsarebad]

Oh I've never seen irises like that! Such big flowers on tiny plants The only ones I've ever seen are the wild ones and the huge garden ones. I like how bright they are.

[Hummer344]

I just love Iris & yours is just my cup of tea. Thanks for sharing

[articuno75]

They remind me of my Grandmother. They were her favorite flower.

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by janice

Thanks, for a gray and very wet day in Southern Illinois....over 5 inches of rain!! My crocuses are in bloom......................and the mornings smell like spring. I love those dwarf iris's - I might have to get some for next year!!! Do they always bloom this early?

yes they do!

[sandra]

Wow, what an awesome sight. Iris's and Stargazers are my all time favorites. Yup, Spring is right around the corner!

Thanks for sharing these here. They're beautiful.

[brookn]

I so have to get some of those, beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[mbasden]

Exasperatus, are those a wild flower?

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by mbasden

Exasperatus, are those a wild flower?

Not around here. Theres two species refered to as dwarf irises, Iris reticulata and Iris danfordiae. Just like orchids and regular irises, they're bred for their colors which can be dramatic. Though some of the iris's you see online labled dwarf are not like my dwarfs which are 4-6" on average when flowering. If you let them go and dont trim them back the thin leaves will reach 8-10" but are no where near that when blooming. I let all my irises dry down before trimming in the fall so theyre strong for spring.

for example..

Dwarf Iris: Schreiner's Iris Gardens Online Store

[patticake]

Nice! My Mom has some like those! Don't they grow from a little bulb/corm instead of rhizomes? I can't remember. I have some snow drops and crocus leaves popping out of the ground! No blooms yet- but there's hope! I planted a bunch of bulbs when we moved in in November. Can't wait to see what I put in! Things were so crazy, that I just stuck in some bulbs knowing that I would have to have some color in the spring!
Thanks to you and your pictures, exasperatus- I have some now!

[mbasden]

Very pretty plants on that link. I believe flowers of all type are addictive. Especially the orchids I grow. My daughter says I care more for all my plants than I do her! I just say she's jealous! Ha ha.

[tizzycat]

I adore Irises, Those dwarfs are fabulous.

[brookn]

Ah, thanks for the link, I now have a few more plants to save up for.

[clarita]

Thanks for sharing! How lovely!
I am reading everyone's posts and also thinking of my own Grandmama. Funny how we have these associations. My "signals" for Spring are Lycastye's and Muguet (sorry I don't know the name in English) They are the little belles in the Lily family (bulbs). My Grandmama's favourite and mine too. The fragrance drives me mad.
shhh! don't tell my orchids. I have them fooled into thinking the Muguet is a Neof. falcata




Jan I pray for you and those in the horrible flood areas.

[Stitz]

Muguet = lily of the valley

--Stitz--

[shiningrock]

Muguet = konvalinka (czech) I'll always remeber in the spring people selling them on the streets in little bouquets. Just a memory now.

[Orchidity]

I'm a big fan of those little irises as well, and have lots of them planted in the cracks between rocks in several places in my yard.

Spring has arrived in the mountains of western Virginia as well, despite the fact that it was flurrying off and on all day yesterday. I have a bazillion daffodils and narcissus blooming everywhere (many different kinds, I love 'em), hyacinth and crocuses in full bloom, and my helleborus are incredible this year. Tulips should begin opening soon, and I just noticed that hostas are just beginning to produce growth spikes, along with many other flowering plants. On the larger side, mountain laurels are starting to bud and redbud trees are just beginning to show color (another all-time favorite of mine).

Last year's spring blooms were a tremendous disappointment, as in Virginia much of January was 60-70 degrees F, and everything came up early. Once March arrived, flowers began to fall after just a few days. Never, in 47 springs, had I seen daffodils last less than a week. You know things aren't right when in January the water lilies start to produce new growth!

I'm SO glad this year's spring is normal!

Congrats to all - what a great time of year!